A wardrobe that's a few inches too shallow won't take a hanger, and one with the wrong mix of hanging and shelves leaves half your clothes on a chair. These are the standard sizes designers work from, and how to plan the inside around what you own.
In short: a standard wardrobe is about 7 ft (213 cm) high and 2 ft (61 cm) deep, which is the depth a hanger needs. Hinged doors are usually up to 2 ft (61 cm) wide each. A sliding wardrobe is about 26 in (66 cm) deep including its track, and at least 7 ft (213 cm) wide. Inside, plan about 66–72 in (168–183 cm) for long hanging, 40 in (102 cm) for short hanging and 12–15 in (30–38 cm) between folded-clothes shelves.
Standard wardrobe sizes
| Hinged wardrobe | Sliding wardrobe | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | About 7 ft (213 cm), with a loft above if you want one | About 7 ft (213 cm) |
| Depth | 2 ft (61 cm); 22 in (56 cm) is too shallow to hang clothes | About 26 in (66 cm), including a 2 in (5 cm) track |
| Width | From 2 ft (61 cm) for one door; 4 ft (122 cm) for two | From 7 ft (213 cm), with two 3.5 ft panels, up to about 12 ft |
| Door width | Up to 2 ft (61 cm) per door, so the hinges aren't overloaded | Up to 4 ft (122 cm) per panel |
| Space in front | Enough for the doors to swing open, and to stand | None for the doors |
The extra 2 inches on a sliding wardrobe are for the track: the doors run in front of the hanging space, not into it.
Inside the wardrobe
| Section | Height | Holds |
|---|---|---|
| Long hanging | About 66–72 in (168–183 cm) | Long dresses, coats, kurtas |
| Short hanging | About 40 in (102 cm) | Shirts, tops, folded trousers, jackets |
| Folded-clothes shelves | 12–15 in (30–38 cm) apart | T-shirts, sweaters, jeans |
| Shoe shelves | 6–7 in (15–18 cm) each; 18–20 in (46–51 cm) for boots | Shoes, with a shelf depth of about 15 in (38 cm) |
| Space above a hanging rail | At least 3 in (8 cm) | Room to lift the hanger off |
| Suits and coats | Depth of 28–30 in (71–76 cm) if you have many | Bulky shoulders |
Two short-hanging sections, one above the other, can fit in a 7 ft wardrobe, which doubles the space for shirts and tops.
How to plan the inside
- Count what you own. How many long garments, shirts and folded items, and how many pairs of shoes? Plan the sections from those numbers, not from a catalogue picture.
- Split it per person. In a shared wardrobe, give each person their own hanging and shelf sections.
- Use the full height. A loft above a 7 ft wardrobe takes suitcases, quilts and seasonal clothes.
- Keep everyday items between waist and eye level, and things you rarely use in the loft or at the bottom.
- Plan drawers for small items: innerwear, accessories and documents. A locker, if you need one, goes in a drawer or behind a shutter.
- Add light inside deep or dark wardrobes; the wiring has to be planned before the wardrobe is fitted.
Choosing the door type
The door type affects the size. Hinged doors need space in front to swing open; sliding doors don't, but they make the wardrobe a little deeper. See our sliding vs hinged wardrobes guide for the full comparison.
Material and finish
Use MR plywood in a dry bedroom, and BWR against an outside wall or a wall shared with a bathroom. Our plywood guide explains the grades. Laminate is the most economical shutter finish; acrylic and PU cost more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard depth of a wardrobe?
About 2 ft (61 cm) for a hinged wardrobe, the depth a hanger needs. A sliding wardrobe is about 26 in (66 cm), including its track.
What is the standard height of a wardrobe?
About 7 ft (213 cm). A loft can go above it, up to the ceiling.
How wide should a wardrobe door be?
Up to 2 ft (61 cm) for a hinged door, and up to 4 ft (122 cm) for a sliding panel.
Can a wardrobe be less than 2 ft deep?
Yes, about 22 in (56 cm), but then clothes can't hang across it. Use it for shelves and drawers, or hang clothes facing front on a pull-out rail.
Planning wardrobes?
Our designer measures your rooms and plans the wardrobes around what you store. See our modular wardrobes page, our 2BHK cost guide for what a home package includes, or book a free consultation.
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