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The best reach-in closet system depends on two numbers: how wide your closet is and how much you want to spend. For a 4 to 8 foot closet on a tight budget, an adjustable wire kit from ClosetMaid or Rubbermaid does the job in an afternoon. If you want drawers and a built-in look, a laminate kit or a designed system like EasyClosets is worth the extra money. Elfa is the pick if you rearrange often, and Modular Closets is the fastest way to get furniture-style towers.
This guide compares seven options on the things that matter in a reach-in: how well they fit a standard 24 inch deep closet, whether they come in sizes that match your wall, drawer options, installation and rough cost. It is based on manufacturer specifications and published product information, not on sponsored placements.
In this guide
- Quick comparison
- What makes a reach-in different
- 1. ClosetMaid SuperSlide and ShelfTrack: best budget wire system
- 2. Rubbermaid Configurations: best adjustable kit
- 3. ClosetMaid laminate kits: best value with drawers
- 4. IKEA BOAXEL: best IKEA option for a reach-in
- 5. Elfa by The Container Store: most flexible
- 6. EasyClosets: best custom design you install yourself
- 7. Modular Closets: best for a quick built-in look
- Which system fits your closet size
- How to choose
- FAQ
- The bottom line
Quick comparison
| System | Best for | Material | Drawers | Budget level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClosetMaid SuperSlide / ShelfTrack | Lowest cost, renters, quick fixes | Wire | Add-on baskets | $ |
| Rubbermaid Configurations | Adjustable kits that fit odd widths | Wire, telescoping | Add-on drawer kits | $ |
| ClosetMaid laminate kits (Impressions, Selectives, SuiteSymphony) | Drawers and a built-in look under custom prices | Laminate | Included in many kits | $–$$ |
| IKEA BOAXEL | Wall-mounted IKEA option for reach-ins | Steel rails + shelves | Yes | $–$$ |
| Elfa (The Container Store) | Closets you rearrange often | Steel track + wire, wood or laminate | Mesh or solid | $$–$$$ |
| EasyClosets | Custom design on a DIY budget | Laminate | Yes, you place them | $$ |
| Modular Closets | Fast installs with tower units | Pre-built laminate units | Drawer towers | $$ |
What makes a reach-in different
A reach-in closet is usually 24 to 30 inches deep, with a door opening narrower than the inside of the closet. That shape creates three problems a good system has to solve:
- Hidden side walls. The space behind the door frame on each side (the “returns”) is hard to reach. Shelves or a short rod there work better than long hanging.
- Shallow depth for drawers. Drawer units have to fit in front of hanging clothes or replace a section of rod. Most closet system drawers are 14 to 16 inches deep, which leaves room for hangers in a 24 inch closet.
- Doors. Bifold and sliding doors limit what you can pull out. Drawers placed behind a sliding door panel may not open fully.
Before you shop, measure the back wall, both returns, the door opening and the height to the ceiling. Our guide on how to measure a closet walks through each measurement. If your closet is deeper or shallower than 24 inches, check our guide to reach-in closet dimensions for layouts that still fit.
1. ClosetMaid SuperSlide and ShelfTrack: best budget wire system
ClosetMaid makes much of the wire shelving already found in American closets. Its expandable kits come in width ranges such as 4 to 6 feet and 5 to 8 feet. SuperSlide shelves let hangers slide the full length of the rod, while ShelfTrack hangs shelves from a wall track so you can move them up and down.
- The lowest cost per foot of any system here.
- Kits are sized for common reach-in widths and can be cut to fit.
- Sold in most home improvement stores and online.
- Wire can leave lines on folded sweaters (a clear shelf liner fixes that).
- Looks utilitarian next to laminate.
Best for: rentals, kids’ rooms, guest rooms and anyone who wants a working closet this weekend for the least money. Our kids’ closet ideas cover setups by age.
2. Rubbermaid Configurations: best adjustable kit
Rubbermaid’s Configurations kits use telescoping shelves and rods, so a single kit covers a range of widths without cutting. Rubbermaid sells kits for small closets (around 3 to 6 feet) and larger ones, and you can add drawer kits and shoe shelves later. Installation is a hang rail screwed into the wall with vertical uprights below it.
- No cutting: shelves and rods extend to fit the wall.
- Easy to reconfigure as your wardrobe changes.
- Good balance of price and adjustability.
- Still a wire system, with the same look and shelf-marking issue.
- Telescoping joints show along the shelf.
Best for: closets with an awkward width where a fixed kit would leave a gap.
3. ClosetMaid laminate kits: best value with drawers
If the main keyword in your head is “reach in closet systems with drawers,” start here. ClosetMaid’s laminate lines (Impressions, Selectives and the more furniture-like SuiteSymphony) come as kits with a center tower, shelves, rods and drawers. Retail listings for the Impressions Basic Plus kit, for example, show about 14.5 inches of depth, three 25 inch drawers and rods that extend to fit walls roughly 5 to 10 feet wide. Check the listing for the exact kit you buy, because sizes change between versions.
- Drawers and a closed tower for a built-in look.
- Far cheaper than a designed custom closet.
- Towers are shallow enough for a standard reach-in.
- More pieces and a longer install than wire.
- Particleboard is heavy and does not like moving house.
Best for: a primary bedroom reach-in where you want drawers inside the closet so the dresser can go.
4. IKEA BOAXEL: best IKEA option for a reach-in
People searching for “reach in closet systems IKEA” often land on PAX, but PAX is a freestanding wardrobe and usually too deep for a reach-in once you add doors. IKEA’s wall-mounted BOAXEL system fits a closet better: a top rail screwed to the wall, uprights, and shelves, rods, baskets and drawers that hook on. IKEA’s online planner lets you design and price it.
- Fits inside an existing closet, unlike PAX.
- Mix of shelves, baskets and drawers at IKEA prices.
- Only available from IKEA, so stock varies by store.
- Fixed component widths, so plan the wall carefully.
Best for: IKEA fans with a standard reach-in. If your room has no closet at all, PAX or a freestanding wardrobe makes more sense.
5. Elfa by The Container Store: most flexible
Elfa is a track system. A top track goes on the wall, vertical standards hang from it, and everything else clips on. You can move a shelf or swap a rod for drawers in minutes without tools. The Container Store sells ready-made reach-in designs in several widths, and offers design help and paid installation.
- The easiest system to change later.
- Wire, solid and wood-look Décor finishes.
- Professional design and installation available.
- The price climbs fast with drawers and premium finishes.
- The open track look is less built-in than panels.
Best for: households whose needs change, such as growing kids or a closet that doubles as storage. See how it compares in our IKEA PAX vs Elfa guide.
6. EasyClosets: best custom design you install yourself
EasyClosets lets you design the closet component by component in a free 3D online tool, with the price updating as you go. Panels hang from a wall rail, which is forgiving of uneven floors and walls that are not quite square. That matters in a reach-in, where small errors are obvious at the returns.
- You choose every shelf height and drawer position.
- A custom look without paying for a design consultation.
- Handles odd widths and returns well.
- You do the install, and there are many parts.
- Shipping time and cost depend on your order.
Best for: homeowners who want a custom closet and are comfortable with a drill and a level.
7. Modular Closets: best for a quick built-in look
Modular Closets sells closet towers in fixed widths: hanging units, shelf towers, drawer towers and corner units. You pick the units that add up to your wall. They stand on the floor and anchor to the wall, so installation feels closer to building furniture than designing a system.
- Few decisions and a fast install.
- Solid furniture look.
- Fixed widths may leave a gap on an odd wall.
- Less control over each shelf than EasyClosets.
Best for: people who want a finished closet quickly. Our EasyClosets vs Modular Closets comparison covers the trade-offs in detail.
Which system fits your closet size
Here is how the options line up by back wall width. Widths are the inside wall, not the door opening.
| Back wall width | Good fits | Layout that usually works |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 ft | Rubbermaid small kit, ClosetMaid wire, BOAXEL | Double hang on one side, shelves on the other, top shelf across |
| 4 to 6 ft | Any wire kit, Elfa reach-in, EasyClosets | Double hang, a narrow shelf or drawer column, top shelf |
| 6 to 8 ft | ClosetMaid laminate kit, Elfa, EasyClosets, Modular Closets | Center tower with drawers, double hang on one side, long hang on the other |
| 8 to 10 ft | ClosetMaid laminate (wide kits), EasyClosets, Modular Closets | Two towers or one tower plus shoe shelves, mixed hanging |
A simple rule of thumb: in a closet under 6 feet, skip a full drawer tower. It eats too much hanging space. Use a short drawer unit under double-hung shirts instead. For more layouts, see our reach-in closet ideas, which work out the rod length for 15 setups, and our small bedroom closet ideas.
How to choose
1. Count what you hang and fold
Most people have more short items (shirts, folded pants, skirts) than long ones. Double hanging, with one rod at about 40 inches and one at about 80 inches, nearly doubles capacity for short items. Keep one section of long hang for dresses and coats.
2. Decide on drawers
Drawers inside the closet free up floor space in the bedroom, but they cost more and need clear space in front to open. With bifold doors, put the drawer tower in the middle, behind the opening.
3. Pick the material
Wire is the cheapest and lets air move. Laminate looks built in and is easy to wipe clean. Our wire vs laminate vs wood comparison goes deeper.
4. Budget for the extras
Plan for slim hangers, a light and anchors along with the system. A reach-in with no ceiling fixture benefits a lot from a motion sensor closet light. For overall budgets, read how much a custom closet costs. If you only need a few fixes, start with our closet organizers under $100.
Reach-in closet essentials
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FAQ
What is the best closet system for a reach-in closet?
For most budgets, an adjustable wire kit from ClosetMaid or Rubbermaid is the best value. If you want drawers and a built-in look, a ClosetMaid laminate kit or EasyClosets gives the most for the money. Elfa is the best choice if you will rearrange often.
How deep should a reach-in closet system be?
Most closet towers and shelves are 12 to 16 inches deep. In a standard 24 inch deep reach-in, that leaves room for clothes on hangers in the sections with rods.
Can you put drawers in a reach-in closet?
Yes. Place them in the center, behind the door opening, so they can open fully. In narrow closets, a short drawer unit under a double-hang section saves more space than a full tower.
Is IKEA good for reach-in closets?
IKEA’s BOAXEL wall-mounted system is designed to fit inside an existing closet. PAX wardrobes are better for rooms without a closet, because their depth and doors rarely suit a reach-in.
Can I install a reach-in closet system myself?
All seven systems here are sold for DIY installation. You need a drill, a stud finder, a level and a tape measure. Elfa and some ClosetMaid kits can also be professionally installed.
The bottom line
For a reach-in on a budget, buy an adjustable wire kit and add a liner and a light. For drawers and a cleaner look, a ClosetMaid laminate kit is the value pick, and EasyClosets is the step up when you want to design every inch. Choose Elfa if flexibility matters most and Modular Closets if speed does. For larger closets and premium brands, see our full best closet systems guide. For a walk-in, see our walk-in closet ideas and layouts.
Product details, sizes and prices change. Check the current information on each brand’s website or listing before you buy.
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