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EasyClosets and Modular Closets are two of the most popular ways to get a built-in look without hiring a closet company. Both are sold online, both are designed for DIY installation, and both cost far less than a full custom job. They are built in very different ways, though, and that affects which one suits your closet and how long you are willing to spend designing and installing it.
This comparison is based on each brand’s published product information, how the systems are designed and installed, and common feedback from customers. We are not sponsored by either company.
In this guide
The short answer
EasyClosets is the better pick if you want to design every shelf and drawer yourself, or if your closet has an odd shape or walls that are not perfectly square. Modular Closets is the faster, simpler route to a finished closet, as long as your wall lengths work with its standard unit widths.
Quick comparison
| EasyClosets | Modular Closets | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is built | Panels and components that hang from a wall rail | Pre-designed tower units placed side by side |
| How you design it | Free online 3D designer, component by component | Pick units (or a pre-made kit) to fill your wall |
| Installation | DIY: rail mounted to studs, then components hung | DIY: units assembled and anchored to the wall |
| Flexibility later | High: move shelves, add drawers and accessories | Medium: add or swap whole units |
| Odd wall lengths | Handles them well | May need filler panels or leave gaps |
| Time to install | Longer (plan a weekend for a walk-in) | Usually faster |
| Look | Custom, floating built-in | Clean built-in furniture look |
| Budget level | $$ | $$ |
How each system works
EasyClosets: a rail-hung, fully custom design
With EasyClosets, a steel rail is screwed into the wall studs near the ceiling. Vertical panels hang from that rail, and shelves, rods, drawers and accessories attach between the panels. Because the panels hang instead of standing on the floor, the system tolerates uneven floors and walls that are slightly out of square.
You design the closet in a free online 3D tool. After entering your wall measurements, you place every section yourself, from long hang and double hang to shelves, shoe shelves, drawers and hampers. The price updates as you go, so you can trade features against budget before you buy.
Modular Closets: units you combine
Modular Closets sells closet towers in fixed widths, including hanging sections, shelf towers, drawer towers and corner units. You pick units that add up to your wall length, or start from one of their pre-designed kits. The units stand on the floor and are anchored to the wall for safety.
Planning feels closer to buying furniture than designing a system. Most people choose it for that reason: there are fewer decisions, and installation usually goes faster than building a closet from individual components.
Design and planning
EasyClosets gives you more control. If you want 14 inches of shelf here and a drawer stack exactly there, the 3D designer lets you do it, which makes it the better tool for reach-in closets with awkward returns, sloped ceilings or walls that are not a standard length. We also compare both brands with wire kits and IKEA BOAXEL in our reach-in closet systems roundup.
Modular Closets is simpler. If you do not enjoy design software, choosing a handful of units is quicker. Fixed widths rarely add up exactly to your wall, though, so you may end up with a small gap or need a filler piece.
With either brand, start by measuring correctly. Our step-by-step guide to measuring your closet covers the measurements both brands ask for.
Installation
Both are realistic DIY projects if you can find studs, use a level and drive screws. They differ in how much work happens on install day.
- EasyClosets: the rail has to be level and secured into studs, then every panel and component is hung and adjusted. It is not hard, but there are more pieces. A reach-in closet often takes a day, and a large walk-in can take a weekend.
- Modular Closets: you assemble the units, set them in place and anchor them. With fewer separate components, many people finish faster.
Whichever you choose, empty the closet and patch and paint the walls first, because painting around a finished system is much harder.
Tools that make install day easier
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Flexibility and future changes
EasyClosets is easier to rework later. You can move or add shelves and accessories within the existing panels, and buy extra drawers or a pull-out hamper as your needs change.
With Modular Closets, changes usually mean swapping or adding a whole unit. That is still simple, but you have less fine control. Keep this in mind if you expect your closet to change a lot, for example a nursery that becomes a kid’s closet, a shared closet or a rental you might leave. Our kids’ closet ideas by age show how a closet changes as a child grows.
Look and materials
Both brands use laminated wood composite panels in several finishes, so both look much more “custom” than wire shelving. EasyClosets looks like a floating built-in because the panels hang from the wall, while Modular Closets looks like a set of matching built-in furniture pieces. Which you prefer is a matter of style.
If you are still deciding between materials in general, see wire vs laminate vs wood closet systems.
Cost
Both systems sit in the middle of the market, well above basic wire shelving and well below a professionally installed custom closet. Your final price depends mostly on closet size and how many drawers and accessories you add, since drawers are the most expensive component in any system.
To compare fairly, price the same layout in both: enter your measurements in the EasyClosets designer, pick the closest combination of Modular Closets units, and compare totals including shipping. For a sense of overall budgets, read how much a custom closet costs.
Which one should you buy?
Pick EasyClosets if
- Your closet has odd dimensions, angles or slightly uneven walls.
- You want to choose every shelf height and drawer position.
- You expect to rearrange or add accessories over time.
Pick Modular Closets if
- You want the quickest install with the fewest decisions.
- Your wall lengths work well with standard unit widths.
- You like the look of solid built-in furniture.
FAQ
Is EasyClosets or Modular Closets easier to install?
Modular Closets is usually quicker because you are placing complete units. EasyClosets has more individual components, but its rail system copes well with uneven floors and walls.
Can I install either system in a rental?
Both need to be screwed into the wall (EasyClosets for its rail, Modular Closets for safety anchors), so check with your landlord first. If drilling is not allowed, a freestanding wardrobe or hanging organizers are safer choices. Our closet organizers under $100 list includes no-drill options.
Which one holds more?
Capacity depends on the layout you choose in either brand. Double hanging sections and drawers add the most. Plan around what you actually own by counting long-hang items, short-hang items, folded items and shoes before you design.
Do I need special tools?
A drill, a stud finder, a level and a tape measure cover most installs for both brands.
Finish your new closet
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The bottom line
Both are good closet systems that suit different closets. EasyClosets is the better choice when you want full control and your closet is not a perfect rectangle. Modular Closets is the better choice when you want a finished built-in look as quickly and simply as possible. Price the same layout in both before you decide, and see how they compare with other brands in our best closet systems guide.
Product details, finishes and prices change. Always check the current information on each brand’s website before you buy.
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