How To Organize A Small Pantry With Deep Shelves (9 Hacks)

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Got a small pantry and tight budget? In this post, I’ve listed the best budget containers and ideas on how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves.

A tiny pantry can make food storage seem like a daunting task. After all, where could you possibly put everything?

Pantry Organizing can make a huge difference to your daily life and wallet. Say no more to expired food hidden in the back of your pantry or scanning for that one item you swear you bought.

Here’s how to organize a deep pantry!

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How To Organize A Small Pantry With Deep Shelves

In this list, I included several affordable containers, as well as, organizers to help arrange a small pantry space. I listed several ideas/tools to organize a small pantry on a budget and included each an example of a product I felt had the best value for the price.

1. Hanging Door Organizer

Not sure how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves and not enough space? Why not utilize your pantry door? If you need more storage space and want to organize a small pantry on a budget, I highly recommend using a hanging door organizer.

Most hanging door organizers are durable and super affordable! They make excellent budget containers to organize small items in your pantry (such as teas, spices, snacks, bottles, small ingredients, etc.).

$19.99 $14.87*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Clear Hanging Pantry Organizer Pack

Brand: Simple Houseware

Quantity: 2 Hanging Pantry Organizers

Size: Contains 15 Pockets Each (Each Organizer Is 18 x 52 Inches)

When selecting a hanging organizer, look for one that has clear plastic pockets like this one! This will help you find items quickly and is super easy to clean if something spills. This hanging pantry organizer product comes in a pack of two for a great price!

2. Food Storage Containers

Quality food storage containers are absolutely essential to store and protect food in your pantry. Always use airtight containers to help seal your food away from moisture and unwanted pests. Storage containers are awesome for organizing and accessing food you buy in bulk or regularly.

Food containers range greatly in price depending on the brand. I recommend checking out the budget storage containers below to organize your small pantry. Food containers are a great tip on how to organize a deep pantry on a budget.

$26.99*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Airtight Food Storage Container Set

Brand: Seseno

Quantity/Size: 1 Tall (1.8 Liters), 2 Medium (1.3 Liters), 4 Small (0.7 Liters), And 5 Mini Containers (0.46 Liters); 12 Total

This 12 pack of food storage containers is a great set to get started with pantry organization. The containers come in four different sizes. They are also stackable which is perfect for small pantries. The only thing I would note is that the containers are not dishwasher safe and should be washed by hand.

3. Tiered Organizers

Tiered organizers are a clever idea on how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves. Although tiered shelves don’t add more space to a small pantry, they are excellent at helping you organize items and allow you to easily scan your pantry for specific items without lifting them up to see the label!

I recommend these types of organizers for people who have multiple spices, sauces, cans, supplements, etc.. If you a hard time sorting through multiple containers to find the right one, your pantry might benefit from using a tiered organizer.

You can find some tiered organizers for a great price, so they are especially great for people who are looking to organize a pantry on a budget.

$6.99*

(*Price on day of publishing)

3-Tier Spice Organizer

Brand: Copco

Quantity: 1 Organizer

Size: 3.5 x 8.75 x 10.5 Inches

Color: White, Gray (other colors available)

This spice organizer is non-skid and intended for pantry use! If you are looking for a quality tiered organizer for a low price, check this product out!

4. Plastic Storage Baskets

Here’s another tip on how to organize a deep pantry: use storage baskets. Bins and baskets are essential for pantry organization. They are great containers to group and store your pantry items. I recommend using baskets to store snacks, drinks, produce etc..

Although most baskets will work for storage, I recommend using plastic containers because they tend to be easier to clean than other materials. You can find quality plastic storage baskets for a great price like the ones below. They make excellent budget containers for organizing a pantry

$24.99*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Small Pantry Organizer Bin Set

Brand: Seseno

Quantity: 6 Bins

Size: 9 x 7.5 x 4 inches Each

Color: Gray (comes in other colors)

These organizer bins are made of durable high quality food safe plastic, making these excellent for storing dry goods in your pantry. They stack together when not in use. Perfect for small spaces!

I selected this product because it is highly rated on Amazon. For people on a small budget, there are so many other plastic bin products available on Amazon for half the price!

5. Mason Jars

Mason jars are multifunctional and excellent at storing food! The clear glass makes it easy for you see what’s stored inside. If you already have some empty mason jars lying around at home, why not use them in your pantry?

Mason jars are one of the best budget containers for organizing your pantry because they have tight lids to securely keep your food sealed (they are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning!). If you are looking for ideas how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves on a budget, why not try mason jars?

$10.29 $9.69*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Regular Mouth 32-Ounces Mason Jar

Brand: Ball

Quantity: 2 Mason Jars

Size: 32-Ounces Each

These mason jars are 32 ounces, large and can be used to store and organize dry food in your pantry. Like most mason jars, the lid is not stainless steel so I highly recommend drying the lid as soon as it leaves the dishwasher. Other than that, these are excellent products to use in the kitchen, in craft projects, or around the apartment/house.

6. Stackable Shelves

If you need more shelf space, make more! I recommend utilizing stackable shelves to make use of the empty vertical space from your shelves. A stackable shelf is a clever way to maximize your shelf space without actually adding any additional shelving!

If you have a small pantry, I consider using stackable shelves (like the budget ones below) to organize and expand your space. This is a great tip on how to organize a deep pantry on a budget!

$19.99 $16.87*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Stackable Shelf Organizer

Brand: Deco Brothers

Quantity: 2 Shelves (1 Large, 1 Medium)

Size: Large Shelf (13.75 x 9.25 x 6.25 Inches), Medium Shelf (12.5 x 8.5 x 5.75 Inches)

This stackable shelf organizer comes with two expandable shelves. Since you don’t have to use them together, they can be used as two separate shelves! The shelves are sturdy and stable enough to store heavy or fragile items. This is an excellent product to expand the space of a small pantry.

7. Can Rack

A can rack is absolutely the best way to organize and store all your canned goods. If you have several cans sitting disorganized in your pantry, I recommend trying out a sturdy can rack like the one below. A can rack is a great tool to help you easily see the labels, as well as, add more vertical storage space to a small pantry.

Although can racks can be expensive, they are worth every penny! I recommend splurging for a highly quality one that will hold up the weight of several cans rather than something cheap and flimsy. This is a great tip on how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves!

$32.99 $24.97*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Stackable Can Rack Organizer

Brand: Simple Houseware

Quantity: 1 Can Rack

Size: Holds Up To 36 Cans (can be adjusted to fit different sized cans)

Color: White (comes in other colors)

This stackable can rack can hold up to 36 cans! You can buy multiple sets and stack them together to get a long vertical can rack! The product is also adjustable to accommodate a variety of cans/jars. Although this is one of the more expensive items on this list, the quality of this product makes it worth the splurge!

8. Under Shelf Basket

An under shelf basket is another clever solution to increasing small pantry space. Best of all, you can find many under shelf baskets for a great price on Amazon (like the one below), making this an excellent product to organize a small pantry on a budget.

An under shelf basket makes a great container for snacks, produce, and other items. It instantly adds extra storage space in a tiny pantry! This is a great tip on how to organize a deep pantry!

$25.99 $17.87*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Under Shelf Basket Pack

Brand: Simple Houseware

Quantity: 2 Shelf Baskets

Size: 11.5 x 12.5 x 5.5 Inches

Color: White (comes in other colors)

This under shelf basket comes in a pack of two. The shelves don’t require any hardware; all you need to do is slide it in! Before purchasing the under shelf baskets, I recommend double checking the dimensions to make sure the product fits on your shelf and is the desired size for your pantry.

9. Lazy Susan

Although a lazy susan won’t add extra space like the other items on this list, it is a great way to organize and access small items from your pantry. I recommend using a lazy susan for hard-to-reach places to make use of shelves that are too high to use.

Lazy susans are inexpensive and a perfect idea on how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves on a budget!

$8.99*

(*Price on day of publishing)

Non-Skid Pantry Turntable

Brand: Copco

Quantity: 1 Lazy Susan

Size: 12 x 12 x 1.5 Inches

Color: White, Gray (comes in other colors)

If you are looking for an affordable turntable to try out at home, check out this one. This pantry turntable is durable and easy to clean. Although it is intended for the pantry, you can totally use this in other parts of your home.

How To Organize A Deep Pantry On A Budget

The list above shows several examples on how to organize a deep pantry and increase space in a small pantry. Behind every idea, I’ve included products I felt had the most value for the price.

If you are on a tight budget an need even more inexpensive containers/organizers to organize your pantry, here are some tips:

1. Shop At A Dollar Store

In my experience, dollar stores are one of the best places to get cheap kitchen and pantry supplies. When I was in college, I would get my dishes and cups from the dollar store and they lasted for a long time!

Since the products are inexpensive, I wouldn’t expect anything to be high quality. However, a dollar store is an affordable way to get decent budget containers for pantry organization.

2. Buy Second Hand Items

Second hand stores and thrift stores tend to have a decent amount of containers in a variety of sizes.

3. Label And Organize Your Pantry Cleverly

One of the easiest low cost methods to keep your pantry organized (without buying pantry organizers and containers) is to label your items. After a grocery run, don’t throw all the foods randomly into your pantry. Allocate specific areas of your pantry to different types of food (like pastas, spices, snacks, drinks).

Always stack items with the label facing forward. Label the lids of containers that are hard to read. You can also write down the expiration date on the label to easily clean out your pantry when it’s time.

Conclusion: How To Organize A Small Pantry With Deep Shelves

In this post, I’ve listed several clever ideas on how to organize a small pantry with deep shelves. I’ve included budget containers (as well as organizers) for organizing a small pantry. I hope this post was helpful and gave you some tips on how to make the most out of your pantry space.

Just because your pantry has limited shelve space doesn’t mean you can’t make more! I hope that the products I’ve included were inspiring and gave you ideas on how to organize a deep pantry at home!