How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets: Storage Solutions and Inserts

Even the most beautifully built custom cabinets can become a frustrating mess if the interior isn’t organized well. Deep base cabinets turn into black holes where pots and Tupperware lids disappear forever. Corner cabinets become dead zones. Upper shelves become graveyards for items you forgot you owned. Sound familiar?

The good news is that a wide range of cabinet organization solutions exist, from simple additions you can install yourself to sophisticated built-in systems that your cabinet maker can integrate during construction. This guide covers the most effective options, where they work best, and what they actually cost.

Base Cabinet Solutions

Base cabinets are where the biggest organization gains are found. They’re deep (typically 24 inches), which means items at the back are hard to see and harder to reach. Without organization solutions, the back third of most base cabinets becomes unused space.

Pull-out shelves and trays

Pull-out shelves (also called roll-out trays or glide-out shelves) are the most universally recommended cabinet organizer. They mount on full-extension slides and pull out like a drawer, bringing the entire contents of the shelf into view and within easy reach.

A single pull-out shelf in a base cabinet transforms the storage experience. Instead of crouching and reaching blindly into the back of the cabinet, you pull the shelf toward you and see everything at once. It’s one of those upgrades that, once you have it, you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Cost: $50 to $200 per shelf, depending on material (wire vs. wood) and quality. Custom-built pull-outs from your cabinet maker will be at the higher end. Aftermarket retrofit kits are available for $50 to $100 per shelf.

Best for: Any base cabinet, but especially those holding pots, pans, baking sheets, and food storage containers.

Deep drawers instead of doors

If you’re designing a new custom kitchen, consider specifying deep drawers (6 to 12 inches tall) for base cabinets instead of traditional door-and-shelf configurations. Deep drawers on full-extension slides are functionally superior to shelves behind doors for almost everything stored at the base cabinet level.

A stack of three deep drawers in a 36-inch base cabinet gives you organized, fully accessible storage from top to bottom. Pots in the bottom drawer, lids and mixing bowls in the middle, utensils or food wraps in the top. No reaching, no crouching, no items lost in the back.

Cost: Deep drawer construction adds 10 to 20 percent to the cabinet cost compared to a standard door-and-shelf configuration. The functional payoff is significant.

Best for: Every base cabinet except the sink base (which needs open interior space for plumbing) and appliance garages.

Trash and recycling pull-outs

A pull-out trash and recycling system hides bins inside a base cabinet, keeping them out of sight while making them easy to access with one hand while you’re cooking. Most systems accommodate two bins (trash and recycling), and some include a third smaller bin for compost.

Cost: $100 to $300 for the pull-out hardware and bins. Custom cabinet makers can build a dedicated cabinet with the pull-out integrated from the start.

Best for: A base cabinet near the primary prep area, ideally within arm’s reach of where you do most of your food prep and cleanup.

Corner Cabinet Solutions

Corner cabinets are notoriously inefficient. The deep, L-shaped interior creates a large area that’s difficult to access through the relatively small door opening. Without a solution, the back half of a corner cabinet is essentially wasted space.

Lazy Susan

The classic corner cabinet solution. A lazy Susan consists of one or two circular rotating shelves that spin to bring items from the back of the cabinet to the front. Full-circle lazy Susans work in cabinets with a narrow door opening; kidney-shaped (or “D-shaped”) versions work with wider openings.

Cost: $150 to $400 depending on size and material.

Pros: Affordable, widely available, reclaims most of the dead space. Easy to install as a retrofit in existing cabinets.

Cons: Items can fall off the edges during rotation. The circular shape doesn’t use the square corners of the cabinet perfectly. Cheaper models can feel flimsy.

Pull-out corner trays (magic corner / swing-out systems)

These more sophisticated solutions use trays or shelves that swing out of the corner cabinet when the door is opened, bringing the interior contents out into the open. “Magic corner” systems use a series of connected trays that pull forward and then swing outward, maximizing the use of the deep corner space.

Cost: $300 to $800 depending on the system and cabinet size.

Pros: More organized than a lazy Susan. Items don’t fall. Uses the corner space more efficiently. Looks impressive when demonstrated to guests.

Cons: More expensive. Moving parts can eventually need adjustment or repair. Best specified during the cabinet design phase rather than retrofitted.

Blind corner pull-outs

For blind corner cabinets (where one cabinet extends into the corner behind the adjacent cabinet), pull-out systems on heavy-duty slides bring the deep interior storage out into the open. These are particularly effective because blind corners are the single hardest cabinet space to access without a solution.

Cost: $200 to $500.

Upper Cabinet Solutions

Upper cabinets present a different challenge: the top shelf is often too high to reach comfortably, and items stored there tend to be forgotten.

Pull-down shelving

Pull-down shelf systems use a handle-operated mechanism to lower the upper shelf to counter level, making it accessible without a step stool. These are particularly valuable in kitchens used by shorter individuals or anyone with mobility limitations.

Cost: $200 to $600 per unit.

Best for: Upper cabinets that store frequently used items like spices, glasses, or everyday dishes.

Shelf risers and inserts

Simple shelf risers (small platforms that create a second level within a shelf) are an inexpensive way to double the usable surface area in upper cabinets. They’re ideal for stacking plates, cups, and bowls without creating precarious towers.

Cost: $10 to $30 each. Available at any home goods store.

Door-mounted racks

The inside of upper cabinet doors is wasted space in most kitchens. Door-mounted racks can hold spice jars, measuring cups, pot lids, or cleaning supplies. Wire rack styles are available for retrofit; custom cabinet makers can build integrated door-mounted storage.

Cost: $15 to $50 for aftermarket racks. Custom built-in versions vary.

Drawer Organization

Drawer dividers

The humble drawer divider is one of the most effective organization tools available. Custom-fitted wood dividers from your cabinet maker create specific compartments for utensils, cutlery, gadgets, and tools. Adjustable dividers allow you to reconfigure the layout as your needs change.

Cost: $50 to $200 per drawer for custom wood dividers. $15 to $40 for adjustable aftermarket inserts.

Peg board drawer inserts

A pegboard-style drawer bottom with adjustable pegs lets you create custom-sized compartments for plates, cutting boards, and baking sheets stored vertically. This system is incredibly efficient for deep drawers and has become one of the most popular custom cabinet features in recent years.

Cost: $75 to $150 per drawer when built by your cabinet maker.

Knife blocks and spice inserts

In-drawer knife blocks keep knives organized, protected, and safely stored. In-drawer spice inserts hold jars at an angle so labels face up, making every spice visible at a glance. Both options clear counter space and look clean when the drawer is opened.

Cost: $30 to $100 each for quality inserts.

Specialty Storage Solutions

Vertical tray dividers

Vertical dividers in a base or tall cabinet create slots for storing baking sheets, cutting boards, serving trays, and muffin tins upright. This eliminates the frustrating experience of having to remove a stack of pans to get to the one you need at the bottom.

Cost: $50 to $150 per cabinet when built in during fabrication. Aftermarket versions available for $30 to $60.

Pull-out pantry shelves

For tall pantry cabinets, pull-out shelving on each tier turns a deep, hard-to-see pantry into a fully accessible storage system. Each shelf pulls out independently, so you can see and reach everything from cans to cereal boxes without digging.

Cost: $100 to $250 per shelf. A full pantry cabinet with 6 to 8 pull-out shelves can add $600 to $2,000 to the cabinet cost.

Appliance garages

A countertop-level cabinet with a retractable door (roll-up, flip-up, or pocket door) that hides small appliances like toasters, coffee makers, or mixers when not in use. The appliance stays plugged in and ready to use; you just close the door to keep the counter looking clean.

Cost: $200 to $500 for the cabinet section and door mechanism.

Under-sink organizers

The cabinet under the sink is often a disorganized mess because the plumbing takes up space and makes standard shelving impossible. U-shaped or tiered pull-out systems designed to work around plumbing pipes make this space functional for cleaning supplies, trash bags, and sponges.

Cost: $50 to $200 for aftermarket systems.

Planning Your Cabinet Organization

The most important advice for cabinet organization is this: plan it during the design phase, not after the cabinets are installed. Your cabinet maker can build pull-outs, dividers, vertical storage, and specialty inserts directly into the cabinets during fabrication. This produces a cleaner result, better fit, and more durable systems than retrofitting aftermarket solutions into existing cabinets.

When planning, think about these priorities:

Start with your daily workflow. What do you use every day? Those items should be in the most accessible locations with the best organization. Items used weekly can be slightly less accessible. Seasonal or occasional items can go on high shelves or in less convenient cabinets.

Invest where it matters most. You don’t need pull-out shelves in every single cabinet. Focus your organization budget on the 5 to 8 cabinets you open most frequently: the ones near your prep area, sink, and stove. The cabinet that holds your holiday serving platters can get by with basic shelves.

Think vertically. Many cabinet interiors waste vertical space. Adding an extra shelf, using shelf risers, or specifying taller pull-out drawers can significantly increase what a single cabinet holds.

For a comprehensive look at how accessory and organization costs fit into a full project budget, see our custom cabinet cost guide. And when you’re ready to design your organized kitchen, find a cabinet maker near you who can walk you through the available options for your layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add pull-out shelves to existing cabinets?

Yes. Aftermarket pull-out shelf kits are widely available and can be installed in most standard base cabinets. You’ll need to measure the interior dimensions carefully and ensure the cabinet bottom and sides are sturdy enough to support the slides and the load. For older or lower-quality cabinets with thin bottoms, a professional may need to reinforce the interior before installation.

What’s the most impactful single upgrade for kitchen cabinet organization?

Pull-out shelves in base cabinets, hands down. They transform deep, hard-to-reach cabinets into fully accessible storage. If you have budget for only one organization upgrade, put pull-outs in your two or three most-used base cabinets.

Are built-in organizers worth the extra cost in custom cabinets?

For the cabinets you use daily, yes. Built-in solutions fit more precisely, look better, and tend to be more durable than aftermarket inserts. For cabinets you open less frequently, aftermarket organizers are a perfectly adequate and more affordable option.

How much should I budget for cabinet organization accessories?

A reasonable budget for organization features in a custom kitchen is $1,500 to $4,000, covering pull-outs for key base cabinets, a lazy Susan or corner solution, drawer dividers for the main work area, and a pull-out trash system. You can spend more on premium systems like magic corners and pull-down shelving, or less by focusing only on the most impactful items.

What’s the best way to organize pots and pans?

Deep drawers with peg dividers are the gold standard. Pots sit upright in compartments with their lids stored vertically alongside them. If your cabinets have traditional doors rather than drawers, pull-out shelves or a dedicated pot rack inside the cabinet are the next best options.

Last Updated: February 2026