The Complete Guide to Measuring Your Closet (So We Can Design It Right)

Your Closet Measurements Are the Foundation of Great Design

Measuring your closet might sound like a simple task, but getting it right is what separates a "close enough" design from one that works perfectly for your space. Here's the thing: LB Classic Closets has been designing and installing custom closets since 1987, and we've learned that the most beautiful closets start with accurate measurements. You don't need to be a contractor to do this. You just need a few tools, a little patience, and this guide walking you through it step by step.

Whether you measure it yourself and submit online, or want us to walk you through it over the phone, this post will show you exactly what matters and why. Let's get started.

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What You'll Need to Measure Your Closet

Before you start, gather these simple tools. You probably already have most of them at home.

• Tape measure - A 25-footer works great. If you only have a 16-footer, it'll work too; you might just need to move the end point a couple of times.
• Pencil and paper (or your phone) - You need to write down your measurements as you go. Phone notes work perfectly if you want to snap a photo of your closet too.
• Step stool - Helpful for measuring height to any shelves or reaching the top corners of your closet.
• A second person (optional but helpful) - Having someone hold one end of the tape makes everything easier, especially for height and depth.

That's it. You don't need fancy laser measures or professional tools. A standard tape measure and clear notes will get you exactly what we need.

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How to Measure Your Closet: Step by Step

1. Measure the Width of Each Wall

This is the foundation of your measurement. You're going to measure each wall of your closet, and here's the key: measure at both the top and bottom of the wall. Walls aren't always perfectly straight, so if you only measure at the top or only at the bottom, you might miss something important.

• Pull your tape measure across the full width of the wall
• Write down the measurement at the top
• Now measure again at the bottom (about 12 inches up from the floor)
• Write down the smaller of the two numbers

Why the smaller number? That's the actual usable space, and that's what we design for. If your top is 48 inches and your bottom is 47.5 inches, we go with 47.5 inches.

Do this for every wall in your closet. If you have a 6-foot-wide closet, you might have two side walls and a back wall. Measure them all.

2. Measure the Height of Your Closet

Height is critical because it determines how much vertical space we have to work with for shelves, hanging rods, and storage sections.

• Measure from the floor to the ceiling at multiple points (try three different spots: each side and the middle)
• Write down the shortest measurement
• Also measure the height from the floor to any existing shelves or obstructions, because we need to know if we're working around them or removing them

If you have a sloped ceiling (common in upstairs bedrooms), measure the height in a few spots. This helps us plan where things can actually fit.

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3. Measure the Depth of Your Closet

This is the distance from the door opening to the back wall. It's how much space you have going "into" the closet.

• Stand at the closet door and measure straight back to the furthest wall
• Measure in at least two spots (top and bottom) to catch any angles
• Write down the smaller measurement

Depth matters because it affects how deep we can make your shelves and hanging sections. A 24-inch-deep closet requires different planning than a 30-inch closet.

4. Measure Your Door Opening

The door opening is where everything comes in and out of your closet. We need to know its exact width and which direction it swings.

• Measure the width of the door frame (side to side)
• Note whether the door swings into the room or into the closet
• Note which direction it swings (left to right, or right to left)

This matters because a door swinging into the closet takes up valuable space. It also affects how we position hanging rods and shelves so nothing gets in the way when the door opens.

5. Note Every Obstacle and Detail

This is where most people miss something, and it's worth taking your time here. Look around your closet and note anything that's not just a flat wall.

• Electrical outlets - Where are they? We can work around them, but we need to know where they are.
• Light switches - Same as outlets.
• Vents or air returns - These can't be blocked by shelving, so we need to plan around them.
• Baseboards - Measure how tall they are. Shelves need to clear them.
• Sloped ceilings - If your closet has a sloped ceiling, measure the height at different points along the width.
• Existing shelves you're keeping - Height, depth, width, and condition.
• Rods or hardware already there - Same measurements apply.

Take a photo of your closet from the doorway. Take a photo of each wall. These photos help us tremendously when we're designing your layout.

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Pro Tips from 39 Years of Experience

After three decades of custom closet design and installation, we've learned what matters and what most people miss. Here are the things we see happen again and again.

Mistake #1: Measuring only once. Life happens. You lean over, you shift the tape, and suddenly you have two different measurements. Measure twice. Measure three times. The extra minute now saves a headache later.

Mistake #2: Forgetting about the door swing. People design a beautiful closet and then realize the door hits the hanging rod. When you note the door swing, note it clearly. "Door swings into room, left to right from inside the closet" is crystal clear. "Door swings out" can mean different things.

Mistake #3: Not measuring obstacles. That outlet on the side wall or vent above the shelf changes how we design. Don't estimate its location or assume it. Measure it.

Mistake #4: Forgetting about ceiling height variation. Especially in older homes or upstairs bedrooms, ceilings slope or have different heights. A closet that's 8 feet tall at the back wall might only be 7 feet 6 inches at the sides. We need to know.

Mistake #5: Not noting what you're keeping. If you want to keep your existing rod or a shelf, tell us. Measure it. We'll work with it. If you want us to remove it, say so clearly. No ambiguity.

The golden rule: When in doubt, write it down or snap a photo. We'd rather have too much information than not enough.

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Don't Want to Measure Yourself? No Problem.

Here's the truth: self-measuring works great and it actually speeds up the process. But if you're not confident or you'd rather just talk to someone first, give us a call. We can walk you through it over the phone, or if the project needs it, we can schedule a time to come measure for you.

The easiest path for most people is to grab your tape measure, follow the steps above, and submit everything through our online form. From there, we'll set up a virtual design consultation to go over your space and start designing.

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Ready to Get Your Closet Designed?

Head over to measure.lbclassicclosets.com and submit your measurements and photos through our online form. Our design team will review them, and we'll set up a virtual consultation to talk through your space and show you what's possible.

You're taking the first step toward a closet that's organized, beautiful, and built exactly for you. We're here in Columbia, Missouri, and LB Classic Closets has been at this since 1987 because we love getting it right. Let's design something great together.

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Have questions about measuring your closet? Reach out to us or use our online measurement form. We're happy to help.