How to assemble a pantry cabinet
A tall pantry cabinet holds a lot of weight on its shelves and is much taller than it is deep. Build it on its back, fit the back panel properly, and always fix it to the wall.
- Time
- about 1 h 30 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- People
- 2 people
- Steps
- 6
Tools needed
- Allen key (supplied)
- Cross-head screwdriver
- Small hammer
- Spirit level
- Wall fixings to suit your wall
Parts to check first
Before you start, lay everything out on a soft surface (the flattened box works) and check it against the parts list in your manual.
- Top, bottom and side panels
- Fixed and adjustable shelves
- Back panel
- Doors with hinges
- Cam locks, dowels, shelf pins and anti-tip fitting
Step by step
Step 1: Fit the hinge plates to the side panels while they lie flat.
Step 2: Build the carcass on its back with the fixed shelf in the middle, which keeps a tall cabinet rigid.
Step 3: Measure the diagonals, square the carcass and fix the back panel along every edge.
Step 4: With a helper, walk the cabinet upright and move it into place, then level it.
Step 5: Fix the cabinet to the wall with the anti-tip fitting.
Step 6: Hang and adjust the doors, then fit the adjustable shelves at the heights you need.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the fixed middle shelf.
- Loading heavy tins on the top shelves.
- Standing the cabinet against a skirting board so it leans forward.
Safety notes
- Fix tall cabinets to the wall before loading them.
- Keep heavy items low and cleaning products out of children's reach.
This is general guidance for this type of product. Your product's own manual comes first: follow its order, fittings and torque values where they differ from this page.
Updated 2026-09-30