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Coat Closet Dimensions (Sizes & Design Guide)

Here’s our coat closet dimensions guide including standard, small, large, hallway coat closet sizes and how big a coat closet design should be.
Closet with sliding doorsUnlike constructing a powder room or even renovating the kitchen for a breakfast nook, a closet building is not regulated by any state or local building codes and standards. Building a closet is dependent on the builder and the homeowner, no matter how big or small they want them, and this is true for coat closets. 

Coat closets are exactly what they sound like, a closet entirely utilized so that, as Marie Kondo would say, it will have its own ‘home.’ They can be smaller or more extensive than the standard size and would depend on several factors.

Standard Coat Closet Dimensions

Standard coat closet dimensions

The coat closet dimensions will change depending on reasons, like the space in your home or the location where the coat closet will be constructed. The typical closet usually has depths of 24 inches or 61 centimeters, but since coats are typically wider than the average shirt or dress, this measurement is not enough.

The rule of thumb is for a foot of closet space; about six jackets will be able to fit that space. If a family of three each owns six coats for every season, then the minimum coat closet for the home should at least be 3 feet or 36 inches. 

Overall, a typical coat closet is between 3 feet or 36 inches to 6 feet or 72 inches. It should be wide enough for thicker and heavier coats to hang.

If you are designing a closet you can use one of the software applications to plan your layout based on the amount of space in your room.

Standard Coat Closet Depth

Many closets have depths of 24 inches or 61 centimeters, and this number would go up for coat closets. Typically the depth of a coat closet would measure 28 inches or 71 centimeters up to 72 inches or 183 centimeters. This size will allow multiple coats and thicker jackets at one time. 

How Wide Is A Coat Closet?

Coat closet widthThere is no exact width for a coat closet since many factors, especially the size of space, will differ from one house to the other. Since the area is subjective and will depend on how much space there is and how much you are willing to give, we will base the measurement based on the width of each coat. 

Let’s assume that a thick coat will measure 4 inches or 10 centimeters, so the rule of thumb is allotting at least 48 inches or 122 centimeters space for each person using the coat closet. This measurement will allow more room and offer convenience for the person. 

If this space is not enough and you are willing to allot more space in your closet, count each coat and use the ratio of one coat for four-inch and decide as you go. 

Small Coat Closet Dimensions

Small coat closet dimensionsIf you lack space inside your closet or own just a handful of coats that need a room in your closet, a smart thing is building a small coat closet so that every one of them has a space.

For a small coat closet, the minimum depth is 24 inches or 61 centimeters, enough space so the closet would not feel cramped. 

The width can be 36 inches or 91 centimeters, enough space for 9 nine coats to hang. As per the height, it could simply be half of your wall height, especially if your coats are shorter. Around 40 inches or 102 centimeters to 45 inches or 114 centimeters will be enough for this height. Read more about standard closet sizes here.

Large Coat Closet Size

Large coat closet dimensionsA large coat closet is a dream for many fashion and clothes fanatics. Everything can be housed by a more oversized coat closet, from luxurious faux fur coats to thicker jackets and shoulder-to-floor trench coats. 

The standard coat closet width is 4 to 6 feet, but larger ones can be large enough for the user to go upward to 8 feet or 96 inches and above.

Heights can fully accommodate the length of your floor to the ceiling if possible while the depth can go up to 35 inches or 89 centimeters if the owner would want to. 

Hallway Coat Closet Dimensions

Hallway coat closet dimensionsIf you are fond of hosting dinner parties and other events, a brilliant addition to your home is a hallway or entryway coat closet for all your guests’ coats and jackets. This space will also be helpful so that outerwear like coats and boots would not have to be taken into your home. 

Seventy-two inches or 183 centimeters is the perfect width for a hallway coat closet. If this space is not enough, use the height, as the closet itself can stretch up from the ceiling down to the floor.

If this is not the issue for you, make the cabinet 86 inches or 218 centimeters high, which is more than adequate room to utilize the space. Read more about the best closet rod height here.

A cabinet depth of 24 inches or 61 centimeters is enough for entryway coat closets. Any reduction to the depth size will make the closet look cramped and bulky. 

For a 2 feet depth entryway closet, simply add another foot to accommodate for the width since coats and jackets are generally thicker when hung. 

Minimum Coat Closet Dimensions 

Closet divisions with shoe rackThe problem when thinking about the minimum coat closet depth possible is that coats are generally thicker and will require more space, unlike shirts and pants. The minimum depth for a coat closet is 28 inches or 71 centimeters, but you can go as low as 24 inches or 61 centimeters if space is minimal.

If you don’t mind a slight overhang when coats are hung, a coat closet depth of 20 inches or 51 centimeters will work as well. 

How Big Should A Coat Closet Be?

A coat closet will only be as big as the available space in your home; however, some standards or dimensions are most common for coat closets, and here are they.

Coat closets are generally as tall as your ceilings are to utilize the space possible. Generally, that is 80 inches or 203 centimeters. 

The width is 4 to 6 feet but can be adjusted to be smaller or bigger, whether it will be on your entryway or the space allotted for the closet itself.

Coat closets can be 24 inches or 61 centimeters to 30 inches or 76 centimeters. 

For more related content visit our walk-in closet dimensions guide here.