How to Make a Pot and Pan Pullout to Increase Kitchen Cabinet Storage

A solution to stooping, searching and stacking.

Time

A few hours

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

$20-50

Introduction

The only time our pots and pans were truly organized was when they were new in the box—since then, it’s been “every pan for itself.” Pots and pans are difficult to organize; if you stack them up, it’s a hassle getting to the bottom ones. If you spread them out, they take up tons of valuable cabinet space. This pot and pan pullout makes your pans easy to access and organize and—depending on your cookware—may even give you a place to stash your lids. It only takes a couple of hours, a couple of boards and a couple of drawer slides. Note: This accessory is designed to support everyday pots and pans, not extremely heavy objects or kids doing pull-ups.

Tools Required

  • Basic hand tools
  • Drill/driver
  • Jigsaw
  • Router (optional)

Materials Required

  • 1x4 x 4’ pine
  • 20” heavy-duty/full-extension side-mount drawer slides (2)
  • 3/4” x 3/4” x 3’ pine
  • Clothesline or other hooks

How to build it

Empty your kitchen cabinet and measure the depth of the cabinet. Build the H-shape frame. The frame needs to be the same length as the inside depth of the cabinet, in our case 23 in. We cut our 1×4 support slat 21-1/2 in. long (two 3/4-in.-thick arms plus the 21-1/2-in. slat equals 23 in.). Predrill screw holes in the cross arms and bore countersink holes to accommodate the heads.

Screw on the two slides. Cut the carrier the same length as the depth of your cabinet. Flip the assembly over and attach the carrier. Install the hooks; we used beefy “clothesline hooks.” You may want to use shorter or skinnier hooks and space them differently, depending on the sizes of your pans.

Attach the H-frame in the center of the cabinet opening. Load up your pots and pans; you may want to readjust the spacing of your hooks based on how the pans fit. Then get cooking.

cabinet pullout illustrationFamily Handyman

Project step-by-step (6)

Step 1

Measure the cabinet

pot and pan pullout

Measure the depth of the cabinet from the back to the inside of the face frame. This measurement determines the overall length of the H-frame.

Step 2

Build the H-Frame

pot and pan pullout

Screw the cross arms to the support slat. Predrill holes and countersink screw heads to prevent splitting.

Step 3

Mount the drawer slides

pot and pan pullout

Screw the slides into place with the back ends even with the back of the H–frame.

Step 4

Screw the slides to the carrier

pot and pan pullout

Cut the carrier to length, round the end and bore a finger hole, and then soften the edges with sandpaper or a router. Align the carrier with the back end of the slides.

Step 5

Add the hooks

pot and pan pullout

Secure the hooks to the carrier. Fiddle around with your pots and pans beforehand to determine the most efficient spacing.

Step 6

Install it!

pot and pan pullout

Position the bottom of the cross arm even with the top of the cabinet opening and attach it with screws. Then secure the back end at the same elevation, using temporary braces to prop it up.

pot and pan pullout