# How to organise a deep kitchen drawer for pots and pans Canonical HTML: [How to organise a deep kitchen drawer for pots and pans](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-deep-kitchen-drawer/) Practical guide · [Drawers](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/drawer-organisation/) · Measure pots, handles and the drawer load limit. Plan supported cookware groups, check nesting guidance and make daily pans easy to lift out. Space Made Useful · Updated November 2026 · ![Dry saucepans with a fabric protector and a frying pan arranged inside a deep oak kitchen drawer](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/assets/images/batch9-organise-a-deep-kitchen-drawer.jpg) The main decision ## Fit the cookware and its lifting route Start with the heaviest daily pans, include every handle and check the drawer’s permitted load. Nest only as the cookware maker allows and leave enough room to remove the pan you use most. ## Measure the drawer with handles and cookware included Open the drawer normally and measure the inside base at the front, middle and back. Note any taper, rounded corners or runner fittings that reduce the usable footprint. Check the lowest point above the drawer during closing. A deep drawer front can hide a shallower cabinet rail behind it, so measure where the tallest pot or handle actually passes. Include a liner, rack or protector in the loaded height. Lay out the pans you use most on a clean surface. Measure each across its widest part, including side handles and the full length of a frying-pan handle. Note the height of a pot with its lid if you intend to store them together. A saucepan can fit the drawer by body diameter and still catch when its handle crosses the sidewall. Try the handle at the front, side and diagonal before choosing its position. Check the furniture maker’s drawer load limit and the cookware weight as a group. Include any insert and contents already in the drawer. A large collection can become heavy even when the pieces nest compactly. Follow the drawer and runner instructions for load distribution. Put the heavier group where you can lift it comfortably from a fully supported position. ## Nest only the cookware that allows it Read the care guidance for the exact cookware and finish. Some makers recommend protection between stacked pieces to prevent damage. Use the recommended protector where applicable and let cookware dry before storing it. A cloth or protector adds height, especially when several layers sit in a stack. Measure the stack after placing the protection in its normal position. For example, Le Creuset’s cookware care guidance recommends a soft layer between nested pieces. Use the instructions for your own finish and include each protector when measuring stack height. A thin protector folded across a handle can create a much higher point than its flat thickness suggests. Try the pan you use most in a separate position before deciding everything should nest. It may take a little more floor area while saving several lifts at each use. Start with the largest suitable pan and place the next one inside gently. Check for contact at the rims, handles and interior. Stop before the stack becomes difficult to lift or the nested handles rise above the closing height. Keep the pan you use every day accessible. If you have to lift several heavy pans to reach it, use a separate position or a smaller stack. **Illustrative stack check.** Three nested pans sit 18 cm high, including their protectors. The drawer has 20 cm of closing clearance, but the upper handle reaches 21 cm. Turn the handle if that keeps every part supported and below the obstruction, or split the stack. Use the highest loaded point for the check. ## Give long handles a clear route Put the largest everyday piece in first and try lifting it with both hands where needed. Mark where the handle lands when you put it down. Add the next group alongside it and check that you can take either out without catching the other. A long handle may fit diagonally but use the space where another pot’s grip needs to go. If you prefer upright storage, compare the pan’s full diameter and handle against the drawer’s height and dividers. Check that the support keeps the item steady as the drawer moves. Use a rack or divider only in a configuration the maker permits and on a base that supports it. A tall rack takes up part of the opening and can reduce the space to lift a pan out. The [drawer divider comparison](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-adjustable-drawer-dividers/) explains how fitting range and height change usable space. ## Keep lids and daily pans easy to retrieve Put each daily pan where you can see its handle and lift it without disturbing a tall neighbouring stack. If a lid stays with the pan, include its knob and the movement needed to remove it. Where loose lids make the stack too tall, give them a separate supported position. For plastic food-container lids, see the [container-lid guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-lids-in-a-drawer/), which uses a different grouping method. Test the drawer with a realistic load, opening and closing it gently before you use the new layout every day. Check whether a protector shifts, a handle turns towards the back rail or a loose lid changes angle. Leave the usable movement clear. If the drawer only opens partway, use the [part-opening drawer guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/organise-a-drawer-that-only-opens-partway/) to keep frequent cookware in the exposed section and plan the rear access separately. ## Questions before you choose ### Can I stack pans in a drawer? Follow the cookware maker’s guidance. Use suitable protectors where recommended and check that the stack is steady and easy to lift apart. ### How much weight can a deep drawer hold? Use the exact drawer and runner limit from the maker. Include the cookware, any rack or liner and everything else stored in the drawer. ### Do I measure just the pan diameter? Include handles, lid knobs and the complete stored position. Check the opening and space needed to lift it out. ### Is upright pan storage better? It can give separate access if a suitable support fits the full pan and handle. Check loaded height, stability and the permitted rack configuration. ### Where should pan lids go? Place them in a supported group that is easy to reach without moving heavy pans. Include the knobs and handles in the clearance check. ## How we put this guide together We reviewed cookware care and nesting guidance from Le Creuset and Tefal alongside IKEA’s drawer specifications. Published drawer assembly dimensions are not treated as usable internal space, and load limits remain specific to the exact drawer. [Read our source policy](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/source-policy/) **Space Made Useful** We compare documented dimensions, opening mechanisms and other details that help you choose storage for the space you have. [How we research our guides](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/editorial-policy/).