# How to plan shelving under the stairs Canonical HTML: [How to plan shelving under the stairs](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/plan-shelving-under-stairs/) Practical guide · [Boxes & shelves](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/boxes-and-shelving/) · Map the front and rear slope, draw the supported footprint and check boxes, door movement, assembly and wall-fixing access before choosing furniture. Space Made Useful · Updated November 2026 · One storage example · ![An empty under-stair alcove with a tape measure and plain cardboard floor templates for a shelving footprint](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/assets/images/batch10-plan-shelving-under-stairs.jpg) The main decision ## Measure the profile and the route to use it Check available height at both ends and at each step of the proposed unit. Keep the footprint, assembly space, required fixing access and box-removal route on the same sketch. ## Measure the slope where the furniture will actually stand Start with the usable floor area inside the under-stair space. Measure along the back wall and again at the front edge of the proposed unit. Include skirting, stair supports, pipes and any cupboard frame. A shelving unit can fit the highest point of the alcove while its upper rear corner still meets the slope. Draw the side profile before choosing a tall rectangular unit or several lower pieces. Mark a line on your sketch for the top of the furniture at its intended depth. Measure from the floor to the sloping underside at both ends of that line and at every planned change in height. Use the tightest measurement for the complete body, including feet and top panels. If the floor is uneven, follow the unit’s permitted levelling method and include the adjusted height. Do not assume the ceiling follows a perfectly straight line between two measurements. Check the front and rear profiles separately. The underside of a stair, a rail or a projecting trim can change the available headroom. A cupboard door frame may be lower than the space behind it. The [freestanding shelving measuring guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-for-freestanding-shelving/) explains how the supported footprint differs from the outside opening. Record both on the same sketch so a promising depth does not hide a restricted entry. ## Draw whole-unit footprints and the space in front Mark each candidate’s outside width and depth with paper or thin card on the floor. Keep the template within the supported base and away from access points you need to reach. A low rectangle may use more floor width, while a stepped unit can follow part of the slope. Check each step against its own height measurement. A stepped silhouette does not establish that every stair angle will match it. **Illustrative height check.** A proposed unit is 80 cm wide and 60 cm high. At its taller end the alcove has 94 cm of headroom, but at the lower end only 57 cm remains. The complete unit does not fit there. Moving it towards the taller section or using a lower unit changes the footprint and needs a fresh check. Leave space for the activity in front. A box may require you to step back as you slide it out. A cupboard door can sweep across that standing space. Test the door in its normal open position and check that the loaded box can turn through the entrance. Include handles and lid clips, especially if you will lift the box onto a table to open it. ## Plan the shelf bays around the things you need to retrieve Lay out a typical group before choosing the shelf spacing. Measure its storage box with the lid on and compare the usable shelf depth with the complete outside base. The uprights and rear bracing can reduce the clear bay width. For a cube unit, check the actual cube opening and whether a handle projects beyond it. The [shelf and box guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/measure-shelves-for-storage-boxes/) separates those measurements from the overall cabinet size. Give everyday items the easiest opening. Put suitable heavier groups low, where you can handle them without reaching under the slope, and keep occasional light items in the less convenient bay. Check that one group can come out without unstacking several others. A tall stack of light boxes can still be difficult to remove from a low triangular opening. Use the maker’s exact shelf and unit load limits. Include the box and its contents, and follow any evenly distributed load condition. Our [load-rating guide](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/read-shelving-load-ratings/) explains why a high total figure does not make one shelf suitable for the same weight. Keep service controls and any specified ventilation space outside the storage plan. ## Check assembly, securing and a normal retrieval Read the instructions before committing to the position. Some units need to be assembled upright, turned into position or secured to a suitable wall. Confirm that there is enough room for that movement and that the required fixing point is accessible. Account for the space behind skirting and any permitted stand-off. A unit’s footprint describes its final position, not necessarily the space needed to build it. Try the cardboard footprint with the cupboard door fully open and with a box of the expected size. Move the empty box through the route, then assess a realistic load you can handle comfortably. Check the corners as you turn it, the space for both hands and where you will put it down. Adjust the bay choice before filling the unit. Compare the [under-stair shelving shortlist](https://spacemadeuseful.co.uk/best-shelving-for-under-stairs/) once you have those measurements. It compares low rectangular bookcases, horizontal compartments and stepped shelving by the access they offer. Save the final sketch with the exact model dimensions so a future replacement box or shelf can be checked against the same usable space. ### A low-unit example for a measured taller bay The VASAGLE LBC163X01 below measures 60 × 24 × 81.2 cm outside. Draw that complete rectangle at the intended depth and check both upper corners against the slope. Leave room to assemble and secure it to the wall as its instructions require. Its adjustable bays change the internal layout, while the outside height remains the same. A low rectangle with adjustable bays ### VASAGLE low adjustable bookcase A low open shelf with adjustable internal levels and a 60 cm-wide footprint for the taller part of a small alcove. **Outside · W × D × H**: 60 × 24 × 81.2 cm **Access**: Adjustable open shelves **In the pack**: One bookcase with anti-tip fitting **What to check** Use the maker’s 60 × 24 × 81.2 cm drawing rather than conflicting title dimensions. Secure it to the wall as directed and check the 10 kg-per-shelf limit. View on Amazon — VASAGLE low adjustable bookcase ## Questions before you choose ### Where should I measure a stair slope? Measure at the front and rear of the proposed furniture depth, including both ends and each change in its top profile. Include trims and supports. ### Is the highest point enough to choose a unit? No. Check every upper corner and step where it approaches the slope. A lower corner can catch even when the maximum height fits. ### How much assembly clearance should I allow? Use the exact unit’s instructions. Installed dimensions do not describe all the room needed to build, turn and secure it. ### Can I store boxes in front of a service control? Reserve the required operating and service access before drawing the storage footprint. Follow the exact appliance or installation instructions. ### What should I try before buying? Use a cardboard footprint and an empty box of the intended size to test the entrance, door sweep, standing space and removal route. ## How we put this guide together We reviewed maker examples of stepped under-stair storage and installation guidance that separates assembled height from assembly space. The slope sketch and worked measurements are editorial planning examples for checking your own alcove. [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. 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