Wardrobe Storage Calculator
A wardrobe that's too small leaves clothes crushed and creased, while an oversized one wastes valuable bedroom floor space. Enter roughly how many garments you need to hang up below to see the rail length — and wardrobe size — you need.
Work out the wardrobe size you need
Enter roughly how many garments you need to hang up.
Include shirts, trousers, dresses and coats — count each item once.
To hang 40 garments, you'll need approximately:
120cm of hanging rail
That fits a Double wardrobe (~140cm rail).
Recommended products
A few well-reviewed wardrobe storage solutions.
- Fabric
- Double Hanging Rail
£39.99
Pros
- Quick tool-free assembly
- Foldable canvas cover, 140 x 43 x 174cm
- Ideal for spare rooms or students
Cons
- Steel frame flexes slightly when fully loaded
£349.00
Pros
- American white oak and oak veneer construction
- Chunky 30mm top with a waxed finish
- Matches most bedroom furniture ranges
Cons
- Heavy — best assembled with two people
- Long lead time on some colours
- Engineered Wood
- Adjustable Shelves + Hanging Rail
£159.99
Pros
- Sliding mirror doors save space in small bedrooms
- MDF chipboard construction with laminated matt finish
- Adjustable shelves and hanging rails for folded and hung clothes
Cons
- Sliding track needs occasional cleaning to run smoothly
Frequently asked questions
How much rail space does a hanging garment actually take up?
On average, around 2-4cm per garment on the rail, depending on how bulky the item is — a thin shirt takes up much less space than a padded coat. This calculator uses a blended average across typical wardrobe contents.
Is it better to hang or fold clothes to save space?
Hanging works well for anything prone to creasing (shirts, dresses, jackets) and keeps them ready to wear, while folding into drawers or shelves is more space-efficient for jumpers, t-shirts and other everyday basics.
Should I size a wardrobe for my current clothes or leave room to grow?
It's generally worth adding some headroom (10-20%) beyond your current garment count, since wardrobes tend to fill up over time and a slightly under-sized wardrobe becomes cramped and hard to keep organised.
Do sliding door wardrobes offer less usable space than hinged doors?
Sliding door wardrobes can save floor space since the doors don't swing open, but they sometimes have a slightly narrower usable interior due to the internal door track — check the manufacturer's internal rail length rather than just the external width.