Office Pantry Design Ideas: Layouts, Counter Sizes and Storage
Short answer: An office pantry needs a counter about 850 to 900 mm high and 600 mm deep, a sink, sockets above the counter for each appliance, under-counter storage with moisture-resistant carcasses, a waterproof top such as granite, quartz or solid surface, and space for a water dispenser, microwave, fridge and bins. A straight counter of 1,800 to 2,400 mm serves up to about 25 people; larger offices need an L-shape or parallel layout and a second microwave to avoid lunchtime queues.
The pantry is used by every person in the office several times a day, and it is usually designed last, in whatever corner is left. A little planning makes it quicker to use, easier to keep clean and much longer lasting. These ideas cover offices from 10 seats to 200.
What should an office pantry contain?
| Item | Planning note |
|---|---|
| Counter with sink | The work surface; sink at one end, near the plumbing line |
| Water dispenser or purifier | Needs a socket and often a water inlet and drain; place it where a queue will not block the entrance |
| Microwave | One for roughly every 20 to 25 people who bring lunch; at counter or eye level |
| Tea and coffee machine or kettle | Socket above the counter; storage for supplies directly below or above |
| Refrigerator | A niche with ventilation space behind and at the sides |
| Induction plate | Only if hot food is prepared; needs a heat-proof top and ventilation |
| Under-counter storage | Drawers for cutlery, shutters for crockery and supplies |
| Overhead cabinets | Cups, glasses, dry goods |
| Tiffin and bag shelves | Open pigeon-holes near the entrance |
| Bins | Segregated wet and dry waste, ideally pull-out or in a closed unit |
| Dish rack or drying area | Beside the sink, over a drain board |
| Housekeeping cupboard | A tall, lockable unit for mops, cleaning supplies and stock |
Standard pantry counter dimensions
| Element | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Counter height | 850 to 900 mm |
| Counter depth | 600 mm |
| Gap between counter and overhead cabinet | 550 to 650 mm |
| Overhead cabinet depth | 300 to 350 mm |
| Overhead cabinet height | 600 to 750 mm |
| Skirting or plinth | 100 mm, in a waterproof material |
| Clear floor in front of counter | At least 1,000 to 1,200 mm |
| Passage between parallel counters | 1,200 mm or more |
| Microwave shelf height, if raised | About 1,100 to 1,300 mm to the base |
Which layout suits your office?
| Layout | Description | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Straight (one wall) | Single counter of 1,800 to 3,000 mm with storage above and below | Up to about 25 to 30 people; corridor ends, niches |
| L-shape | Counter along two walls | 30 to 60 people; separates the wet zone from the appliance zone |
| Parallel (galley) | Two facing counters | 50 to 100 people; one side for self-service, one for prep and washing |
| Counter with island or high table | Wall counter plus a central standing table | Open pantries that double as a social space |
| Service pantry plus cafeteria | Closed prep and wash area with a serving counter to a separate seating hall | 100 people and above; catered meals |
12 pantry design ideas
1. Split wet and dry
Keep the sink, drying rack and bins at one end and the appliances and supplies at the other. Water stays away from sockets, and people washing a cup do not block those making tea.
2. Plan a socket for every appliance
List the appliances first and place one socket above the counter for each, with a spare. A pantry running on an extension board is both unsafe and untidy. Have an electrician confirm the load; microwaves, kettles and induction plates draw heavy current.
3. Raise the microwave
A microwave on its own shelf or in a tall unit frees counter space and puts the door at a comfortable height.
4. Give the fridge and dispenser their own niches
Built-in recesses keep the counter line clean and stop appliances jutting into the walkway.
5. Use drawers, not just shutters
Deep drawers below the counter make crockery and supplies easy to reach. One shallow drawer near the tea point for spoons and stirrers saves constant searching.
6. Hide the bins
A pull-out bin unit or a closed cabinet with a top flap controls smell and looks far neater than open dustbins.
7. Add tiffin shelves
Most people in Pune offices carry a lunch box. A bank of open cubbies near the door keeps bags off the counter and the dining tables.
8. Choose a top that takes abuse
Granite, quartz and solid surface handle hot vessels, spills and scrubbing. Laminate tops are economical but fail at the sink cut-out unless the edges are perfectly sealed.
9. Protect the wall
A backsplash of tile, glass, stone or solid surface between counter and overhead units stops tea and curry stains reaching the paint.
10. Light the counter
An LED strip under the overhead cabinets makes the pantry feel clean and helps with spills.
11. Make it part of the office
Carry the office laminate and one accent colour into the pantry, and add a high table or ledge so that it works as a spot for short breaks.
12. Plan for cleaning
Raise cabinets on waterproof legs or a sealed plinth so that floor mopping does not soak the base, and keep a tall cupboard for housekeeping material.
Which materials last in a pantry?
| Part | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Carcass, especially the sink unit | BWP plywood or HDHMR with sealed edges | Ordinary particle board or MDF |
| Shutters | Laminate on moisture-resistant board; acrylic or PU for a premium look | Unsealed edges, paper-thin laminate |
| Counter top | Granite, quartz, solid surface | Laminate around the sink |
| Plinth | PVC or aluminium skirting, adjustable legs | Board touching the floor |
| Hardware | Stainless or rust-resistant hinges and channels; soft-close | Plain steel hardware near the sink |
| Sink | Stainless steel with a drain board | Small bowls that splash |
| Backsplash | Tile, stone, back-painted glass | Painted wall |
Water is the enemy of pantry furniture. Every edge near the sink should be sealed, and the plumbing checked for leaks before the cabinets are fixed.
How big should the pantry be?
| Headcount | Counter length | Microwaves | Approx. pantry area, without seating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 15 | 1,500 to 1,800 mm | 1 | 30 to 40 sq ft |
| 15 to 30 | 2,400 to 3,000 mm | 1 to 2 | 50 to 70 sq ft |
| 30 to 60 | 3,600 to 4,800 mm, L-shape | 2 to 3 | 80 to 120 sq ft |
| 60 to 100 | 5,000 to 7,000 mm, parallel | 3 to 4 | 120 to 180 sq ft |
Seating is additional: plan seats for about a quarter to a third of staff, at roughly 12 to 15 sq ft per seat.
Services to fix before the furniture is made
- Water inlet and drain positions; the sink location follows the plumbing
- Socket positions and circuit capacity
- Exhaust fan or ventilation, so food smells do not drift into the work area
- Floor slope and a floor drain if the area is washed
- Waterproofing under and behind the sink unit
- Lighting points
Where should the pantry go?
- Close to the plumbing shaft, to keep pipe runs short
- Away from focus desks and meeting rooms; noise and smells carry
- Near a window or exhaust route if possible
- Not where the queue blocks a corridor or the entrance
- Near the breakout or collaboration area, so that conversation gathers there
For very small offices: the pantry in a cupboard
Where there is no room, a tall unit 900 to 1,200 mm wide can hold a small sink or just a counter shelf, a kettle and microwave on pull-out or fixed shelves, storage above and below and doors that close it all away. It needs one socket circuit and, if there is a sink, a water point and drain.
Common mistakes
- Too few sockets
- Particle board carcass under the sink
- No backsplash
- One microwave for sixty people
- Bins left in the open
- Cabinets sitting directly on a floor that gets mopped
- No ventilation
- Pantry opening straight into the quiet work area
Pantry furniture made in Pune
We build pantry counters, storage, tiffin shelves and high tables in moisture-resistant materials at our workshop in Dhanori, matched to the rest of the office furniture. Sizes for other furniture are in our office furniture dimensions chart; cable and socket planning is in the office cable management guide. If your office is running, the pantry can be upgraded over a weekend; see office renovation without shutting down. Our range is on the office furniture page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height of an office pantry counter?
About 850 to 900 mm, with a depth of 600 mm.
Which material is best for an office pantry counter top?
Granite, quartz or solid surface, because they resist heat, water and stains. The cabinets below should be in BWP plywood or HDHMR.
How many microwaves does an office need?
About one for every 20 to 25 people who bring lunch, so that queues stay short.
How much space does an office pantry need?
About 30 to 40 sq ft for up to 15 people and 50 to 70 sq ft for 15 to 30 people, not counting seating.
Talk to Encore Interiors
Encore Interiors designs, manufactures and installs office furniture from its own workshop in Dhanori, Pune.
Address: Survey No. 19, 3/1, near Shard Lawns, Madhav Nagar, Dhanori, Pune, Maharashtra 411015
Phone: +91 89799 31695, +91 75076 17409
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