If you have to move three jars to find the cumin, the problem is not necessarily a lack of cupboard space. It may be the way the jars are arranged. Good spice storage lets you see what you have, reach it while cooking and put it back without reorganising a shelf.
For a small kitchen, start by choosing the right location: a wall, the inside of a suitable cupboard door, or a small section of benchtop. These spice storage ideas compare those choices before asking you to buy matching jars.
Start with the jars you actually use
Take the jars out and group them by how often you reach for them. Keep your everyday seasonings together; place less-used blends and spare packets in a separate area. Check labels and dates before combining anything. Two similar-looking powders are not a reason to mix their contents.
Measure the widest jar base and the tallest jar, including the lid. Include the bottles you want to store beside the spices. A rack that fits a small supermarket jar may not fit a broad grinder, sauce bottle or refill container.
You do not need to decant everything for the arrangement to work. Keeping original containers preserves the ingredient and storage information. If you choose new containers, retain that information and label the contents clearly.
A wall rack frees the bench—but placement matters
Separate wall-mounted rows are useful when your jars have different heights. You can position a row of shorter jars below taller grinders instead of accepting the fixed spacing of a single multi-tier unit.
Our Wall Spice Racks, 2 or 4 Pack use individual narrow racks, each approximately 29cm long by 6.5cm deep by 6.5cm high. The shallow format is worth checking for small jars, but compare the usable shelf space with your actual jar bases. The overall depth is not a guaranteed internal allowance.
Leave enough space above each row to lift a jar out comfortably. Position the racks where you can read the labels without reaching over hot cooking equipment.
A convenient place should also suit the food's storage requirements. McCormick recommends tightly closed containers in a cool, dry location away from heat and direct sunlight; that makes the wall directly above a steaming hob a poor default choice. Follow the instructions on your own seasonings. Read McCormick's spice-storage guidance.
A cupboard-door rack needs a closing-clearance test
The inside of a cupboard door looks like unused space until a jar meets the shelf behind it. Before installing a rack, close the empty door and measure the available gap at each proposed row. Check hinges, shelf fronts and anything already projecting into that space.
- Mark where the rack would sit, using a surface-safe method.
- Compare the rack's loaded depth—not just its wire frame—with the cupboard clearance.
- Check that the door can close and open without the jars catching.
- Confirm that the door material, thickness and chosen fittings are suitable.
The wall-rack gallery shows both adhesive-pad and screw-fixing methods, but that does not make every surface suitable. Follow the supplied instructions. Do not assume adhesive pads suit wallpaper, rough finishes or every painted surface, and do not choose screws without checking door thickness. In a rental, confirm what alterations are allowed before fixing anything.
A benchtop rack is useful for a smaller daily selection
If wall or cupboard-door mounting is unsuitable, a freestanding rack can keep a few regularly used jars together. Place it outside your main chopping and preparation area, and make sure it does not block sockets or cupboards.
The 2-Tier Spice Rack with Hooks, 50cm is approximately 50cm wide, 14cm deep and 42cm high, with approximately 31cm between the shelf levels. It has solid shelf panels and side hooks for suitable lightweight utensils. Those hooks also need space: an arrangement that fits the shelf but leaves tools hanging into the walkway is too crowded.
Use the upper and lower levels to separate short jars from taller bottles where the measurements allow. Keep a small daily selection here and put spare packets elsewhere. That avoids turning a convenient cooking station into another densely packed shelf.
Matching jars are optional; the right closure is not
Labels facing the same direction can make a mixed set of jars much easier to scan. Try that first. If you still want to decant, compare the closure, capacity and cleaning instructions in our Spice Jars collection rather than choosing on colour alone.
Some ceramic seasoning pots have a spoon notch. They can be useful for serving or frequent use, but the notch means they are not airtight long-term storage jars. A lid shown in a photo does not establish an airtight seal. Keep each product's intended use separate from its decorative appeal.
Keep refill packets and duplicate jars in one labelled back-up zone, away from the small daily cooking selection. For planning that wider cupboard, our pantry organisation guide covers shelf zones, container access and refilling without hiding older supplies.
Try the layout before you commit
Arrange your daily jars in the proposed order on the bench. Can you identify each one quickly? Can you lift the tallest jar without bumping the row above? Is there a clear spot for it when you put it back? Use those answers to decide how many rows you need.
For a kitchen with spare wall space, compare separate wall rows. For one with a suitable cupboard door, prioritise closing clearance. If you have a clear benchtop corner, consider a shallow freestanding unit. Browse our Spice Racks collection once you know the location and jar measurements—the right rack should fit your cooking routine as well as the room.
