Pot Rack Buying and Hanging Guide

Which pot rack is right for my kitchen?

Our pot racks come in many different shapes, sizes, styles, and finishes. Each pot rack is either a hanging pot rack or a wall pot rack. You know best what will work in your kitchen space. Generally, wall pot racks work well in kitchens with wall space to spare. Hanging pot racks are ideal when placed over counters or kitchen islands. When hung over a kitchen island, regular hanging pot racks can sometimes cast a shadow, depending on the lighting in your kitchen. In that case, you may want to purchase a lighted pot rack, which will allow you to store your cookware while illuminating your workspace. Wherever you choose to place your pot rack, make sure it is in a place where you can easily access your cookware.

The choice of shape and finish depends mainly on your stylistic preferences and kitchen décor. We carry rectangle pot racks, oval pot racks, round pot racks, square pot racks, and bar pot racks. They come in many different finishes, including hammered steel, stainless steel, copper, chrome, brass, wrought iron, and wood. Use the links in the navbar to the left to shop for pot racks by shape, by style, or by finish. You can also shop by price or by brand.

Will my hanging pot rack fit in my kitchen space? Will I be able to reach my pots?

To answer these questions, you need to know the following measurements:

• the height of your ceiling
• the ‘reaching height’ of the person using the rack

To determine your ‘reaching height’, reach your arm into the air as if you were reaching for the bottom of a pot or pan. Remember, you do not need to be able to reach the hooks on the bottom of your pot rack. You only need to be able to reach the bottom of the pots and pans to lift them off the hook. Now determine what the height of your out-stretched arm is. This is your ‘reaching height’. Typically, this would add 6-10 inches to your height, depending on the length of your arms. Now, subtract your ‘reaching height’ from your ceiling height. This is the space where your pot rack and pots and pans will need to fit.

To determine whether your pot rack will fit, first find out the height of the pot rack you like. The height we list in our product descriptions generally refers to the distance from the ceiling to the bottom of the pot rack or, in some cases, the bottom of the pot hooks. Now, consider that the length of pots and pans varies from about 10” for a small pot to 21” for a large skillet. Of course, this is an approximation. Your pots may be larger. If you want to get very accurate measurements, add together the length of your pots to the height of the pot rack. This will give you the total distance from your ceiling to the bottom of your hanging pots. Then subtract that distance from your ceiling height to see if your pots will hang above or below your reaching height.

Most pot racks are designed to fit an 8 ft or 9 ft ceiling, so cooks of average height can easily access their pots. If your ceiling is much taller (or if you are much shorter), you may need to use chains or extension hooks to get your pot rack to the right height.

Keep in mind that pot racks hung over kitchen islands require 6” of rack clearance on all sides. You will need to reach up and in to access your pots. Also, even when your pot rack is not hung over an island, you may find that you have to stretch a bit to reach your smallest pots.

How do I properly install my pot rack?

It is very important that you install your pot rack securely! Loaded pot racks can be very heavy, and dangerous if not properly attached to ceiling joists. Each pot rack will come with its own set of hanging instructions. Follow these instructions carefully to make certain your pot rack is securely and properly installed. Generally speaking, though, hanging pot racks need to be fixed firmly to ceiling joists with ceiling screws. Some of our pot racks come with ceiling screws; some do not. If your pot rack does not come with ceiling screws, we recommend you purchase ceiling screws from your local hardware store.

Mounting your hanging pot rack is simple if your ceiling joists run parallel with your rack. However, if your pot rack runs perpendicular to your ceiling joists, you may need to use a ceiling plate. A ceiling plate has two eye bolts which attach to a plate in which holes are drilled at the same distance apart as your joists. The ceiling plate mounts into the ceiling, and the rack hangs from the plate.

Wall pot racks, on the other hand, need to be firmly fixed into wall studs with lag bolts. Unless you are purchasing an Enclume pot rack, which comes with lag bolts, you will need to purchase lag bolts from your local hardware store.

For special mounting needs, such as attaching pot racks to masonry or metal ceilings or walls, we recommend that you consult a professional in your area.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.