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Building a custom closet costs about $2,000, on average. Because many types, sizes, and designs are available, the cost to build custom closets ranges from $250 to $6,000 or more. A reach-in closet is on the lower end of the price range from about $250 to $1,500, compared to a walk-in closet at $750 to $3,500 or a wardrobe at the high end between $1,500 and $6,000 or more.

You may need a building permit to add a closet, depending on the size and kind of work required to install it. The most likely scenario requiring a permit involves changing the structure of the house and performing electrical work for closet lighting. A permit can cost between $100 and $450. If you’re installing a smaller reach-in closet, a permit may not be required, but always check with your local municipality and consult a closet designer or builder.

Whether it’s less expensive to build or buy a closet depends on both the type of closet and whether or not you’d be constructing it yourself. The cost of custom closets built by a pro ranges from $1,300 to $3,800, but you may be able to DIY it for as little as $400. By contrast, prefabricated options go as low as $200 and up to $3,000, so it’s almost always less expensive to go this route. 

You should primarily pack books upright in boxes. But if you are trying to squeeze books into every last space of the box, you can pack sturdy paperback books with their spines down in the box. You can pack large books flat, as they take up more space anyway.