The difference
A freestanding wardrobe is a piece of furniture: made to standard sizes, delivered or assembled, and stood against a wall. A fitted wardrobe is made for one wall: as wide as the wall and as tall as the ceiling, fixed in place, with the inside arranged around what you keep in it.
| Fitted | Freestanding | |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Wall to wall and floor to ceiling, so no gaps at the sides or above | Standard widths and heights, usually with space left above and beside |
| Uneven walls and ceilings | Trimmed to the wall and ceiling, so it looks built in | Gaps show where the room is not square |
| Inside | Hanging, shelves, drawers, shoe shelves and rails where you want them | The maker's layouts |
| Cost | Ours are £1,600 a metre of wall, including VAT and fitting | Usually less for the same width |
| Time | Ours are usually 8–10 weeks from survey to installation | Often in stock |
| Moving house | Stays with the house | Comes with you |
When a fitted wardrobe is the better choice
- You want every bit of the wall. Going to the ceiling turns the space a freestanding wardrobe leaves above it into storage.
- The room is awkward. An alcove, a sloping ceiling or a wall that is not square is where standard sizes leave gaps.
- You know what you need to store. Long hanging, double hanging, drawers and shoes can each go where they are most useful.
- You are staying. A fitted wardrobe is made for your room and stays with it.
When a freestanding wardrobe makes more sense
- You are renting or moving soon, and want to take it with you.
- You need it this week. A made-to-measure wardrobe takes weeks to make.
- The budget is tight and the wall is a standard size.
How our fitted wardrobes are made
Ours are designed to the exact width and height of your wall, made in our Livingston workshop in Egger and Swiss Krono board finishes, built in sections that are carried in and stood up separately, fixed to the wall with anti-tip brackets on tall units, and finished with a trim to the ceiling. They are 600 mm deep as standard (400 mm at the shallowest), and come with a 5-year guarantee. Site surveys cost £100, which is deducted from your quote should you go ahead.
See what yours would look like
Our online designer draws a fitted wardrobe to your own wall's size, with a guide price as you go. More: our fitted wardrobes · fitted wardrobe prices · fitted bedrooms
Common questions
A fitted wardrobe uses the whole wall, floor to ceiling, and is trimmed to an uneven room so it looks built in; a freestanding one costs less, is quicker to get and comes with you when you move. Fitted suits a room you are staying in; freestanding suits renting or a tight budget.
Yes. A fitted wardrobe is fixed to the wall and made for that room, so it stays with the house.
Ours usually take 8–10 weeks from the survey to installation.