Ulti-Mate’s two-door tall closet cabinet ships with three shelves: two adjustable and one fixed center shelf. That center shelf is part of the cabinet’s structure, but if you’re planning to use the interior for taller items — or to add a closet rod — you may want to skip it during assembly. Here’s what to know before you start.

The fixed shelf ties the two side panels together, helping the closet cabinet stay square. If you’re using the cabinet strictly for shelf storage, leave it in. But if your goal is vertical clearance for hanging or tall gear, leaving it out can make sense — provided you plan for stability.

Important: The center shelf is captured by the side panels using pins and fasteners during assembly. Once the closet cabinet is fully assembled, removing that shelf later would require major disassembly or physically cutting the shelf out — neither is practical after installation. Make the decision to omit it before you begin assembly.

If you decide to leave out the fixed shelf, you’ll want to make a few small adjustments to ensure the cabinet remains stable and strong:

1. Build per the manual proceed through the base, sides, top, and back panels assembly. Keep everything square and snug.
2. Skip the fixed-shelf step. When the instructions call for installing the center shelf with dowels and cams, leave that shelf out.
3. Reinforce for stability. Because the center shelf adds rigidity, anchor the cabinet to a wall stud or bolt it to an adjacent cabinet to prevent it from shifting once loaded.
4. Optional wall cleat set (not included). You can secure the closet cabinet to the wall using a the optional cleat system. This uses two cleats anchored to the wall, each with an upper edge cut at a 45° angle that mates with the cabinet’s back supports. The back supports have the opposing 45° cut edge on the bottom face. The interlocking 45° faces “marry” together to lock the cabinet to the wall, improving stability without the center shelf. You can purchase them here.

Leaving out the fixed shelf is ideal if you’re planning to add a closet rod for hanging coats or detailing towels, need room for tall items like fishing rods or vacuum hoses, or want a clear vertical space for mounting custom hooks or charging tall equipment.

It’s easiest — and safest — to skip the shelf when you plan for it up front. Follow the manual closely, anchor the cabinet, and consider the wall cleat set for extra security. With that done, you’ll have the full 72.7 inch interior height of the closet cabinet to use.