What is the difference between a pantry cabinet and a pantry closet?

A pantry closet is a small walk-in room with 2–3 shelves and floor storage. A pantry cabinet is a full-height (floor-to-ceiling) cabinet with every inch dedicated to storage. Ayars typically recommends pantry cabinets for their superior storage density and cleaner appearance — the entire cubic volume is usable, and shelves can combine fixed and pull-out configurations.