I am making plans to build shelves for an open pantry in my kitchen. The plans are in the attachment.

Need opinions/insights:
-- My idea is to use 3/4" MDF as the shelf material.

-- The shelves will be 'banded" all sides with 6063 aluminum channel that is 3/4" in all the dimensions and 1/8" thick except the rear.

-- The rear of the shelves will be mounted in channel that is premounted in the wall.

-- Next, the real question, do you think I can get away with using only two brackets 48" apart for support? The lower 3 shelves will have legs since they jut out 20" from the wall.

Is that clear as mud?

I thank you all in advance for your help.

I built our pantry by covering a wall with vertical library shelving rails a foot apart and using brackets that clip into rail slots at about a pitch of an inch.

I used 6", 9", 12" and 18" wide white veneered chipboard and their matching brackets, all 1/2" thick and 36" long.

This all allowed me to put the shelves exactly where I wanted and to mix and match heights and widths to match the items on them and allow accessibility.

They have been up now some twelve years with zero problems.

Ian, Thanks for the reply. I previously gave thought to the method you mentioned. The problem is I cannot get symmetry and load-bearing due to the placement of the studs. I also need every bit of the 20" on the lower shelves for various reasons.

Update: I have decided against MDF. One of the chain home stores improvement stores has edge-laminated boards of the width I need. While they are pine, I believe they offer better strength. The is higher, but that is fine. I will still be banding the shelves in aluminum channel on all sides except the back. The backs will be mounted into channel that is attached directly to the wall. Sagging should not be an issue across the 48-inch span.