All Minoan palaces had storage areas for the agricultural produce and other products which were collected from the region. Palace magazines were narrow rooms, laid out parallel to each other, full of large pithoi, and were usually situated in the west wing of the ground floor close to the entrance. It is believed that the position of the magazines in the west court was not accidental and that was intended to demonstrate wealth during the assemblies in the theatral area. These magazines were connected by a corridor which had a large antechamber for the control of the products and archive organization.

The most extensive magazines ever found in a Minoan palace are those of Knossos. It is estimated that these magazines had over than 420 pithoi (with a capacity of roughly 246.000 litres) and cupboards for storing valuable products. A long walkway, parallel to the axis of the central court connected many narrow and long magazines to the west wing. The magazines, where probably the entire agricultural surplus of the palatial territory was concentrated, as well as other valuable products of commercial value, indicate the centralized character of the palatial economy. The organized storage system facilitated payment of taxes by the citizens, which, like all transactions, was made in kind.

Apart from the internal areas of the palaces, the typical kouloures were used as granaries and are known from the courts of the palaces at Knossos and Mallia. Although their content does not provide clear evidence, these constructions are often referred to as an early form of magazines, recalling Egyptian granaries.