What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets?
The kitchen is the heart of any home. It’s where families gather to share meals, laugh and talk, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
And while it may seem like an easy task to design your dream kitchen – with all those lovely Pinterest pictures floating around on the internet – there are many things you need to take into consideration before you start drawing up plans for your new space.
One important thing is standard kitchen cabinet sizes.
Do you know The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets?
The height without a countertop is 34 1/2 inches, and with a countertop 35 to 36 inches. The depth (front to the wall) without a countertop is 24 inches and with a countertop 25 to 26 inches.
Standard kitchen cabinet sizes are based on the height and width of a kitchen cabinet door.
In the US, these sizes will be called out as: “height x width”, such as “24” x “18”. In Europe, they are often referred to as: “height/width”, such as: “190/100”. The first number is the cabinet’s height and the second number is its width. You can also think of them as “depth x-height.” So a 24″ deep cabinet would have a height and width of 24″.
Check out our article on standard kitchen dimensions for more information about typical overall sizes. Cabinet Dimensions Chart This chart has volume measurements for some common appliance manufacturers’ cabinets too. Most modern appliances will fit into any standard-size cabinets, but always double-check the height, depth, and width of your appliance in its installed position.
General Thoughts on Sizing New Cabinets
The standard heights of kitchen cabinets today are typical: 24″, 30″ and 36″. Occasionally you’ll find 18″, but this is less common anymore as the countertop trend moves toward thicker counters (1 ½”-2″) and taller backsplashes (8-12″). Standard depths for most kitchens are 12″or 15″.
There isn’t an official standard here, but if we had to pick we’d recommend 12″ since it’s more common, and thus easier for cabinet manufacturers to consistently carry. 12″ deep cabinet drawers are also much more common; particularly in the “Euro-style”, where a bank of numerous shallow, wide cabinets is often preferred over a few deeper ones. Cabinets with 15″ depth can also be hard to find if you want custom sizes or designs, but it’s sometimes possible to have one made for you by a local cabinet maker or remodeling contractor.
As far as width is concerned, any size from 12″-36″ will work fine for most kitchens. In 18th century kitchens and large contemporary homes, 48″+ widths may be common, but only where there is sufficient space for them. If your kitchen has sufficient volume then larger widths can work well, but even in those kitchens, the traditional standard is 24″ deep cabinets with an 18″-24″ width. In small kitchens, or where a compact footprint is desired, you will likely want to go as small as possible for wall cabinets and smaller if you wish them under-counter too. For floor cabinets, you can always replace cabinet doors with folding shelf panels to gain extra space, so sizing isn’t quite as critical here.
Regarding style–the new trend in contemporary kitchens is larger “box” cabinets (as opposed to more traditional “framed”) cabinetry, particularly for wall cabinets or large freestanding pieces that become focal points of the room. It’s sometimes difficult to find pre-made stock sizes that don’t involve custom modifications, so in these cases, you’ll need to talk with your cabinet dealer about what’s possible.
As far as the cost difference between sizes, typically when dealing with stock cabinetry (i.e., where something is built just for you) the price increase per size will be similar in almost all instances, so if your budget can’t accommodate larger cabinets in one or two places it’s fine to go smaller. Where custom boxes are involved–which can involve some floor-to-ceiling panels and/or more complex shapes–the costs quickly escalate, so here do keep this in mind.
What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets?
Extra-large cabinets:
“Tallboy” or “Hollywood” cabinets are becoming the in-thing in the U.K., Australia, and select markets where smaller floor spaces are common, but for whatever reason, taller cabinets are desired.
The name is derived from apartment-style storage in high-rise buildings, where standard 30″-36″ height cabinets don’t fit under the sloped ceiling. Ideally, these should be custom-built for you to ensure proper measurements, space allotment, aesthetics, etc., but if this isn’t possible then check with your cabinet dealer for their suggestions on how best to make it work.
Extra deep cabinets:
Unless you have a very spacious kitchen or need to draw out certain items that won’t fit in standard depth cabinets (e.g., sauté pans, oversized baking sheets, etc.), then opting for deeper cabinets can be more trouble than they’re worth. The extra interior space may look nice on paper, but it can actually make your room feel smaller and increase visual clutter; which is hardly the desired effect in most kitchens.
Ditto with placing small appliances like toasters or coffee makers on top of deep cabinets–it’s not likely you’ll use these every day, so typically this is a waste of storage that could be used to better advantage elsewhere.
Custom sizes:
Expanding beyond the basic 12″x24″ dimension (and up to 36″) for wall and base cabinets is acceptable if there’s sufficient volume to accommodate it. For example, a 36″ wide base cabinet can be used to flank either side of an appliance garage door as the design calls for, rather than two 24″-wide cabinets which leaves a big gap on one end. In other instances, you could use this extra space to fit in an under-counter fridge or freezer if your kitchen lacks this appliance and/or there isn’t room elsewhere to place it.
Again, though, these should ideally be custom-built for you so there are no issues with repurposing them down the road…so look at options carefully before going too large because these units will likely outstay their welcome once your tastes change or the 1-yr product warranty expires.
Extra tall cabinets:
In some kitchens–especially those where height is a premium–two or even three standard height cabinets may not fit as intended, as the island or some other design feature likely limits total cabinet height to 36″. In these cases, you can either try maneuvering your layout to fit two lower units instead (where the empty space above them will then go unused) or talk with your cabinet dealer about going for a higher-end stock line/line extension that offers custom sizing.
And remember, if you don’t have the room for standard-size cabinets but still want a functional kitchen, consider building a niche cabinet instead.
What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets?
How far should the cabinets be from the ceiling?
That’s a question for many people looking to buy a new one. The simple answer, however, is that it depends on the height of the ceiling. If you have 8 feet high ceilings then you will need to measure out 40 inches from where your cabinets will be installed and tape off a line there.
This is so you know exactly where not to cut the cabinets when they are being assembled in their box.
You also want to make sure that it has enough space below it so that things like electrical outlets and sprinklers don’t get blocked by the bottom of the upper cabinet.
With most standard kitchen layouts this means you’ll most likely need 60 inches between the cabinets and the ceiling if your ceilings are at least eight feet tall. So when it comes to how far the cabinets should be from the ceiling measure out 40 or 60 inches so you know exactly where not to cut them when they are being assembled.
Measure your ceiling height before decorating any kitchen cabinets. Use a measuring tape and mark off an imaginary line with a piece of painters’ tape on your wall for every 8 feet of height in your kitchen.
This is to ensure that you have adequate space above, below, and around each cabinet for things like electrical outlets, light fixtures, and sprinklers. Since most standard kitchen layouts require at least six feet of overhead clearance (48 inches) or eight feet (64 inches), this measurement will typically fall between 40 and 48 inches, depending on your ceiling’s height.
Kitchen Cabinets Height Guidelines: 8 feet (64 inches) and Overhead Clearance
If your ceiling is at least eight feet in height, you require 64 inches of overhead clearance; the bottom of the upper cabinets should never be installed less than six inches from the ceiling. You may need to add extra space if there are light fixtures or vents in this area.
If your kitchen’s height varies, such as when it’s split level, measure both areas separately and divide by two to determine how much overhead clearance you need for upper cabinets in each section.
What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets?
What is the standard size of kitchen cabinet doors?
The standard size of kitchen cabinet doors is 30″ wide and 80″ tall.
Can I replace my old cabinets in my kitchen with new ones that are the same height but less width?
Yes, you can replace your old cabinets in your kitchen with new ones that are the same height but less width by removing the top molding from your old cabinets and attaching it to the top of your new ones.
The next thing you will need to do is cut down the side panels on all four sides to make them fit flush against each other. Once they are flush against each other, drill pocket holes along both ends of all four side panels before securing them together using 2 1/2 inch pocket hole screws.
Attach the base molding at a 90-degree angle completing your kitchen cabinet replacement.
Can I replace my old cabinets in my kitchen with new ones that are the same width but less height?
Yes, you can replace your old cabinets in your kitchen with new ones that are the same width but less height by removing the top molding from your old cabinets and attaching it to the top of your new ones.
The next thing you will need to do is cut down the side panels on all four sides to make them fit flush against each other. Once they are flush against each other, drill pocket holes along both ends of all four side panels before securing them together using 2 1/2 inch pocket hole screws.
Attach the base molding at a 90-degree angle completing your kitchen cabinet replacement.
Can I replace my old cabinets in my kitchen with new ones that are wider but less deep?
Yes, you can replace your old cabinets in your kitchen with new ones that are wider but less deep by removing the top molding from your old cabinets and attaching it to the top of your new ones.
The next thing you will need to do is cut down the side panels on all four sides to make them fit flush against each other.
Once they are flush against each other, drill pocket holes along both ends of all four side panels before securing them together using 2 1/2 inch pocket hole screws. Attach the base molding at a 90-degree angle completing your kitchen cabinet replacement.
Can I replace my old cabinets in my kitchen with new ones that are deeper but less wide?
Yes, you can replace your old cabinets in your kitchen with new ones that are deeper but less wide by removing the top molding from your old cabinets and attaching it to the top of your new ones.
The next thing you will need to do is cut down the side panels on all four sides to make them fit flush against each other.
Once they are flush against each other, drill pocket holes along both ends of all four side panels before securing them together using 2 1/2 inch pocket hole screws. Attach the base molding at a 90-degree angle completing your kitchen cabinet replacement.
What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets? (cre: kitchencabinetkings)
Can I replace my old cabinets in my kitchen with new ones that are deeper and wider?
Yes, you can replace your old cabinets in your kitchen with new ones that are deeper and wider by removing the top molding from your old cabinets and attaching it to the top of your new ones. The next thing you will need to do is cut down the side panels on all four sides to make them fit flush against each other.
Once they are flush against each other, drill pocket holes along both ends of all four side panels before securing them together using 2 1/2 inch pocket hole screws. Attach the base molding at a 90-degree angle completing your kitchen cabinet replacement.
What is the best way to remove doors from cabinets?
The best way to remove doors from cabinets is by removing hinges. To do this you will need to use a drill with an appropriate sized bit in order to put holes into the hinge pin located on the door and cabinet so that you are able to pry it out using a flat head screwdriver without damaging your cabinet or door.
This can be done by drilling two holes above where each hinge sits; then placing both of your screws into one of these holes and pulling down while pushing up on the other end of the screwdriver until they come loose. Once you have all four screws removed simply lift off your door, secure the new one in place with a hinge, and drill brand new holes for each hinge.
How can I remove old wood cabinets?
Before removing your old wood cabinets you will need to cut all power to your home as well as shut off the water supply so that no accidents occur.
Once everything is properly turned off and any moving parts such as doors or drawers are blocked on both sides you can begin removing them by first unscrewing the hinges from the pantry and then lifting up on one of the corners until you can lift it out of its respective space.
You will want to keep these pieces on hand as many times they may be re-used depending on how much damage there has been done to them over time; if they are in good enough condition to still be used you may want to consider putting them back up for a few extra bucks.
How do I remove the top molding of my cabinets?
To remove the top molding of your cabinets you will need to unscrew it from the wall that it is attached to. Once this is done you can use a saws-all or jigsaw with a fine-tooth blade on hand in order to cut along your line where the old and new molding meet.
After this has been completed simply attach your new piece of crown molding using wood glue and finishing nails, allow it some time to dry before performing any other steps on completing your cabinet replacement project.
What Is The Standard Size For Kitchen Cabinets? (cre: thespruce)
What types of materials are used to build cabinets?
Generally, cabinets can be built out of several different materials such as plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Of basic construction material for cabinetry, plywood is by far the best because it will last many years longer than that of particle board or MDF; however, it also comes at a much higher price tag making it not often used in most standard cabinet replacement projects.
The next step down from wood would be particle board which can be purchased at any home improvement store and is considerably less expensive than MDF; the only downfall to particleboard is that it does not hold up as well over time and will need to be replaced every 10 years or so.
Lastly, comes MDF which is what we use in most of our cabinet replacement projects due to its exceptional qualities such as durability, versatility, and price.
Conclusion
Standard kitchen cabinet sizes are 9″ deep, 12″ wide, and 36-inches high. These measurements can be used to determine the size of your custom cabinets or any other cabinetry you may need in your home. If you have an open floor plan, it’s best to use a minimum depth of 10 inches for storage closets.
This measurement is also good for laundry rooms with limited space because they store both clothes and cleaning supplies. Cabinets that span across two walls should include at least six inches between them so there is enough room to reach inside without touching the adjacent wall surface when opening doors on either side of the cabinet. Narrower spaces do not require this separation distance; however, they will reduce interior storage area.
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