Standard Kitchen Cabinet Sizes and Dimensions
Standard US base cabinets are 34 1/2 in tall, 24 in deep and 9–48 in wide; wall cabinets are 12 in deep and 30, 36 or 42 in tall; tall pantry and oven cabinets are 84–96 in tall and 24 in deep. European kitchens use the same layout in millimetres: a 720 mm base carcass, 560–580 mm deep, with the worktop at 850–920 mm. The charts below give every cabinet type in both systems.
Kitchen cabinet sizes chart (US)
| Cabinet | Width | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base cabinet | 9–48 in, in 3 in steps | 34 1/2 in | 24 in |
| Drawer base | 12–36 in | 34 1/2 in | 24 in |
| Sink base | 30, 33 or 36 in | 34 1/2 in | 24 in |
| Blind corner base | 36–48 in | 34 1/2 in | 24 in |
| Lazy Susan corner | 33 or 36 in each way | 34 1/2 in | 24 in |
| Wall cabinet | 9–36 in (to 48 in) | 30, 36 or 42 in | 12 in |
| Short wall cabinet (over sink, range) | 24–36 in | 12, 15, 18, 24 in | 12 in |
| Over-the-fridge cabinet | 30–36 in | 12–24 in | 12 or 24 in |
| Tall pantry | 12–36 in | 84, 90 or 96 in | 12 or 24 in |
| Oven cabinet | 27, 30 or 33 in | 84–96 in | 24 in |
Kitchen cabinet sizes chart (metric)
| Cabinet | Width | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base cabinet | 300, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 900 mm | 720 mm carcass + 100–150 mm legs | 560–580 mm |
| Sink base | 600–1000 mm | 720 mm | 560–580 mm |
| Corner base | 900–1200 mm (blind) or 900 × 900 mm | 720 mm | 560–580 mm |
| Wall cabinet | 300–1000 mm | 700–720 or 900–920 mm | 300–350 mm |
| Top box above wall cabinets | 300–1000 mm | 360 mm | 300–350 mm |
| Tall cabinet | 400–600 mm | 2000–2300 mm | 560–600 mm |
| Oven housing | 600 mm | 2000–2300 mm | 560–600 mm |
Kitchen cabinet depth
The standard kitchen cabinet depth is 24 in (61 cm) for base (lower) cabinets and 12 in (30 cm) for upper (wall) cabinets, measured from the wall to the front of the box. That is the most common cabinet depth in every US kitchen, and the average kitchen cabinet depth people mean when they ask. The doors add 3/4 in to each.
Base cabinet depth
The standard base cabinet is 24 in (61 cm) deep from the wall to the front of the box. The doors add 3/4 in, and the countertop, 25–25 1/2 in deep, overhangs the doors by about 1 in. In Europe the carcass is 560–580 mm deep, about 600 mm with the doors, under a 600–620 mm worktop.
Shallower base cabinets, 12, 15, 18 or 21 in deep, fit tight spaces: a narrow galley, the back of an island, or a run where a door or window frame is in the way. An 18 inch cabinet depth still takes drawers on 16 in slides. Deeper cabinets, 27–30 in, are used under islands and for extra-deep counters, but the back of the cabinet becomes hard to reach.
Upper cabinet depth
Upper cabinets are 12 in (30 cm) deep as standard, the wall cabinet depth that keeps your head clear when you lean over the counter. Over the range hood and in pantries, 15 in deep wall cabinets give more space, and over a refrigerator the cabinet is 24 in deep so its front lines up with the fridge. In Europe, wall cabinets are 300–350 mm deep.
Kitchen drawer sizes
| Drawer | Front height | Inside depth of the box | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top drawer | 5–6 in (125–150 mm) | 3–4 in (75–100 mm) | Cutlery, utensils |
| Middle drawer | 8–10 in (200–250 mm) | 6–7 in (150–180 mm) | Tea towels, foil, small pans |
| Deep drawer | 10–12 in (250–300 mm) | 8–10 in (200–250 mm) | Pots, pans, plates |
| Drawer box length | 18–22 in (450–560 mm) | Matches the slide length |
A standard drawer base holds three drawers (one shallow over two deep) or four. Drawer boxes are about 1 in (25 mm) narrower than the opening for side-mount slides; see how to build drawers.
Base cabinets in detail
| Dimension | Metric (Europe) | Imperial (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Carcass height | 720 mm | 30 1/2 in box + 4 in toe kick |
| Height with legs or toe kick | 820–870 mm | 34 1/2 in |
| Worktop height | 850–920 mm | 36 in |
| Depth (carcass) | 560–580 mm | 24 in |
| Worktop depth | 600–650 mm | 25–25 1/2 in |
| Toe kick / plinth height | 100–150 mm | 4–4 1/2 in |
| Toe kick depth | 50–75 mm | 3 in |
See standard countertop height for how the toe kick, box and top add up.
Wall cabinets in detail
| Dimension | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 700, 800 or 900 mm | 30, 36 or 42 in |
| Depth | 300–350 mm | 12–13 in |
| Gap to worktop | 500–600 mm | 18–20 in |
| Height above a hob | 650–750 mm | 30 in |
Which height suits your ceiling is covered in upper cabinet height.
Tall cabinets
| Dimension | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2000–2300 mm | 84–96 in |
| Depth | 560–600 mm | 24 in |
| Oven housing opening | 560–600 mm wide | 24–30 in |
See standard cabinet height for every height from the floor, and pantry dimensions for walk-in pantries.
Standard cabinet widths
The standard cabinet width for both base and wall cabinets runs from 9 to 36 in in 3 in steps (to 48 in for base cabinets), and the most used kitchen cabinet widths are 12, 15, 18, 24, 30 and 36 in. Cabinets usually come in 300, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800 and 900 mm widths in Europe and in 3 in steps from 9 to 36 in in the US. Doors wider than about 600 mm (24 in) sag, so wider cabinets get two doors. A double-bowl sink needs at least an 800 mm (33–36 in) sink base.
Planning your own sizes
Measure the wall, subtract fillers at the ends (20–50 mm, 1–2 in, against walls so doors and drawers can open), then split the length into cabinet widths. Because you build the cabinets yourself, you are not limited to the standard widths: a 735 mm or 29 in cabinet costs nothing extra.
Enter your sizes in the plans below and the cut list follows:
Frequently asked questions
What are standard kitchen cabinet sizes?
In the US, base cabinets are 34 1/2 in tall, 24 in deep and 9–48 in wide; wall cabinets are 12 in deep and 30, 36 or 42 in tall; tall cabinets are 84–96 in tall and 24 in deep.
What is the standard depth of a base cabinet?
24 in (61 cm) for the box in the US, about 24 3/4 in with the doors. In Europe, 560–580 mm for the carcass and about 600 mm with the doors.
What is the standard height of kitchen base cabinets?
34 1/2 in with the toe kick in the US, for a 36 in counter. In Europe, a 720 mm carcass on 100–150 mm legs gives a worktop at 850–920 mm.
What widths do kitchen cabinets come in?
In 3 in steps from 9 to 36 in (some to 48 in) in the US, and 300, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800 and 900 mm in Europe.
How high should wall cabinets be above the worktop?
18 in (46 cm) is standard in the US; 500–600 mm in Europe. Above a cooktop, leave at least 30 in (650–750 mm).