Kitchen Cabinet Sizes Guide

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing new kitchen cabinets is cabinet size. There are a few standard kitchen cabinet sizes, as well as some standard appliance sizes, that are designed to make building easier. More than likely, the cabinets in your kitchen were built to these standard measurements. However, if you have any oversized appliances or if you have odd angles or measurements, you will need to custom cabinets.

Generally speaking, standard cabinet sizes are twenty-four inches deep and thirty-four and a half inches tall (24”x34 ½”) for the base cabinets while the upper cabinets are usually twelve inches deep and thirty or forty-two inches tall (12” x 30” or 42”). Stock kitchen cabinets generally run in three-inch increments of width, up to thirty-six inches.

These measurements work well for most kitchens, but adjustments can be made within the stock system. For example, the 24” depth of base cabinets works well with most kitchen counter tops. However, an extra deep counter may require more depth in the cabinet. For situations like these simply place the 12” upper cabinet behind the 24” base cabinet for a total of 36” of depth.

The ability to add cabinets on top of one another gives you a little more flexibility when choosing stock cabinets. This means that with a bit of creativity stock cabinets can work in all but the most difficult kitchens. Say you have a section of cabinets that you want to cover from the counter to the ceiling. You can have someone do a custom job, and build a 54” inch cabinet that goes directly to the ceiling without any breaks, or you could simply stack a 30” on top of a 24.” The end result generally looks pretty similar in terms of the façade. The custom gives you more interior options, but also comes with a hefty price tag.

It is also important to keep in mind that stock cabinet measurements are designed around standard appliance measurements. So, when designing the layout of your cabinets, it is imperative that you already have a general idea of current or future appliance size and placement. Most appliances either have one standard size, or one small size range, however refrigerators and drop-in wall ovens can vary wildly. Make sure you know these measurements before you make any cabinet decisions.

Kitchen cabinet sizes really are not that complicated. There are only a few things to remember. Width is always measured in increments of three. It is imperative to measure your appliances. You can always combine different pieces of stock cabinets. Finally, remember the old golden rule of carpentry: measure twice and cut once.