Kitchen cabinet sizes vary depending on your specific requirements and whether you will go for customized or stock cabinets. If you plan to fit several large appliances in your tall cabinets, you might want to opt for custom-built ones. Stock kitchen cabinets are often exclusively available in standard sizes.
The different sizes for base kitchen cabinets vary depending on your space requirements, or have a large kitchen with room for a deeper countertop and supporting high ceilings to support taller custom cabinetry. For installation, standard cabinet sizes come in increments of 3 inches.
Kitchen guidelines will consider interior dimensions and basic dimensions for smaller spaces.
Kitchen base cabinets have a standard height of 34 inches and a standard depth of 24 inches. You can raise it to 36 inches, which is the ideal height if you plan to add a countertop to your existing kitchen. This height is typical for a standard countertop and for a kitchen island in most new kitchen remodels. Again, ceiling height plays a role here in terms of the amount of space for wall cabinet heights. If there is enough space, even the top of your wall cabinets can benefit from beautiful crown molding accents and there are plenty of choices at big box stores. If you want some better deals, you can look online with companies like RTA cabinets.
Widths of base cabinets can measure anywhere around 9 to 48 inches, increasing in multiples of 3 inches.
It will also depend on the specific fixtures you like to add, such as a sink or basin. For example, 30 inches is enough for single basin sinks, while double basin sinks are best for 33 or 36 inches.
Table of Contents
Read further as I tell you more about standard base cabinet dimensions.
Three Main Types of Standard Kitchen Cabinets
Standard kitchen cabinet sets include tall kitchen cabinets, wall cabinets, and base cabinets. The wall kitchen cabinet is the upper cabinet installed on top of the counter and fixed to the wall studs.
On the other hand, base cabinets are the lower set of cabinets that create the foundation for the countertops. Tall cabinets are the full height cabinets that can serve as utility cabinets, pantry cabinets, or broom closets.
Each of these different kitchen cabinets is available in a wide selection of standard sizes.
What are Base Cabinets?
While you can do without other cabinets, such as upper cabinets, base cabinets are a must in any kitchen. Base cabinets on the floor, hold cooktops, countertops, and feature sinks installed on top of them.
These cabinets can also have double doors or single doors and store more oversized kitchen items such as pans and pots, food processors, microwave ovens, mixers, and other small appliances. Base cabinets also stand on the recessed riser, also called a toe kick, found at the cabinet box’s bottom.
The height of base cabinets doesn’t vary a lot, often measuring 34.5 inches with no countertops. These can also be as tall as 35 to 36 inches with the thickness of your countertop added. Some custom base cabinets can be as high as 38 inches or as low as 32 inches.
However, the width of base cabinets tends to vary, ranging between 9 and 46 inches, usually in 3-inch increments depending on the use.
• 42 inches for an extra-large cabinet or a lazy Susan
• 9 to 24 inches for rolling racks, baking pans, pull-outs, and spices
• 33 inches for offset sinks and double basin sinks up to 36 inches for double basin cabinets
• 30 inches for a single basin sink
The depth of kitchen base cabinets with no countertop is 24 inches starting from the cabinets’ edge to the wall. The depth can also be 25 to 26 inches if an affixed counter hangs slightly on the cabinet.
Standard Dimensions of Kitchen Base Cabinets
Durable and sturdy base cabinets serve as the foundation of your countertop and define the different activities in the kitchen.
These standard kitchen cabinets come in different functions and looks, with various options, including double cabinet doors, a single door, drawers, or a combination of drawers and doors. The standard top drawer is often 6 inches deep. This is also a good reason to consider your storage needs as you may not be satisfied with standard cabinets.
You can also choose some storage accessories to improve the accessibility of deeper cabinets and blind corner cabinets. Base cabinets often house the sink, appliances, and heavier cookware. These are the types of cabinets installed on either side of kitchen appliances.
The standard widths for base kitchen cabinets are 42, 39, 33, 30, 27, 26.25, 26, 25, 24, 21, 18, 15, and 12 inches. If there is any dead spot, you can install a small base cabinet width of 9 or 6 inches to create additional storage space.
Standard Height of Kitchen Base Cabinets
The height of base cabinets in kitchens is relatively standard. These cabinets are 34.5 inches tall without countertops, making them just tall enough for you to access them and use the top when needed.
This standard height is comfortable enough when standing at the counter to prepare meals or work on projects, and this height also works well for tall and short people most of the time. I should say that this is not a good choice if you happen to be taller or shorter than average.
Standard Depth of Kitchen Base Cabinets
Twenty-four-inch cabinets are the standard base cabinet depth, and you can find this in almost all base cabinets. Although you can find a variety of standard kitchen cabinet sizes, the depth of base cabinets is standard. The maximum depth for deep cabinets is 30 inches but you can never have too much space.
Beyond the standard cabinet depth, you can also enjoy them in other configurations such as 27 inches or 21 inches and even in 12, 15, or 18-inch configurations. The average person living in a smaller home, apartment, or condo will benefit from smaller dimensions. These homeowners have to adapt to the available space on their kitchen floor, which may limit specific functions such as food spread with smaller kitchen countertops.
The depth of wall cabinets is 12 inches. This is the standard wall cabinet depth. Standard wall cabinets are used for kitchenware, easily accessible from the front of the cabinet. By the way, there is a standard distance between the countertop height within most kitchens and the bottom of the wall cabinets. This distance is 18 inches.
Some homeowners want more space and light between the bottom of the cabinet and a kitchen cabinet. You cannot ignore countertop thickness from these measurements, but if you want more open spacing, consider 24 inches as an appropriate distance between your countertop and the bottom of the cabinet. If there’s still room after this at the top of the cabinet, consider crown molding accents for the finishing touch.
It often offers the extra inches of space for the things you need to store to improve the overall functionality of your kitchen. Since these cabinets have the same depth, you can ensure a smooth design of your kitchen and make them look uniform. However, you can also opt for custom cabinets with custom depth.
Standard Cabinet Widths for Kitchen Base Cabinets
It is crucial to choose a wide cabinet, and the width may vary with base cabinets and kitchen wall cabinets. The width can come in 36, 30, 24, 18, 15, and 12 inches. Once again, you can have the size adjusted or customized as you need or want.
Most manufacturers often follow standard measurements, but they can also offer sizes according to your specifications. Different widths will let you mix and match them based on your needs. If you prefer a small kitchen cabinet or a larger one, you can also work with a kitchen designer to know what suits you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard width of kitchen cabinets?
Base filler cabinets are 6 to 9 inches wide, while upper filler cabinets are 9, 6, and 3 inches wide. The standard widths of base cabinets are 42, 39, 33, 30, 27, 26.25, 26, 24, 12, 18, 15, and 12 inches. The standard widths are 36, 33, 30, 27, 24, 18, 15, and 12 inches for upper kitchen cabinets. Tall cabinets have a width of 33, 30, 24, and 18 inches.
What is the standard size of upper kitchen cabinets?
The standard kitchen cabinet dimensions for upper cabinets are 24 or 12 inches in depth and 42, 36, and 30 inches in height. Width has a varying range from 36, 33, 30, 27, 24, 18, 15, and 12 inches. You can find filler cabinets in 9, 6, and 3 inches widths.
How are base cabinets measured?
Today, building codes dictate that 34.5 inches is the standard height of kitchen cabinets. The typical distance from the outer edge of the cabinet to the wall is the measurement of the depth of base cabinets. The cabinet’s inner part has less space than the number of depths in inches. Having cabinets more than 24 inches deep might make it more challenging to reach an outlet. The overhang of the countertop will add an inch or two to the actual depth.
What size will the sink fit in a base cabinet measuring 30 inches?
A 30-inch base cabinet can accommodate a sink measuring 26 to 28 inches if you have an under-mount sink. If you prefer a drop-in sink, pick one that measures 30 inches.
What are the standard sizes for over-the-range microwaves?
An over-the-range microwave should have a standard size of 30 inches wide, 12 to 18 inches deep, and 10 to 18 inches in height.
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John Thompson, Writer and Commentator, EvolutDesign.com
Soldier, writer, researcher, consultant, and bon vivant, John Thompson is the author of numerous columns, op-eds, reports, briefs, short stories and books as the “Felicity Files” and “Spirit Over Steel: A Chronology of the Second World War” (version III). Often found hunched over his computer, or in his garden, and now often found doing both. His diverse talent has led him to work in industries and projects such as energy, security and home construction and renovation. To see the entire team at Evolutdesign.com, visit Our Team page.
