What Are The Standard Kitchen Cabinet Sizes? We Have The Answers

When designing your dream kitchen, getting the cabinet sizing right is crucial for functionality and style. The standard dimensions for base, wall, and upper cabinets allow you to perfectly configure your layout. Understanding typical widths, heights, and depths helps ensure your beautiful new kitchen won't just look amazing, but will work efficiently for years to come.

We've come up with this comprehensive guide to give you insider knowledge on standard kitchen cabinet sizes. Read on to get the key details you need to plan a kitchen that's tailored to your space and storage needs.

An Overview of Common Cabinet Types

Before diving into the nitty gritty of measurements, it helps to understand the main categories of kitchen cabinets:

Base Cabinets

Base cabinets are installed directly on the kitchen floor. They come in standard widths like 24", 30", and 36". Full-height base cabinets are typically 36" tall. Sink base cabinets are shorter, around 34" to leave room for the sink. Custom toe kicks about 4" tall are included so cabinet doors don't collide with feet.

Base cabinets are the workhorses of the kitchen. They offer deep storage space, typically with a 24" depth. Drawers, shelves, and pull-out elements maximize the storage potential.

Wall Cabinets

Wall cabinets are mounted on the wall above countertops or base cabinets. Standard heights are 30" to 36", with widths starting as narrow as 12" for filler cabinets. Wall cabinets tend to be 12" or 13" deep, less than base units.

Wall cabinets provide easy access day-to-day storage. Their shallower depth leaves more free countertop workspace compared to base cabinets.

Upper Cabinets

Upper cabinets are mounted above wall cabinets, typically 18" to 30" above the countertop. Like wall units, uppers come in an array of widths from 12" to 36". Depths are usually 12" or 24".

Upper cabinets maximize prime real estate with storage that's out of the way. Often used for specialty items or overflow, upper cabinet contents are less convenient to access daily.

Standard Cabinet Widths

Width is a key dimension, dictating how much horizontal storage space a cabinet offers. Let's look at typical widths for each cabinet type.

Base Cabinet Widths

The base cabinet widths below are common standards:

• 9” - great for tight spaces
• 12” - good for narrow areas
• 18”
• 24”
• 30”
• 36” - most popular width

For a functional work area, 30" to 36" base cabinets are recommended. Balance large cabinets with 18" and 24" sizes placed strategically.

Wall Cabinet Widths

Typical wall cabinet widths include:

• 12”
• 15”
• 18”
• 24”
• 30”
• 36”

Filler cabinets help use awkward spaces with widths down to 3". Varying wall cabinet sizes creates visual appeal.

Upper Cabinet Widths

For uppers, common interior widths are:

• 12”
• 18”
• 24”
• 30”
• 36”

Wider upper cabinets work above sinks or stoves. Narrow 12" uppers maximize small spaces.

Standard Cabinet Heights

Along with width, height is critical for both function and achieving your dream kitchen look.

Base Cabinet Heights

Full-height base cabinets are typically 34-1/2" to 36" tall. Sink base cabinets range from 28" to 34" to leave room for the sink. Standard drawer heights are 7" to 9".

Optimize base cabinet height for ergonomics. Keeping lower shelves reachable reduces strain.

Wall Cabinet Heights

The standard height for wall cabinets falls between 30" and 36". More common is 30" or 33" if 12" uppers are included above.

Suffix “SW” indicates special width. "SW15" is a 15-inch wide wall cabinet. If needed, adjust height so wall and base cabinets align.

Upper Cabinet Heights

Typical interior upper cabinet heights are:

• 12”
• 15”
• 18”
• 24”
• 30” - least common

Installation height above the countertop is usually 18" to 30". Allow at least 15" clearance between countertop and lower edge of upper cabinets.

Standard Cabinet Depths

The "bones" of cabinet boxes come in standard depths. Depth impacts storage capacity.

Interior Cabinet Depths

For all cabinet types, 24" is the standard interior depth. Upper cabinets also come in 12" depths, providing different storage options.

Deeper cabinet depths offer more storage capacity. But they also take up more space in the kitchen footprint.

Exterior Cabinet Depths

Factor in door overlays and face frames when calculating exterior depth:

• Full overlay: add 1”
• Partial overlay: add 2”
• Inset: add 2.5” to 3”

Knowing interior versus overall exterior depth assists with accurate installation planning.

Door and Drawer Dimensions

Along with the cabinet box, door and drawer sizes impact usable space. Standard sizes include:

• Doors: 15” to 24” wide x 24” to 30” high
• Drawers: 18” to 24” wide x 5” to 7” high

Consider standard interior dimensions when designing custom elements like tray dividers or roll-outs.

Planning Your Kitchen Layout

Use standard cabinet sizes to design your optimal kitchen footprint. Keep these tips in mind:

• Allow for trim and moldings around cabinets
• Include adequate room for opening doors and drawers
• Don’t squeeze cabinets into spaces too narrow
• Ensure adequate clearance around appliances

An efficient kitchen layout complements your lifestyle. Smart planning using standard cabinet sizes helps ensure it.

Special Considerations

While most kitchens use standard sizes, you may need to account for:

• Extra tall pantry cabinets
• Filler pieces to use awkward nooks
• Specialty cabinetry like microwave or appliance garages
• Custom modifications like extra deep drawer bases

Talk to your kitchen designer if you need non-standard cabinet solutions. Semi-custom adapts standard sizes to your unique needs.

With the inside scoop on typical kitchen cabinet dimensions, you can confidently create an efficient, gorgeous kitchen design tailored to your lifestyle and space. Use these standard sizes as a planning guide, while factoring in your own storage needs and style preferences.

Understanding standard base, wall, and upper cabinet widths, heights and depths gives you an advantage when designing your ideal kitchen layout. Pair that with an experienced kitchen designer, and you have the perfect recipe for cooking up a beautiful, functional dream kitchen that suits your taste.