About the Standard Dimensions for Kitchen Cabinets

When building or remodeling a kitchen, you can save time and money by choosing cabinets in standard, or stock, dimensions. While custom-made cabinets in any size can be designed by a cabinetmaker or special ordered from most home improvement centers, the cost often is higher than that of cabinets mass manufactured in standard dimensions. And even if you are building your own cabinets, you will find that there are advantages to going with tried-and-true sizes.

Standard kitchen cabinets have been made in some of the same basic sizes for decades. One reason consumers continue to buy kitchen cabinets in standard sizes--and manufacturers therefore continue to produce them--is that standard sizes have proven to be functional.

The standard size for base (floor) cabinets is 24 inches deep and 34 1/2 inches tall. Upper cabinets, or wall cabinets, are 12 inches deep and either 30 inches or 42 inches tall. One exception to the standard wall cabinet size is for cabinets made to go above refrigerators. These cabinets typically are 12 to 15 inches tall and are as deep as base cabinets. Their 24-inch depth makes the cabinets more accessible to people reaching up and over refrigerators. The standard width of kitchen cabinets begins as small as 6 inches and continues in 3-inch increments up to about 48 inches.

Wall cabinets typically are hung 18 inches above a countertop. Because a base cabinet with a countertop in place is 36 inches, the bottom of the wall cabinet should be 54 inches from the floor. A cabinet above a stove should have 24 inches' clearance. Whether the top of the cabinets are straight or staggered is a personal choice. Some people prefer a clean line parallel to the ceiling; others like to mix 30-inch and 42-inch wall cabinets to create a staggered effect.

Going with standard cabinet dimensions means that you also can use standard-size countertops. As with stock cabinets, standard countertops are readily available at home improvement centers. Standard countertops are 25 1/2 inches deep and are made to slip easily on top of standard kitchen cabinets. A wider 36-inch countertop also is considered a standard size for islands. When a 36-inch island countertop is placed on a 24-inch standard base cabinet, an overhang on one side is created, allowing for seating with knee space.

Many manufacturers of stock kitchen cabinets offer online sites where you can design your own kitchen using the cabinets they offer. Before going to such a site, measure the length and height of your kitchen walls and note the size and placement of doors and windows. Also note the placement of utilities that would be difficult to move, such as water and gas lines, and the placement of electrical outlets.