Guide to Common Kitchen Cabinet Sizes

Kitchen cabinet sizes are largely standardized. Unless you are dealing with custom kitchen cabinetry, which can have any dimensions, you will find lower prices and predictable sizing in stock or semi-custom kitchen cabinets.

Because kitchen cabinets come in hundreds of sizes, below is a guide to a few of the more common kitchen cabinet sizes.

1. Base Cabinet Sizes

Height and Depth: Base cabinets are the workhorse of kitchen design. Base kitchen cabinets are installed directly on the floor. Counters are laid on them, sinks installed within them, dishwashers and ranges bracketed by them, and more.

• Height: 34.5". After adding countertop materials, total height will raise to 36".
• Depth: 24". Base cabinets tend to be limited to 24". Deeper base cabinets make it difficult for you to reach the back of the counter or to plug in appliances.

Width:

• 36": Can accommodate a double-basin sink.
• 33": Can accommodate a double-basin, offset sink.
• 30": Single-basin sink.
• 18", 12", 24" Filler cabinetry.
• 48": Typically the largest size base cabinet, not often used.

2. Wall Cabinet Sizes

Height and Depth:

• Height: Common wall cabinet heights are 12", 36", and 48". The 12" cabinets fit neatly over fridges.
• Depth: 12" to 24". Maximum depth for wall cabinets is 24" because it cannot exceed the depth of base cabinets.

Widths: A standard, single- or double-door wall cabinet width is 30". Cabinets can run as narrow as 12" or 15". Cabinets wider than 30" are generally not used.

3. Tall Cabinet Sizes

Tall kitchen cabinets may be called pantry cabinets or utility cabinets. As befits the name, tall kitchen cabinets are tall, often reaching ceiling height. Height and Depth:

• Height: 84" to 96". Those 96" cabinets take you right up to the ceiling. The 84" tall cabinets give you one foot of breathing room above the cabinet--but no practical purpose to that above-cabinet spacing.
• Depth: 12" to 24". Shallower, 12" deep pantry cabinets are common because they are used for storing food. If the cabinets were any deeper, you would lose food in the dark regions in back.

Widths:

• 12": Narrow pantry cabinets hold far more food than you might think. Plus, they can fit in otherwise-neglected spaces.
• 36": If you want bells and whistles, such as pull-outs and storage on the doors, you'll need a wider pantry cabinet.
• 24": Another common pantry cabinet width.