The right cabinet dimensions are essential while planning a kitchen layout because they impact the kitchen’s aesthetics and also determine the functionality and efficiency of the kitchen space. All these make it important to gather information about the standard kitchen cabinet sizes. This article serves as a guide to assist you in making informed decisions for optimizing the available space in the kitchen.
Understanding Standard Kitchen Cabinet Dimensions
All kitchen cabinets can be broadly categorized into three major types: Base Cabinets, Wall Cabinets, and Tall Cabinets. Each of these types is available in standard sizes in the market. The final sizes and dimensions of these cabinets depend on their placement within the kitchen and the appliances to be stored inside them. For kitchens with special requirements, the option of custom-fit kitchen cabinets is provided by many manufacturers and vendors to match the homeowner’s needs.
Kitchen Base Cabinets
Base cabinets lay the foundation of a kitchen and are installed directly on the floor. This is because a majority of the work is done around these cabinets. It consists of drawers and shelves that occupy a decent amount of structural space. Whether to create functional storage for pots and pans or for supporting dishwashers or sinks, base cabinets serve all the purpose. These are the most customizable cabinets, helping to utilize the ignored space in the kitchen.
Base cabinets have single or double doors. Even the countertops are fixed above these base cabinets.
3 Sizes of Kitchen Base Cabinets
Here are three major types of kitchen cabinets.
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Standard Base Cabinet Height - The usual height of a standard base cabinet is 875 mm without a countertop and 915mm with a countertop. The cabinet with the drawer is 150mm tall.
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Standard Base Cabinet Depth - Generally, the depth of a standard base cabinet is 610 mm without countertops and 635 to 660 mm with a countertop.
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Standard Base Cabinet Width - Base cabinets are available in various sizes with respect to width. The width of a standard base cabinet with a countertop can range between 305 mm to 1220 mm.
Additional Considerations:
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Toe Kick - Base cabinets must have a toe kick of around 75 mm - 115 mm (3 - 4) inches in height, with a standard depth of 75 mm. This allows comfortable standing while working at the counter.
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Filler Strips - Filler strips are used to fill gaps between the cabinets and the wall to provide strength and support to the cabinets.
Kitchen Wall Cabinets
These cabinets are mounted using screws above the countertop and hence the name - wall cabinets. These types of cabinets provide additional storage space, making them ideal for lightweight items found in the kitchen. Their height varies depending on the space available and the aesthetics of the kitchen area. The height of these cabinets is usually decided after planning the dimensions of the base cabinets and the countertops.
3 Sizes of Kitchen Wall Cabinets
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Standard Wall Cabinet Height - The height of these cabinets ranges from 305 mm (12 inches) to 1220 mm (42 inches). Practically speaking, taller cabinets are often chosen for kitchens with higher ceilings.
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Standard Wall Cabinet Depth - The depth of these cabinets is about 305 mm (12 inches) or 610 mm (24 inches) to provide enough storage area. This space is generally used to store dishes in microwaves.
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Standard Wall Cabinet Width - The width of these cabinets ranges from 305 mm to 915 mm (12 inches to 36 inches).
Kitchen Tall Cabinets
The best way to employ tall cabinets is to use them as utility cabinets or pantries while making optimum use of the vertical space. These cabinets are also referred to as the towers of the kitchen. They rest on the floor and are screwed to the wall.
3 Sizes of Tall Kitchen Cabinets
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Standard Tall Cabinet Height - The standard height of tall cabinets ranges from 2032 mm (84 inches) to 2440 mm (96 inches). Taller cabinets with more height touch the ceiling of an 8-foot room. Their height should be finalized considering the surrounding cabinetry and the ceiling height.
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Standard Tall Cabinet Depth - These cabinets generally come in two depths - 305 mm (12 inches) and 610 mm (24 inches). These depths are ideal for storing appliances and additional items such as brooms, mops, vacuums, etc.
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Standard Tall Cabinet Width - These cabinets are available in widths ranging from 305 mm to 915 mm (12 inches to 36 inches) for utility storage with pull-out shelves.
Conclusion
Working on the perfect fitting dimensions of the kitchen cabinets makes all the difference in terms of functionality and visual appeal of the kitchen. Customization of kitchen cabinet sizes is the key to the optimal use of the kitchen space. A handy tip is to plan and finalize the placement and sizes of sinks, refrigerators, ovens, and microwaves first. Remember to take measurements both in mm and inches for a better fit.
