| Cabinet | Height | Depth | Widths (stock) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 34½" (about 36" with counter) | 24" | 9" to 48", in 3" steps |
| Wall | 30", 36" or 42" | 12" | 9" to 36", in 3" steps |
| Tall / pantry | 84", 90" or 96" | 12" or 24" | 18", 24", 30" or 36" |
| Toe kick | About 4" | About 3" recessed | Runs the length of the base |
What are the standard kitchen cabinet dimensions?
These are the sizes most of the industry builds to. They are worth knowing whether or not you end up using them, because every appliance, countertop and contractor assumes them.
- Base cabinets: 34½ inches tall and 24 inches deep. A countertop of about 1½ inches brings the working surface to roughly 36 inches.
- Wall cabinets: 12 inches deep, in heights of 30, 36 or 42 inches. They usually start about 18 inches above the counter.
- Tall cabinets: 84, 90 or 96 inches, for pantries and oven towers.
- Widths: stock boxes come in 3-inch steps, from 9 inches up.
Why do the standards exist at all?
Because most cabinets are built before anyone has measured your kitchen. A factory making boxes for a warehouse has to pick a set of sizes and stick to them, and 3-inch steps are the compromise the industry settled on.
The cost of that compromise shows up in your kitchen. A wall that measures 131¼ inches will not divide into 3-inch boxes, so the gap is closed with a filler strip: a plain board that does nothing except hide the difference.
How are custom cabinet dimensions different?
A custom box is drawn after the room is measured, so it is cut to fit rather than chosen from a list. Crafted Cabinetry cuts to your sizes in 1/16-inch increments. The run fills the wall, and nothing needs a filler to close the gap.
That matters most in the places stock sizing handles worst:
- Walls that are not a multiple of three. Which is most of them.
- Older Bay Area homes, where walls are rarely square and ceilings are rarely level.
- Around appliances, where a panel-ready fridge or a range needs a precise opening.
- Ceiling height. Uppers can be sized to meet the ceiling rather than stopping short of it.
Do custom cabinets have to ignore the standards?
No, and usually they shouldn’t. The 36-inch counter and the 24-inch depth exist because appliances are built to them. What custom changes is the width of each box and the height of the uppers, so the kitchen fits the room exactly.
How should I measure for new cabinets?
Measure each wall at three heights, because walls bow. Note every window, door, outlet and pipe, and measure from the corner to each one. On a custom kitchen you don’t have to get this perfect: the cabinet maker takes their own measurements before anything is cut.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height of kitchen base cabinets?
34½ inches without the countertop. With a typical 1½-inch counter, the working surface sits at about 36 inches.
How deep are standard wall cabinets?
12 inches. Base cabinets are 24 inches deep, which is why uppers leave room to work at the counter.
Why do kitchens have filler strips?
Stock cabinets come in 3-inch width steps, so a wall that isn’t a multiple of three leaves a gap. The filler closes it. Custom cabinets are cut to the wall, so no filler is needed.
How precisely are custom cabinets sized?
Crafted Cabinetry cuts to your measurements in 1/16-inch increments, so a run fits the wall rather than the nearest stock size.
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