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Cabinetry Standard Measurement Specifications

January 18th, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

These are the correct standardcabinetry measurement specifications for kitchen, vanity and laundry room cabinets. These will come in handy for the do-it-yourself home construction man or woman who wants to build cabinets.

Copy and print this off and use it as a guide or reference for standard kitchen, vanity (or, “bath room”) and laundry room cabinet and countertop dimensions.

  • Tip: When designing the height of a refrigerator upper make sure to design it high enough so the cabinet doors miss the hinges on top of the appliance.

Cabinet and Countertop Standard Dimensions For Kitchens

These are the standard cabinet and countertop dimensions that you will need to use when fabricating your kitchen. All of the cut sizes of your parts will depend upon the thickness of the backs, face frames, back nailer, the height of your toe kicks, and the thickness of the materials you are using on the sides as well.

Base or lower units

Cabinet depth without door 24” deep, with the door 24 ¾ inches.
The standard base cabinet height is 341/2 plus a 1 ½ inch thick counter to make the overall 36”.
These heights should include no less than a 3 1/2” high toe base. Ideally, the toe kick should be around 4 ½” high.

Upper or wall cabinets

For the standard eight foot high ceiling, the upper cabinets should be installed at 84” or seven feet high. If they are installed at seven feet, then the overall height of the wall cabinetry should be 30” and the hood height should be 15” to allow for a built-in microwave. The height of the refrigerator will be determined by the appliance height. Use the seven foot high ceiling as a guide for higher or lower ceilings. If your install cabinet height is eight feet then, add twelve inches to the thirty inch dimension. Uppers are installed 54” off of the floor to the bottom of the cabinet.

Standard kitchen counter top depths

Finished counter top depth is 25 1/4” which leaves 1/2” overhang over the doors. It should be fabricated with a 1/2” scribe on the back. So, the cut size should be 25” plus 1/2” scribe pieces. This allows for 1/4” extra to be scribed off if you have dips or humps in the walls.

Kitchen back splashes are usually 3 1/2” to 4 1/2” high.

  • Tip: Always allow for the thickness of the flooring when fabricating your cabinetry. Your appliances will require certain clearances. If you install the cabinets before the flooring, you must allow for the difference or else your openings for the appliances will be too small after the floors are installed.

Vanity Cabinet and Countertop Fabrication Sizes

There are generally two standard heights for vanity cabinets but since you are building them yourself you may make them whatever you desire. The bathroom cabinet fabrication sizes are 31 1/2” to the top of the counter and 36” to the top of the top. Deduct whatever the counter thickness is to determine the height of the actual boxes.

Bathroom cabinet sizes

The vanity box without the door is 21” deep. When the door is on, use a 24 3/4” dimension to determine how you will build the entire unit. The height can be anywhere from 31 1/2” to 36” to the top of the counter from the floor. The toe base should be no less than 3 1/2” in height. Some designers use large bases that are 12” high and set way back from the face of the box edge. I have even seen where there were no toe bases at all.

The standard vanity counter top depth

Usually countertops overhang the doors by about one half of an inch. So, if your finished box size, including the door is twenty one and three quarters inches deep, then your finished top will be 22 1/4” in depth. The cut size should be 22” plus 1/2” scribe material. Here again it allows for one quarter of an inch to be taken off to compensate for crooked walls.

Laundry Room Cabinet and Counter Fabrication measurements

Most of the standard size laundry sinks are designed for kitchen cabinet depths. So, you can use the same fabrication measurements for your laundry room cabinets and counters as your kitchen sizes. Make sure that you allow for the washer lid height when designing your upper cabinets to go above the appliance.

Because you are building your own kitchen, vanity or laundry cabinets, these dimensions can be adjusted to suit your particular situation. Here’s a word of caution, when designing the layout in your kitchen, make sure to allow enough clearance for drawers and doors to operate properly around appliances. There’s nothing more frustrating than discovering that your fabrication measurements won’t allow the drawer to open in the corner near a dishwasher when you install the appliance. When installing countertops, you should always use your scribe block pieces and form the top to fit to the specifications of all of your walls. Building your own cabinetry will be challenging but, if you have some good finish carpentry skills, I’m sure the project will go smoothly.

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