Cabinet Dimensions: Standard Sizes for Kitchen, Bath, Storage and Office Cabinets
Standard dimensions for every common cabinet, from kitchen base and wall units to bathroom, garage, office and freestanding storage cabinets, with the openings appliances need and the clearances that decide what fits.
Kitchen base cabinets are 34.5 in (88 cm) tall and 24 in (61 cm) deep, giving a 36 in (91 cm) counter. Wall cabinets are 12 in (30 cm) deep and 12 to 42 in tall, and tall pantry cabinets are 84 to 96 in (213 to 244 cm). Freestanding steel storage cabinets are most often 36 × 18 × 72 in (91 × 46 × 183 cm).
- Base cabinet
- 34.5 × 24 in deep
- Wall cabinet depth
- 12 in (30 cm)
- Width steps
- 3 in (9-48 in)
- Storage cabinet
- 36 × 18 × 72 in
On this page
Cabinet sizes at a glance
Built-in cabinets follow standards set by appliances and countertops. Freestanding cabinets vary more but cluster around a few common sizes. Each row links to the guide with full detail where one exists.
| Cabinet | Width | Depth | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen base | 9-48 in (23-122 cm) | 24 in (61 cm) | 34.5 in (88 cm) |
| Kitchen wall | 9-48 in (23-122 cm) | 12 in (30 cm) | 12-42 in (30-107 cm) |
| Kitchen tall / pantry | 18-36 in (46-91 cm) | 12-24 in (30-61 cm) | 84-96 in (213-244 cm) |
| Bathroom vanity | 24-72 in (61-183 cm) | 18-21 in (46-53 cm) | 30-36 in (76-91 cm) |
| Medicine cabinet | 15-24 in (38-61 cm) | 4-6 in (10-15 cm) | 20-30 in (51-76 cm) |
| Steel storage cabinet | 30-48 in (76-122 cm) | 18-24 in (46-61 cm) | 66-78 in (168-198 cm) |
| Small storage / accent cabinet | 24-30 in (61-76 cm) | 12-16 in (30-41 cm) | 30-36 in (76-91 cm) |
| Garage cabinet (tall) | 24-48 in (61-122 cm) | 18-24 in (46-61 cm) | 72-84 in (183-213 cm) |
| Sideboard / buffet | 48-72 in (122-183 cm) | 16-20 in (41-51 cm) | 30-36 in (76-91 cm) |
For filing storage, see the filing cabinet dimensions; for glass-front cabinets, the display case and curio cabinet sizes.
Kitchen cabinet dimensions
US kitchen cabinets come in 3-inch width steps so that a run can be made to fit any wall within an inch or two, with filler strips covering the rest. Heights and depths are fixed so that countertops and appliances line up. This is a summary; the kitchen cabinet size guide covers layouts, corner units and drawer sizes in full.
Base cabinets
- Height: 34.5 in (88 cm) for the box including a toe kick about 4 in high and 3 in deep. A 1.5-inch countertop brings the work surface to the standard 36 in (91 cm).
- Depth: 24 in (61 cm) for the box. Countertops are usually 25 to 25.5 in deep so they overhang the doors by about an inch. See countertop dimensions.
- Widths: 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 42 and 48 in. Sink bases are usually 30, 33 or 36 in wide; corner lazy-susan bases are 33 or 36 in on each wall.
Wall (upper) cabinets
- Depth: 12 in (30 cm), with 13 in available in some lines. Cabinets above a refrigerator are often 24 in deep to bring them within reach.
- Heights: 12 and 15 in (above a fridge or hood), 18 and 24 in (above a fridge or microwave), and 30, 36 or 42 in for the main run.
- Mounting: the standard gap above the counter is 18 in, so the bottom of the upper cabinets sits at 54 in. A 30-inch cabinet then tops out at 84 in, a 36-inch at 90 in and a 42-inch at 96 in, flush with an 8-foot ceiling.
Tall cabinets
Pantry, broom and oven cabinets are 84, 90 or 96 in tall to line up with the top of the wall cabinets. Pantry cabinets are 12, 18 or 24 in deep, while wall-oven cabinets are 24 in deep and 27, 30 or 33 in wide to suit the oven.
Metric kitchen cabinets
European and other metric kitchens use 60 cm deep base cabinets with the worktop at roughly 90 cm, adjustable legs instead of a built-in toe kick, and widths in 10 or 20 cm steps (20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80 and 100 cm). Wall cabinets are usually 30 to 37 cm deep. A 60 cm metric opening is 23.6 in, slightly narrower than the US 24-inch standard, so check fit before buying a US appliance for a metric kitchen.
Appliance openings in a cabinet run
Built-in appliances replace a cabinet of the same width. These are the openings to leave between cabinets.
| Appliance | Opening width | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher, standard | 24 in (61 cm) | 34.5 in under counter | 24 in |
| Dishwasher, compact | 18 in (46 cm) | 34.5 in under counter | 24 in |
| Freestanding or slide-in range | 30 in (76 cm); also 24, 36, 48 in | Counter height | 24-25 in plus handles |
| Single wall oven | 27 or 30 in cabinet | Cut-out per oven manual | 24 in |
| Refrigerator | 30, 33 or 36 in (76-91 cm) | 70-72 in to the cabinet above | 24 in for counter-depth; 30-34 in for standard |
| Over-the-range microwave | 30 in | Hangs under a short wall cabinet; cooktop clearance per manual | 15-18 in |
Always use the appliance's installation manual for cut-out sizes; the figures above are the openings cabinetmakers plan around. The dishwasher dimensions guide lists exact unit sizes.
Bathroom cabinets
- Vanities: 30 to 32 in tall in older homes and 34 to 36 in for "comfort height" vanities, 21 in deep (18 in for narrow rooms), and 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 or 72 in wide. Double-sink vanities start at 60 in. Details are in the bathroom vanity size guide.
- Medicine cabinets: recessed models are built to fit between wall studs. With studs 16 in on center, the clear bay between 1.5-inch studs is 14.5 in wide and 3.5 in deep (a 2 × 4 wall), so recessed bodies are about 14 × 24 in and 3 to 3.5 in deep, with a larger door or frame on the face. Surface-mounted cabinets are 15 to 30 in wide and 4 to 6 in deep.
- Linen cabinets: freestanding towers are 15 to 24 in wide, 12 to 18 in deep and 60 to 84 in tall. Bath towels folded in thirds need a 12-inch-deep shelf.
Storage, utility and office cabinets
Freestanding steel cabinets used in offices, schools, workshops and garages come in a small set of standard sizes. Shelves are usually adjustable on 1 to 2 in centers and rated per shelf by the maker.
| W × D × H (in) | W × D × H (cm) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 15 × 66 | 76 × 38 × 168 | Narrow office storage |
| 36 × 18 × 72 | 91 × 46 × 183 | Standard office and supply cabinet |
| 36 × 24 × 72 | 91 × 61 × 183 | Deeper storage, boxes, binders |
| 36 × 24 × 78 | 91 × 61 × 198 | Heavy-duty and garage |
| 48 × 24 × 78 | 122 × 61 × 198 | Wide heavy-duty |
| 36 × 18 × 42 | 91 × 46 × 107 | Counter-height, fits under a window |
An 18-inch-deep cabinet holds letter and A4 binders and standard 15 × 12 × 10 in record boxes (which need 15 in of depth). A 24-inch cabinet takes storage bins and paint cans two deep. Wardrobe versions of these cabinets add a hanging rod in the 36 × 24 in body, which is just deep enough for a coat hanger.
Small storage cabinets
Accent cabinets, bar carts with doors and small sideboards are typically 24 to 30 in wide, 12 to 16 in deep and 30 to 36 in tall. The shallow depth is the trade-off: 12 in holds plates up to about 11 in across and folded linens, but not small appliances, which need 16 in or more.
Garage cabinets
Tall garage cabinets are 72 to 84 in high and 18 to 24 in deep. Wall-hung garage cabinets are 12 to 16 in deep and usually mounted at 54 in or higher above the floor so a car hood can pass under them. Check that tall cabinets clear the garage door, its tracks and the opener rail when the door is open.
How to measure for a cabinet
- Measure the wall at three heights. Walls and corners are rarely square. Take the width at the floor, at 36 in and at the top of the planned cabinet, and use the smallest.
- Find the obstacles. Mark windows, outlets, pipes and vents. A sink base needs a clear back panel area for the drain, usually 16 to 20 in above the floor.
- Allow for doors and drawers. A base cabinet drawer extends 20 to 22 in; leave at least 42 in between facing counters in a kitchen (NKBA guideline) and 36 in in front of a freestanding cabinet.
- Check the delivery path. A 36 × 24 × 78 in steel cabinet must be tilted to pass through a door shorter than its height and turned on its side at stair landings.
Frequently asked questions
What size cabinet does an 18-inch dishwasher need?
An 18-inch dishwasher needs an opening 18 in (46 cm) wide, 34.5 in (88 cm) high under the countertop and 24 in deep, the same height and depth as a standard base cabinet. A full-size dishwasher needs a 24-inch opening.
Do 24-inch and 30-inch appliances take up the same cabinet space?
No. Appliance openings match the appliance width, so swapping a 24-inch range or wall oven for a 30-inch model needs 6 in more width. Going the other way leaves a 6-inch gap that needs a filler strip or a narrow pull-out cabinet.
What are modern kitchen cabinet dimensions?
Modern frameless (European-style) cabinets use the same 24 in depth and 36 in counter height in the US. In metric kitchens, base units are 60 cm deep with the worktop at about 90 cm, and widths come in 10 or 20 cm steps (30, 40, 60, 80 cm). Many modern kitchens use 36 or 42 in tall wall cabinets that run to the ceiling.
What are small storage cabinet dimensions?
Small freestanding storage cabinets are usually 24 to 30 in (61 to 76 cm) wide, 12 to 16 in (30 to 41 cm) deep and 30 to 36 in (76 to 91 cm) tall, the size of a low sideboard. Counter-height steel cabinets are typically 36 × 18 × 42 in.
What are standard office cabinet dimensions?
Full-height office storage cabinets are commonly 36 in wide, 18 or 24 in deep and 72 or 78 in tall (91 × 46-61 × 183-198 cm). Lateral files and storage credenzas are 30 to 42 in wide and 18 to 20 in deep; see the filing cabinet guide for drawer sizes.
How much space between countertop and upper cabinets?
18 in (46 cm) is the standard gap, which puts the bottom of the wall cabinets 54 in above the floor. Over a cooktop, most range hood instructions call for 24 to 36 in, so check the hood's installation manual.