Dresser Dimensions: Standard Sizes, Drawer Measurements and Room Fit
Dresser and chest of drawers sizes by type, the inside dimensions of the drawers, and how much floor and wall a dresser needs in a bedroom.
A standard dresser is 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) tall and 16 to 20 inches (41 to 51 cm) deep. Width depends on the drawer layout: a single 3- or 4-drawer dresser is 28 to 40 in (71 to 102 cm) wide, a 6-drawer double dresser 58 to 66 in (147 to 168 cm) and a 9-drawer triple dresser 66 to 72 in (168 to 183 cm). Tall chests are 30 to 40 in wide and 44 to 55 in tall.
- Height
- 30-36 in (76-91 cm)
- Depth
- 16-20 in (41-51 cm)
- Double dresser
- 58-66 in wide
- Drawer inside depth
- 14-17 in (36-43 cm)
On this page
Dresser dimensions by type
Dressers are named by their drawer layout. A "single" has one column of drawers, a "double" two columns side by side, a "triple" three. Chests stack the drawers higher on a narrower footprint.
| Type | Inches | Centimeters | Drawers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-drawer dresser | 28-36 × 16-20 × 28-34 | 71-91 × 41-51 × 71-86 | 3 full-width |
| 4-drawer dresser / chest | 30-40 × 16-20 × 34-44 | 76-102 × 41-51 × 86-112 | 4 full-width |
| Double dresser | 58-66 × 17-20 × 30-36 | 147-168 × 43-51 × 76-91 | 6 (2 columns of 3) |
| Triple dresser | 64-72 × 17-20 × 32-38 | 163-183 × 43-51 × 81-97 | 7-9 (3 columns) |
| Tall chest | 30-40 × 17-20 × 44-55 | 76-102 × 43-51 × 112-140 | 5-6 stacked |
| Lingerie chest | 20-24 × 15-18 × 48-56 | 51-61 × 38-46 × 122-142 | 6-7 shallow |
| Gentleman's chest | 36-42 × 18-20 × 50-58 | 91-107 × 46-51 × 127-147 | Doors over drawers |
| Media chest | 38-48 × 18-20 × 36-44 | 97-122 × 46-51 × 91-112 | Open shelf over 2-3 drawers |
| Kids' dresser / changing dresser | 32-48 × 18-20 × 32-38 | 81-122 × 46-51 × 81-97 | 3-6, with a changing tray on top |
A dresser mirror adds 30 to 40 in (76 to 102 cm) of height and is usually 30 to 40 in wide. Measure under windows and wall-mounted TVs with the mirror in place.
Dresser drawer dimensions
Inside width is what decides whether clothes lie flat. Start from the outside width and subtract the side panels (about 0.75 in each), any center divider (0.75 in), the drawer slides (about 0.5 in per side for metal side-mount slides) and the drawer box sides (about 0.5 in each).
| Dresser width | One column | Two columns | Three columns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 in (76 cm) | 26.5 in (67 cm) | ||
| 36 in (91 cm) | 32.5 in (83 cm) | 15 in (38 cm) | |
| 48 in (122 cm) | 44.5 in (113 cm) | 21 in (53 cm) | |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 27 in (69 cm) | 17 in (43 cm) | |
| 66 in (168 cm) | 30 in (76 cm) | 19 in (48 cm) |
Wood-on-wood drawers without metal slides gain about an inch of width. Inside depth is the dresser depth less the front, back and clearance: about 14 in in a 17-inch-deep dresser and 16 to 17 in in a 20-inch one.
Drawer heights
- Top drawers: 3 to 5 in tall inside. Socks, underwear, accessories.
- Middle drawers: 5 to 7 in. T-shirts, pajamas, gym clothes.
- Bottom drawers: 7 to 9 in. Sweaters, jeans, sweatshirts.
A folded T-shirt is about 9 × 12 in, and a folded sweater or pair of jeans about 12 × 14 in. A 21-inch-wide drawer takes two stacks of T-shirts but only one stack of sweaters side by side. Folded upright ("file folding") at about 4 to 5 in tall, a 15 × 21 in drawer holds 20 to 25 T-shirts in two rows that you can see at once.
Metric and European dresser sizes
Chests of drawers sold in metric countries usually come in 40, 80, 120 and 160 cm widths, 40 to 50 cm deep. Low 3- and 4-drawer chests are 75 to 100 cm tall and tall 5- and 6-drawer chests 120 to 140 cm. A 160 cm "6-drawer chest" is the European equivalent of a US double dresser, about 63 in wide.
Choosing a dresser size for the room
Matching the bed
Visually, a dresser on the wall facing the bed looks right at about two-thirds to the full width of the bed. A queen bed is 60 in wide (80 in long with the frame adding 2 to 4 in), so a 48 to 64 in double dresser suits it; for a king (76 in wide), a 64 to 72 in triple dresser. A twin room is usually better served by a 3- or 4-drawer dresser or a tall chest. The bed frame size guide gives outside dimensions for each bed size.
Clearance in front
Drawers pull out about 14 to 17 in, and you need to stand in front of the open drawer. Leave at least 36 in (91 cm) of clear floor in front of a dresser, and 42 in (107 cm) between the dresser and the foot of the bed if it is also the main walkway.
| Dresser | Wall width | Floor depth with clearance |
|---|---|---|
| 3-drawer, 32 × 18 in | 36 in with side gaps | 54 in (137 cm) |
| Double, 60 × 18 in | 64 in | 54-60 in (137-152 cm) |
| Triple, 68 × 19 in | 72 in | 55-61 in (140-155 cm) |
| Tall chest, 36 × 19 in | 40 in | 55 in (140 cm) |
- Narrow wall? A tall chest stores about as much as a double dresser on half the wall width. A 5-drawer 36 in chest has roughly the same drawer volume as a 6-drawer 60 in dresser.
- TV on the dresser: a 30 to 36 in top puts the center of a 55-inch TV about 46 to 52 in off the floor, close to eye level for someone sitting up in bed. Check the distance between the TV's feet: on many models they sit near the ends of the screen, so the dresser must be nearly as wide as the TV.
- Beside the bed: a 3-drawer dresser can double as a large nightstand if its top is within a few inches of the mattress height; see nightstand dimensions.
For hanging clothes, pair a dresser with a wardrobe or a closet system; the closet organizer guide covers drawer units built into closets, which are shallower at 14 to 16 in.
Tip-over safety and the federal dresser rule
The rule exists because dressers that tip over have killed and injured young children. Since September 1, 2023, dressers and chests sold in the US must meet the CPSC rule for clothing storage units (16 CFR part 1261, which uses ASTM F2057-23). It applies to freestanding units that meet all of these:
- At least 27 in (69 cm) tall
- At least 30 lb (13.6 kg)
- At least 3.2 cubic feet (91 L) of enclosed storage
A typical 30-inch 3-drawer dresser has about 4.9 cubic feet of drawer space (three drawers about 27 × 15 × 7 in inside), so almost every full-size dresser is covered. Covered units must stay upright with drawers open and a 60 lb force on the front, simulating a child climbing, and must ship with a tip restraint that meets ASTM F3096. Fit the restraint to a stud or a suitable wall anchor even when the dresser feels heavy enough: a loaded top drawer pulled fully open moves the center of gravity forward by several inches.
Frequently asked questions
What drawer size does a 48-inch dresser have?
With one column of full-width drawers, a 48-inch dresser has drawers about 44 to 45 in (112 to 114 cm) wide inside. With two columns, each drawer is about 21 in (53 cm) wide inside. Inside depth is usually 14 to 17 in, and drawers range from 4 to 9 in tall inside.
What are 9-drawer dresser dimensions?
A 9-drawer (triple) dresser is usually 64 to 72 in (163 to 183 cm) wide, 17 to 20 in (43 to 51 cm) deep and 32 to 38 in (81 to 97 cm) tall. Most have three columns of three drawers, often with a center column of smaller drawers or a cabinet.
What are the three dimensions of a dresser drawer?
Drawers are measured by inside width, depth (front to back) and height. Typical inside sizes are 13 to 21 in wide for a double dresser (13 to 15 in for the small top drawers), 14 to 17 in deep and 4 to 9 in tall.
What is the average size of a bedroom dresser?
The most common bedroom dresser is a 6-drawer double dresser about 60 in wide, 18 in deep and 32 in tall (152 × 46 × 81 cm). It pairs with a queen or king bed and is usually sold with a mirror that adds 30 to 40 in of height.
What are chest of drawers dimensions?
A chest of drawers (tall chest) is usually 30 to 40 in (76 to 102 cm) wide, 17 to 20 in (43 to 51 cm) deep and 44 to 55 in (112 to 140 cm) tall with 5 or 6 drawers. In the UK, "chest of drawers" also covers low units; a 3-drawer chest is typically about 80 cm wide, 45 cm deep and 75 to 80 cm tall.