One of the secrets to a great kitchen layout is to have kitchen cabinetry that’s ideally measured to fit your space. Pair that with a well-placed kitchen island and the smart placement of your appliances, and you’ve got an extremely functional and comfortable kitchen.
Curious how you can make this happen for your own kitchen? Topco is happy to help you out with a helpful guide on the standard kitchen cabinet dimensions, particularly, the measurements of these kitchen cabinet types: base cabinets, wall cabinets, and tall cabinets.
1. Kitchen Base Cabinets
The base cabinet is the one that sits directly on the floor and supports the countertop. They help keep your kitchen clutter-free by storing heavy items like pots, baking pans, and small appliances.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the standard base cabinet widths, heights, and depths:
| Standard Dimensions of Base Cabinets | |
|---|---|
| Width | 12, 18, 24, 30, 33, 36, 48 inches |
| Filler cabinets: 6 & 9 inches | |
| Height | 34.5 inches |
| Including countertop: 35-36 inches | |
| Depth | 21-24 inches |
Custom Options for Base Cabinets
- Pull-Outs: Instead of fixed shelves, pull-out drawers bring everything out to you, making it easier to reach for whatever you need that’s stored in the back.
- Corner Cabinets: These often include lazy Susans or pull-out shelves to make use of awkward corner spaces.
- Trash and Recycling Bins: Buit-in compartments for waste bins keep them out of sight while still being easily accessible.
- Deep Cabinets and Drawers: Perfect for stacking pots, pans, or even dishes. They’re a great choice if you don’t want to go through the trouble of digging through shelves.
Placement Tips for Base Cabinets
- Near the Stove: Use base cabinets near your stove for cookware and utensils. This keeps everything you need within reach as you cook.
- Under the Countertop: You can keep food prep essentials like mixing bowls and cutting boards in cabinets under your main workspace.
- By the Sink: Reserve the base cabinets under your sink for cleaning supplies or trash bins.
2. Kitchen Wall Cabinets or Upper Cabinets
Wall cabinets installed above countertops are the most accessible and easy-to-reach storage space in the kitchen. A wall cabinet is typically best used for lighter items and daily-use essentials like dishes, glassware, spices, mugs, and coffee products.
Here’s a summary of the ideal measurements of standard wall cabinets:
| Standard Dimensions of Wall Cabinets | |
|---|---|
| Width | 12-36 inches |
| Height | 12-42 inches (depending on the ceiling height) |
| 12 inches: Often used above microwaves or refrigerators | |
| 30 inches: Standard height for kitchens with an 8-foot ceiling and no crown molding. | |
| 36 inches: Works well for kitchens with 8-foot ceilings if you’re adding crown molding. | |
| 42 inches: Great for kitchens with taller ceilings (9 feet or higher). | |
| Depth | 12-24 inches |
Custom Options for Wall or Upper Cabinets
- Adjustable Shelves: Having adjustable shelves inside your cabinets lets you rearrange the space depending on what you need to store. So, if you ever need to store taller items like pitchers or cereal boxes, you can easily put them in your upper cabinets thanks to adjustable shelves.
- Glass-Front Cabinets: If you love a polished, airy look, glass-front wall cabinets are a great choice. You can use them to display dishes, glassware, mugs, and random decorative pieces.
- Specialty Inserts: Spice racks, pull-out shelves, or vertical dividers can make wall cabinets even more useful and functional.
Placement Tips for Wall Cabinets or Upper Cabinets
- Near the Sink or Dishwasher: You can store dishes and glasses in a wall cabinet close to the sink or dishwasher for quicker unloading and setup.
- Above Countertops: Place cabinets above the countertops where you do most of your food prep to store things like spices and oils.
- Around the Stove: Consider keeping cooking essentials like oils, spices, and utensils in wall cabinets near the stove so you can access them easily from where you cook.
3. Tall Cabinets or Pantry Cabinets
If you’ve ever struggled to find a place for bulk groceries or large appliances, then you know just how helpful a tall cabinet can be. You can even have them custom-made to serve as oven cabinets or utility cabinets. With their versatility, they can hold just about anything, including pantry items, appliances, cleaning supplies, and extra dishware.
Here’s a quick look at the standard sizes and measurements of tall cabinets:
| Standard Dimensions of Tall Cabinets | |
|---|---|
| Width | 12-36 inches |
| Height | 84-96 inches (depending on the ceiling height) |
| 84 inches: Great for kitchens with standard 8-foot ceilings, leaving a bit of space on top for decorations or storage boxes. | |
| 90 inches: Gives kitchens with slightly taller kitchens a full-height look. | |
| 96 inches: Ideal for kitchens with 9-foot or higher ceilings. It gives you wall-to-wall storage without any wasted space. | |
| Depth | 12-24 inches |
Custom Options for Tall Cabinets
- Built-In Appliances: Tall cabinets can be customized to contain built-in ovens, microwaves, or even coffee stations. This is perfect if you’re going for a minimalist, modern look.
- Dividers and Shelves: Adjustable shelves or vertical dividers make your tall cabinets even more versatile as they allow you to put items of all sizes like cutting boards and tall bottles, or even accommodate brooms.
- Pull-Out Pantries: A pull-out pantry is a game-changer for small pantry items. It makes your food, snacks, or appliances easy to reach.
- Combo Storage: Mix and match storage options within one cabinet. For example, you can have pull-out drawers at the bottom, open shelves in the middle, and a closed compartment at the top for items you don’t use very often.
Placement Tips for Tall Cabinets
- Near the Refrigerator: A pantry cabinet next to the fridge makes it easy to grab ingredients while you’re cooking or putting away groceries.
- By the Entrance: If you have an entry point into the kitchen, a tall cabinet near the door can serve as a catch-all for bags, keys, and more.
- As a Divider: In open-concept layouts, a tall cabinet can act as a subtle divider between the kitchen and the living spaces next to it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Standard Kitchen Cabinet Sizes
How tall are base cabinets?
Without including the countertop, base cabinets are usually 34.5 inches tall. If you add the countertop, the total height comes up to about 36 inches, which is considered a comfortable height for most people.
How deep are base cabinets?
The standard depth for base cabinets is 24 inches from front to back. If you’re working with a smaller kitchen, you can opt for shallower cabinets, typically 12-18 inches deep.
How deep are upper kitchen cabinets?
Upper cabinets are shallower than base cabinets, usually 12 inches deep. If you want more storage space, some custom designs go up to 15 or 17 inches deep, but keep in mind that deeper cabinets can get in the way when you’re using the countertop.
Are 42-inch cabinets too big?
No, they’re not. In fact, 42-inch cabinets are actually a great option if you have taller ceilings (9 feet or higher). But if your ceilings are 8 feet, 42-inch cabinets can look overwhelming or look too tall for everyday use. In those cases, 30- or 36-inch cabinets are a better fit.
Are all base cabinets 24 inches deep?
Not necessarily. 24 inches is the standard depth for base cabinets, but there are shallower options available. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, cabinets as shallow as 12-18 inches can help you save space.
What is the standard gap between kitchen cabinets?
The standard gap is usually 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
How many cabinets are in a 10×10 kitchen?
A 10×10 kitchen layout often has 12-15 cabinets. This usually includes a mix of base cabinets, wall cabinets, and possibly a tall pantry cabinet. The exact number of cabinets still ultimately depends on your kitchen layout, though.
What is the standard depth of kitchen drawers?
Kitchen drawers usually match the depth of the base cabinets they’re in, so most drawers are 24 inches deep. The usable space inside the drawer is usually a bit less—around 22 inches.
Design Your Kitchen With TopCo!
As a company that measures, designs, and installs cabinets and countertops in Oklahoma, TopCo is here to help you transform your kitchen into a dream space. We can give your existing cabinets an upgrade, or start from scratch and build custom cabinets and countertops.
Give us a call today at 405-789-6663 to get started. Let’s build something great together!