Guide · Depth & Width
Standard cabinet depths & widths.
Depth and width are the two numbers that decide whether your run fits the wall - and whether it costs standard or custom. Here is the full chart, in inches, plus how to plan it.
Answer first
Two depths, one width ladder.
There are really only two standard depths: 24 inches for base and tall cabinets, and 12 inches for wall cabinets. Widths follow one rule - they step up by three inches, from 9 to 48, with sink bases at 30-42 inches. Everything else on a cabinet sheet is a fill-in around those two depths and that one ladder.
Depth
Why 24″ down here, 12″ up there.
Plan view - looking straight down. Depths are to the inch; widths not to scale.
Depth chart
Standard depths by cabinet type.
| Type | Standard depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base cabinet | 24″ | to the door face; toe kick recessed 3″ deep, 4″ high |
| Shallow base | 18″ / 12″ | half-wall, bar or against a window |
| Wall cabinet | 12″ | 30″ - 42″ high; hangs 18″ over the counter |
| Full-depth wall | 24″ | fridge / oven columns above appliances |
| Tall / pantry | 24″ | 84″ - 96″ high |
| Island base | 24″ / 30″ | per side; 30″ where both sides are worked |
The 24″ base depth is not a coincidence - it is sized to sit under a standard 25″ countertop, to take a 24″-wide dishwasher flush, and to be deep enough for a stockpot while still letting you reach the back of the counter.
Width
The width ladder.
Every standard width is three inches wider than the last. The common set is shown; 39″ is rarely produced and 45″ appears for fridges.
Width selection
Which width do I actually need?
| You are fitting | Standard width |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (top / bottom mount) | 36″, 42″ or 45″ |
| Range / cooktop | 30″ |
| Built-in oven | 30″ |
| Dishwasher | 24″ |
| Sink base (farmhouse common) | 30″ - 42″, 36″ typical |
| Double-door base | 33″, 36″, 42″, 45″, 48″ |
| Corner (lazy-Susan / diagonal) | 21″, 24″ |
| Single-door base | 9″, 12″, 15″, 18″ |
| Filler | 3″, 6″ |
| Tall / pantry | 12″ - 36″ |
Why 3″ steps
What the 3-inch step is really for.
Doors, drawers and hardware are cut to a few modular sizes. Stepping width by three inches means the same door blank and the same drawer can be reused across a cabinet, and any leftover gap on an off-standard wall is closed with a 3- or 6-inch filler instead of a fully custom box. It is the cheapest way to make a standard kit cover almost any wall.
The trade-off: if your wall is not a clean multiple, you either waste a few inches behind a filler or pay for a custom width. On a US custom shop that custom width is a big premium. From a made-to-order factory it barely is - which is where the decision gets interesting.
The custom option
Standard where it saves money - exact where it pays off.
We recommend standard widths and depths by default. They pack a container denser, stay off special tooling and keep the landed, duty-paid cost lowest. Then we go to the millimeter only where the room rewards it: an odd wall that would otherwise eat a 6-inch filler, a fridge that is not 36 or 42, a window that breaks a run. You keep the space, drop the filler and do not pay for a door you cannot use.
Send the wall lengths and we mark, on your layout, exactly which boxes stay standard and which go custom - free, on WhatsApp.
How it affects cost
Depth & width, priced.
Cost is driven by linear feet of base run and the tier of build. More standard sizes mean denser packing and a lower landed cost. We quote per linear foot, duty-paid, against your final drawing - with ocean freight, duty, clearance and delivery inside the number. Deviating on depth or width pushes individual boxes toward custom - cheap from our factory, expensive from a US shop.
| Run | Rough, duty-paid |
|---|---|
| Standard stock | $100-300 / linear foot |
| Value RTA | $150-250 / linear foot |
| Semi-custom | $200-800 / linear foot |
| Fully custom | $500-1,200 / linear foot |
Want the number for your exact run? Use the cost calculator, or get a fixed DDP quote on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Depth & width questions.
What is the standard depth of a base cabinet?
A standard base cabinet is 24 inches deep to the door face. Shallow 18-inch and 12-inch versions exist for tight runs. Tall and pantry cabinets are also 24 inches deep. The toe kick is recessed 3 inches deep and 4 inches high.
Why are wall cabinets shallower than base cabinets?
Wall cabinets are 12 inches deep so you can reach the top shelf without stepping up, and so the room does not read as a solid wall of boxes. A 24-inch-deep version is used above a refrigerator or oven, where full-depth columns are needed.
What sizes do kitchen cabinets come in by width?
Standard widths step in 3-inch increments from 9 to 48 inches. The common set is 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 42 and 48 inches, with 45 inches for refrigerator columns. Sink bases run 30 to 42 inches.
Why do cabinet widths go up by three inches?
A 3-inch step keeps doors, drawers and fillers modular - the same door blank, drawer and hardware work across a width, and a small filler closes any leftover gap on an off-standard wall.
Can you make non-standard depths or widths?
Yes. As a made-to-order factory we build to the millimeter - no filler, exact appliance openings and full use of the wall. It is worth it where the room is not a clean multiple of the standard sizes; otherwise standard keeps the landed cost lower.
What depth do I need for an island or a run against a wall?
Use 24 inches for any base run, including islands, which are often 24 to 30 inches on each side. For a shallow or half-wall run, 18 inches works and 12 inches makes a slim bar base. Wall cabinets over the run stay 12 inches deep.
Pricing at a glance
Your number, worked out on your plan.
Made-to-order is priced by size, box construction and finish. We quote per linear foot, duty-paid, against your final drawing - with ocean freight, duty, clearance and delivery inside the number. Your exact, fixed duty-paid (DDP) quote is free - no obligation.
Related
Keep planning.
Mudroom, laundry and pantry dimensions
Where the run depth changes and the aisle rule comes in.
Full size guide
Heights, depths and widths - the whole sheet.
Bathroom vanity sizes
Vanity depth is shallower than a base cabinet, and that is what decides the room.
Cabinet cost calculator
Estimate your run by linear foot and tier.
10 x 10 kitchen cost
A mid-size run, priced by tier.
Custom vs. RTA
When a custom width actually pays off.
Got your wall lengths?
Send them on WhatsApp and we return a layout that marks standard vs custom - plus a fixed duty-paid (DDP) quote. Free, no obligation.