The Size of Stock Kitchen Cabinets

Standard Cabinets

• Standard cabinets are premanufactured pieces widely available from most home-improvement stores across the country. They are significantly cheaper than custom options, but because they are premade have a somewhat limited selection of styles, sizes and colors. Selecting standard-sized cabinets usually means some space will be wasted, as fillers are required to make them fit exactly. Despite the problems, standard cabinets are widely used and available in small, medium and large sizes that are mixed and matched to create the best possible kitchen.

Base Cabinets

• Standard base cabinets measure 24 inches deep, the depth from the front of the cabinet to the back. Height is generally 34 ½ inches, which will be approximately 36 inches once the countertop is added. Widths are where most of the diversity comes from, and they start at 9 inches and go up in 3- and 6-inch increments. The largest width is either 27 or 30 inches, a size which will vary depending on the manufacturer.

Overhead Cabinets

• Overhead cabinets must adapt for architectural structures and appliances and as such are manufactured in a wider range of sizes. There are two depths standard to premade cabinets, 12 or 24 inches. Heights begin as small as 12 inches and reach as tall as 42 inches. These measurements are done in increments of 3 and 6 inches to make them easier to fit into different sized and shaped kitchens. Fillers are added as needed to perfect fit and overall function.

Columns and Pantries

• Columns are long, thin pieces most often used to fill long, narrow spaces around appliances. Pantries are larger pieces placed in any available space to add space for food storage. The depths of these cabinets range from 12 to 27 inches; the specific measurement will vary depending on the manufacturer. Widths are available in sizes ranging from 12 in to 36 inches, while height is standard at 84 inches. Some manufacturers produce columns as tall as 96 inches or create additional height by stacking two cabinets on top of each other.