On this page
Standard kitchen cabinet sizes and dimensions compared
As checked on 15 October 2026, a standard US base cabinet is 34½ inches (88 cm) high and 24 inches (61 cm) deep. A wall cabinet is 12 inches (30 cm) deep, and a tall cabinet is 84 to 96 inches (213–244 cm). UK base units are 720 mm high, 870 mm on legs, with 300 mm deep wall units.
| Cabinet | US standard | UK standard |
|---|---|---|
| Base height | 34½ in (88 cm) box; 36 in (91 cm) with a 1½ in worktop | 720 mm box; 870 mm (34 in) on 150 mm legs |
| Base depth | 24 in (61 cm); 12 in and 27 in options | 560 mm (22 in) |
| Base widths | 6–48 in in 3 in steps | 300–1,000 mm in 100 mm steps, plus 150 and 1,200 mm |
| Wall height | 12–54 in (30–137 cm) | 720 mm (28 in) standard; 575 and 900 mm options |
| Wall depth | 12 in (30 cm); 24 in around a fridge | 300 mm (12 in) |
| Wall widths | 6–48 in in 3 in steps | 300–1,000 mm in 100 mm steps |
| Tall height | 84–96 in (213–244 cm) in 3 in steps | 1,970 or 2,150 mm box; 2,120 or 2,300 mm (83 or 91 in) on legs |
| Tall depth | 12 or 24 in (30 or 61 cm) | 560 mm (22 in) |
| Tall widths | 9–36 in (23–91 cm) | 300–600 mm; up to 1,000 mm at DIY Kitchens |
| Worktop to wall cabinet | 18 in (46 cm) | 450–500 mm (18–20 in) |
| Hob to cabinet above | 24 in (61 cm) to a hood; 30 in (76 cm) to anything that can burn | Follow the hob maker's guide |
Source: KraftMaid kitchen cabinet sizes; IKEA SEKTION and METOD product pages; Cut My kitchen unit sizes; DIY Kitchens advice pages; Egger UK worktop height guide; US National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Planning Guideline 18. Checked October 2026.
Read the height and depth rows first: they decide whether a cabinet fits. The worktop that sits on the base cabinets is in our guide to the standard kitchen countertop height. Every other size in this series is in our kitchen dimensions guides.
Base cabinets are 34½ in high and 24 in deep in the US, 720 mm boxes on 150 mm legs in the UK
A US base cabinet is 34½ inches (88 cm) high and 24 inches (61 cm) deep. Add a 1½ inch (3.8 cm) worktop and the top of the worktop sits at 36 inches (91 cm). IKEA builds the same height in two parts: a 30 inch frame on 4½ inch legs.
In the UK the box, called the carcass, is 720 mm high and 560 mm deep. On its 150 mm legs it stands at 870 mm (34 in). A 25 to 40 mm worktop takes it to about 900 mm (35 in).
Depth is the number to watch. KraftMaid makes 12 inch (30 cm) deep base cabinets, often used with wall cabinets as a wall of pantry storage. It also makes 27 inch (69 cm) ones for large hobs and sinks. A deeper base pushes the worktop out and narrows the walkway, so check the floor space before you choose it.
An island is made of the same base cabinets, often back to back. Size it with the island size calculator, which keeps the walkways around it.
Wall cabinets are 12 in deep in the US, 300 mm in the UK, and come in several heights
Wall cabinets, called upper cabinets in the US, are 12 inches (30 cm) deep in the US and 300 mm in the UK. That depth keeps the worktop in view and your head clear of the doors. IKEA's SEKTION wall cabinets are 15 inches (38 cm) deep, and KraftMaid offers 24 inch (61 cm) deep ones to wrap a fridge.
Heights vary more than depths. KraftMaid makes wall cabinets from 12 to 54 inches (30–137 cm) tall. UK wall units come in 575, 720 and 900 mm, and 720 mm (28 in) is the standard.
The bottom of a wall cabinet sits 18 inches (46 cm) above the worktop in the US, which is 54 inches (137 cm) from the floor. Read the upper cabinet height guide. The UK supplier Cut My puts it 450 to 500 mm (18–20 in) above the worktop. Over a hob the gap grows: guideline 18 of NKBA, the US National Kitchen & Bath Association, asks for 24 inches (61 cm) to a hood. The US code it cites asks for 30 inches (76 cm) to a cabinet or anything else that can burn.
Tall cabinets run 84 to 96 inches in the US and stand 2,120 or 2,300 mm in the UK
Tall cabinets, called larder or pantry units, are 84 to 96 inches (213–244 cm) high in the US, in 3 inch steps. They are 12 or 24 inches (30 or 61 cm) deep. KraftMaid makes them 9 to 36 inches (23–91 cm) wide. IKEA's SEKTION high cabinet is 80 inches (203 cm) tall before its legs and plinth.
In the UK the tall box is 1,970 or 2,150 mm high and 560 mm deep. On 150 mm legs that is 2,120 or 2,300 mm (83 or 91 in). Widths run from 300 to 600 mm at Cut My and up to 1,000 mm at DIY Kitchens.
The tall unit sets the line for the wall cabinets. DIY Kitchens says its 720 mm wall units are meant for its 1,970 mm tall units. With a 2,150 mm tall unit, the wall units are set higher than standard to line through, or stepped down lower. It also says to allow 100 mm above a top box so it can open.
NKBA, the US National Kitchen & Bath Association, counts any storage above 84 inches (213 cm) as extra storage. Keep everyday things below that line, and plan the tall units early with our guide to choosing a kitchen layout.
Widths grow in 3 inch steps in the US and 100 mm steps in the UK
US cabinets come in widths from 6 to 48 inches (15–122 cm), in 3 inch steps, at KraftMaid. UK units run from 300 to 1,000 mm in 100 mm steps, and DIY Kitchens adds 150, 350, 450 and 1,200 mm. Tall units run 300 to 600 mm at Cut My, and up to 1,000 mm at DIY Kitchens.
A run of cabinets rarely adds up to the wall exactly. The gap at the end is covered by a filler strip, a plain piece in the same finish. Put the sink, hob and fridge cabinets in first, because their widths are fixed by the appliances, then fill the rest with the biggest standard widths that fit.
Once the widths are set, the worktop length follows. Our guide to measuring kitchen countertops shows how to measure each run and the corners.
The size on the label is the box, not the finished cabinet
The width on the label is the width of the box: IKEA lists its 30 inch wall cabinet at exactly 30 inches (76 cm). Depth is less tidy. IKEA's SEKTION base frame is 23⅝ inches deep without its wall rail and 24 inches with it. Its wall cabinet is 15 inches deep as a system but 15½ inches overall.
Height on the label is the box alone. A 30 inch IKEA frame needs 4½ inch legs to reach 34½ inches (88 cm). A 720 mm UK box needs 150 mm legs to reach 870 mm. A METOD frame of 800 mm needs 80 mm legs to reach 880 mm. Doors, handles and the worktop sit in front of and on top of the box, so the finished cabinet is always a little bigger.
For the room, measure the finished kitchen, not the label: the top of the worktop, the front of the door and the floor you can walk on. Walkways are in our guide to the space around a kitchen island.
How to choose kitchen cabinet sizes in six steps
Start from the wall and the worktop height, then fill the run with standard widths.
- Measure the wall: its length, the ceiling height, and where the windows, doors and sockets are.
- Fix the worktop height first: 36 inches (91 cm) in the US or about 900 mm in the UK. Or use your own height, by the elbow rule in our countertop height guide linked above.
- Mark the sink, hob and fridge. Their cabinets come in fixed widths, so they go in before the rest.
- Fill the run with standard widths, biggest first, in 3 inch or 100 mm steps. Leave a filler strip at each wall.
- Choose the wall cabinet height from the ceiling: take away the 18 inch (46 cm) or 450–500 mm gap and the worktop height, then pick the tallest standard height that fits.
- Check it: box plus legs plus worktop equals your target height. The gap over the hob is at least 24 inches (61 cm) to a hood, and the tops of the wall and tall cabinets line up.
Add up your worktopsOnce the widths are set, measure each run and get the area for your quote.
Open the countertop calculator →Common problems with kitchen cabinet sizes, and how to fix them
Most size problems come from three things. The run does not add up to the wall, the gap ignores the hob, or the label height is taken for the finished height.
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The run ends with a gap at the wall | The widths do not add up to the wall length | Add a filler strip, or swap one cabinet for the next width down |
| The worktop sits below 36 in (91 cm) | The legs are set low, or the worktop is thinner than planned | Set the legs so box plus worktop equals 36 in, or about 900 mm in the UK |
| The wall cabinet is too close to the hob | The gap was set at 18 in (46 cm) all along the run | Keep 24 in (61 cm) to a hood and 30 in (76 cm) to a cabinet above the hob |
| Wall units and the tall unit do not line up | 720 mm wall units with a 2,150 mm tall unit | Pair 720 mm wall units with a 1,970 mm tall unit, or move the wall units up |
| The top shelf is out of reach | Storage above 84 in (213 cm) | Keep everyday things below 84 in; the US accessibility standard (ICC A117.1) sets the high reach limit at 48 in (122 cm) for an unobstructed reach |
| The fridge or dishwasher does not fit its opening | The opening was planned from the cabinet label, not the appliance | Take the opening size from the appliance installation guide before you order |
| The walkway feels tight | 27 in (69 cm) deep base cabinets in a narrow room | Use 24 in (61 cm) or 12 in (30 cm) deep cabinets, and check the free floor |
Source: KraftMaid kitchen cabinet sizes; Cut My kitchen unit sizes; DIY Kitchens advice pages; NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines 18 and 27. Checked October 2026.
Once the sizes work, choose the finishes: a kitchen mood board helps you pick doors and colours. New guides in this series appear in all our kitchen guides.
Quick questions
- Is a 30 inch cabinet actually 30 inches?
Yes, the box is 30 inches (76 cm) wide: IKEA lists its 30 inch wall cabinet at exactly that. Depth is less tidy. IKEA's SEKTION base frame is 23⅝ inches deep without its wall rail and 24 inches with it. Height is the frame plus legs: a 30 inch frame on 4½ inch legs makes 34½ inches.
- Are all kitchen cabinets 24 inches deep?
No. Only base cabinets are 24 inches (61 cm) deep as standard. Wall cabinets are 12 inches (30 cm) deep. KraftMaid also makes 12 inch deep base cabinets, often used with wall cabinets as pantry storage, and 27 inch (69 cm) ones for large hobs and sinks. UK base units are 560 mm (22 in) deep.
- What is the standard height of a base cabinet?
Not one number in both countries. The US box is 34½ inches (88 cm), which makes a 36 inch (91 cm) worktop height with a 1½ inch top. The UK box is 720 mm, which stands at 870 mm (34 in) on 150 mm legs and reaches about 900 mm with the worktop.
- What are the standard kitchen cabinet sizes in millimetres in the UK?
Only a few numbers cover them. Base units are 720 mm high, 870 mm on their legs, and 560 mm deep. Wall units are 720 mm high and 300 mm deep, with 575 and 900 mm heights as options. Tall units are 1,970 or 2,150 mm high. Widths run from 300 to 1,000 mm in 100 mm steps.
- How high should wall cabinets be above the counter?
Not less than 18 inches (46 cm) in the US, or 54 inches (137 cm) from the floor. The UK supplier Cut My says 450 to 500 mm. Over a hob the gap grows: 24 inches (61 cm) to a hood and 30 inches (76 cm) to anything that can burn, by guideline 18 of the US planning body NKBA.
- What is the ideal size for kitchen cabinets?
Only your room and your reach decide. Standard sizes are easier to find and to fit, so start with them: 24 inch (61 cm) deep base cabinets, 12 inch (30 cm) deep wall cabinets, and widths in 3 inch or 100 mm steps. Change the worktop height or the wall cabinet height before you change a depth.
How we check
We take every clearance from published planning guidelines and manufacturer guides, and record the page and the date we checked it. Our examples are drawn to scale from the dimensions they state. They are planning examples, not approvals for installation: services, fixings and local rules need your designer or installer. Our editorial policy.
Sources11 published guidelines and guides behind this page
Numbered in order of first use.
- What are standard kitchen cabinet sizes? Base 34-1/2 in high and 24 in deep (12 and 27 in options), widths 6–48 in in 3 in increments; wall 12–54 in tall, 12 in deep (24 in option), installed 54 in above the floor or 18 in above the countertop; tall 84–96 in, 12 or 24 in deep, 9–36 in wide; 1-1/2 in countertop, 36 in overall, KraftMaid. Checked 15 October 2026.
- SEKTION base cabinet frame, 36 × 24 × 30 in: height 30 in, depth 23 5/8 in without and 24 in with the suspension rail, to be completed with legs, IKEA US. Checked 15 October 2026.
- SEKTION wall cabinet with 2 doors, 30 × 15 × 20 in: width 30 in, system depth 15 in, depth 15 1/2 in, frame height 20 in, IKEA US. Checked 15 October 2026.
- SEKTION wall cabinet with 2 doors, 36 × 15 × 15 in: width 36 in, system depth 15 in, frame height 15 in, IKEA US. Checked 15 October 2026.
- SEKTION high cabinet, 30 × 24 × 80 in: frame height 80 in, system depth 24 in, to be finished with legs and plinth, IKEA US. Checked 15 October 2026.
- METOD base cabinet frame, 80 × 37 × 80 cm: height 80 cm, to be completed with 8 cm legs, IKEA (metric product page). Checked 15 October 2026.
- Kitchen unit sizes: base units 720 mm (870 mm with legs), 560 mm deep, widths 300–1000 mm; wall units 575, 720 and 900 mm high, 300 mm deep; tall units 1970 and 2150 mm, 560 mm deep, widths 300–600 mm; wall cabinets 450–500 mm above the worktop, Cut My (UK worktop and unit supplier). Checked 15 October 2026.
- What kitchen unit widths are available? Base 150–1200 mm, wall 150–1000 mm, tall 300–1000 mm, DIY Kitchens. Checked 15 October 2026.
- What different types of wall unit are available? Standard wall unit height 720 mm, 300 mm deep; 1970 mm tall units stand 2120 mm on legs, 2150 mm tall units 2300 mm; allow 100 mm for a top box, DIY Kitchens. Checked 15 October 2026.
- Kitchen worktop height guide: common height about 900 mm, base unit 870 mm, plinth about 150 mm, worktop 25–40 mm, EGGER UK & Ireland. Checked 15 October 2026.
- Kitchen Planning Guidelines, guideline 18 (cooking surface clearance: 24 in to a protected noncombustible surface; code 30 in to combustible material, 24 in with an approved range hood) and guideline 27 (storage above 84 in counted as miscellaneous; ICC A117.1 high reach 48 in), National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Checked 15 October 2026.
The sizes come from manufacturer product pages and guides and from the NKBA planning guidelines, checked on 15 October 2026. Inch-to-centimetre conversions are ours and rounded. They are planning references, not a check of local building rules or of a specific product. Measure your wall and read the appliance guides before you order.