| Quick Answer
Standard base cabinets are 24 inches deep and 34.5 inches high, which becomes 36 inches with a countertop. Standard wall cabinets are 12 inches deep and come in 30, 36 or 42 inch heights. Tall pantry cabinets are 84, 90 or 96 inches high. Widths for both base and wall cabinets run in 3-inch increments from 9 to 48 inches. Custom cabinets can be built to any dimension within these ranges and beyond them. |
Base cabinets
| Dimension
|
Standard
|
Common alternatives
|
Custom range
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth (without door)
|
24 in
|
21 in, 27 in
|
12 to 30 in
|
| Depth (with door and overlay)
|
24.75 to 25 in
|
—
|
varies with door thickness
|
| Height (without countertop)
|
34.5 in
|
—
|
30 to 38 in
|
| Height (with countertop)
|
36 in
|
—
|
32 to 39.5 in
|
| Width
|
3-inch increments, 9 to 48 in
|
—
|
any width to approx. 48 in
|
| Toe kick height
|
4.5 in
|
3.5 in, 6 in
|
3 to 9 in
|
| Toe kick depth
|
3 in
|
—
|
2 to 4 in
|
The 34.5-inch base height plus a 1.5-inch countertop giving 36 inches has been the standard for decades, and it suits someone of roughly average height. If everyone who cooks in your kitchen is notably taller or shorter, this is one of the strongest arguments for custom: raising or lowering the run by two inches changes how the kitchen feels every single day and costs very little at the manufacturing stage.
Wall cabinets
| Dimension
|
Standard
|
Common alternatives
|
Custom range
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth
|
12 in
|
15 in, 17 in (over refrigerator: 24 in)
|
9 to 24 in
|
| Height
|
30 in
|
12, 15, 18, 24, 36, 42 in
|
any height to ceiling
|
| Width
|
3-inch increments, 9 to 48 in
|
—
|
any width to approx. 48 in
|
| Height above countertop
|
18 in
|
15 in (with a tall backsplash), 20 in
|
15 to 22 in
|
| Height above a range
|
30 in minimum to combustible surface
|
24 in with a rated hood
|
per appliance specification
|
The 18-inch gap between countertop and wall cabinets is the figure people most often want to change, usually to gain storage. Going below 15 inches makes the counter feel cramped and makes small appliances awkward to use. Above 20 inches the top shelf stops being reachable. Eighteen is standard because it works.
Tall and pantry cabinets
| Dimension
|
Standard
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| Height
|
84, 90 or 96 in
|
96 in suits an 8 ft ceiling with no soffit
|
| Depth
|
24 in
|
12 in shallow pantries are available and often better you can see everything
|
| Width
|
12, 18, 24, 30, 36 in
|
24 in and above generally need double doors
|
| Oven cabinet width
|
30 or 33 in
|
Confirm against the specific appliance, never against the category
|
A note on pantry depth. A 24-inch-deep pantry holds more and hides more items at the back are forgotten. A 12-inch pantry holds less and everything in it is visible and reachable. For dry goods, shallow is genuinely better, which surprises most people.
Vanity cabinets
| Dimension
|
Standard
|
Comfort height
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Height (without top)
|
30 to 32 in
|
34.5 in
|
Comfort height matches kitchen base height
|
| Depth
|
21 in
|
—
|
18 in available for tight bathrooms
|
| Width
|
24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72 in
|
—
|
60 in and above for double basins
|
Corner cabinets
| Type
|
Typical size
|
Minimum for a pull-out
|
|---|---|---|
| Blind corner base
|
36 to 48 in overall
|
approx. 15 in opening
|
| Diagonal corner base
|
36 in
|
approx. 33 in cabinet for a lazy Susan
|
| Diagonal corner wall
|
24 in
|
—
|
| Lazy Susan base
|
33 or 36 in
|
33 in
|
Clearances that matter more than cabinet sizes
You can order every cabinet at the correct dimension and still end up with a kitchen that does not work, because the gaps between things are what determine whether a kitchen is comfortable.
- Walkway between opposing runs: 42 inches minimum for one cook, 48 inches where two people work at once. Below 36 inches a galley becomes genuinely difficult.
- Clearance in front of an appliance: 30 inches minimum, and check the door swing. A dishwasher door open into a 36-inch walkway blocks it completely.
- Countertop overhang past the base cabinet: 1 to 1.5 inches at the front.
- Seating overhang at an island: 12 inches for comfortable knee room at counter height, 15 inches at bar height.
- Range hood above the cooking surface: 30 inches to a combustible surface, or 24 inches with a rated hood. Always follow the appliance specification over the general rule.
- Filler strips: allow at least 3 inches at any wall junction in an older home. Walls in pre-1980 houses are rarely square and fillers are what absorb the difference.
Accessible and ADA heights
For a wheelchair-accessible kitchen the relevant figures differ from standard. Countertop height drops to a maximum of 34 inches, with knee clearance of at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide and 19 inches deep beneath any work surface intended for seated use. Wall cabinet contents should sit within a reach range of 15 to 48 inches, which usually means bringing the uppers down or specifying pull-down shelving.
Full ADA guidance covers considerably more than cabinet dimensions, and if accessibility is a requirement rather than a preference it is worth designing to the standard from the start rather than adapting afterwards.
Metric conversions
| Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|
| 12 in | 305 mm |
| 15 in | 381 mm |
| 18 in | 457 mm |
| 21 in | 533 mm |
| 24 in | 610 mm |
| 30 in | 762 mm |
| 34.5 in | 876 mm |
| 36 in | 914 mm |
| 42 in | 1067 mm |
| 48 in | 1219 mm |
| 84 in | 2134 mm |
| 96 in | 2438 mm |
When standard sizes are the wrong answer
Standard dimensions exist because they suit most rooms and most people, and for a square room with 8-foot ceilings and average-height occupants they are almost always the right choice. Custom sizing earns its cost in specific circumstances: ceilings above or below 8 feet where standard cabinets leave an awkward gap, out-of-square walls in older homes, runs that fall between standard increments, unusual appliance dimensions, and households where the standard 36-inch counter height is genuinely uncomfortable.
If you are unsure which category your kitchen falls into, bring your wall measurements and ceiling height to the showroom and we will tell you in the first appointment. It is a five-minute answer and it determines a great deal of what follows.
FAQ
What is the standard depth of a kitchen base cabinet?
24 inches without the door. With the door and overlay the finished depth is usually 24.75 to 25 inches. Shallower 21-inch and deeper 27-inch base cabinets are also available, and custom boxes can be built between 12 and 30 inches.
What is the standard height of kitchen base cabinets?
34.5 inches without a countertop, becoming 36 inches once a standard 1.5-inch countertop is fitted. Custom heights typically range from 30 to 38 inches, which is worth considering if the people using the kitchen are notably taller or shorter than average.
How deep are wall cabinets?
12 inches is standard. 15 and 17 inch depths are available for extra storage, and cabinets above a refrigerator are usually 24 inches deep so they align with the appliance.
How far above the countertop should wall cabinets be?
18 inches is standard. Fifteen inches works with a tall backsplash but makes small appliances awkward. Above 20 inches the top shelf stops being reachable for most people.
What widths do kitchen cabinets come in?
Standard widths run in 3-inch increments from 9 to 48 inches for both base and wall cabinets. Custom cabinets can be built to any width, though beyond about 48 inches a single unit becomes impractical to handle and install.
How tall is a pantry cabinet?
84, 90 or 96 inches. 96 inches suits a standard 8-foot ceiling with no soffit. Depth is usually 24 inches, though a 12-inch shallow pantry often works better for dry goods because everything stays visible.
What is the minimum walkway width in a kitchen?
42 inches between opposing runs for a single cook, and 48 inches where two people work at once. Below 36 inches a galley kitchen becomes genuinely difficult to use, particularly with an appliance door open.
What is ADA-compliant counter height?
A maximum of 34 inches, with knee clearance beneath any seated work surface of at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide and 19 inches deep. Wall cabinet contents should sit within a 15 to 48 inch reach range.