Cabinet Calculator
How many cabinets do you need? Enter the linear feet of your base, wall, and tall cabinet run and this free calculator returns the box count at standard ANSI/KCMA A161.1 sizes, plus doors, drawers, hinges, drawer slides, knobs, pulls, fillers, end panels, and crown, light-rail, and toe-kick trim — a complete materials take-off, no pricing and no signup.
Cabinets are counted against standard 3-inch width increments and industry-average door and drawer ratios, with hinges scaled to door height per manufacturer spacing tables (ANSI/BHMA A156.9). It works for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, home offices, and garage storage — pick a room to load a typical layout, then tune the run to your own walls.
For a full kitchen — islands, NKBA work-triangle and landing checks, appliance panels — use the Kitchen Cabinets Calculator; for vanities, linen towers, medicine cabinets, and mirrors, use the Bathroom Cabinets Calculator. This generic take-off is the fast starting point when you just need the box and hardware counts.
Cabinet Calculator
Estimate cabinets, doors, drawers, hinges, slides, knobs, pulls, fillers, and trim from your linear feet of base, wall, and tall cabinet run — for kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, and built-ins. Free, no signup.
Room & cabinet run
Measure the wall length each cabinet type runs along. Base = floor cabinets (34½" H), wall = uppers (12" D), tall = pantry/oven/utility (84–96" H). Stock cabinets step in 3-inch widths.
Boxes & doors
Trim & accessories
Cabinet calculators by room
This is the general cabinet take-off. For room-specific planning, use the dedicated calculators — they add the features a generic count can't.
Standard cabinet sizes (ANSI/KCMA A161.1)
Stock cabinets step in 3-inch width increments. The take-off averages widths — a custom schedule can differ.
| Cabinet | Standard widths | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 9"–48" (3" steps) | 34½" (36" to counter) | 24" |
| Wall / upper | 9"–48" (3" steps) | 12", 15", 18", 24", 30", 36", 42" | 12" |
| Tall / pantry | 18", 24", 30", 36" | 84", 90", 96" | 24" (or 12") |
| Vanity (bath) | 18"–72" | 32"–36" | 21" |
Hardware follows ANSI/BHMA A156.9; all composite-wood parts must meet EPA TSCA Title VI / CARB Phase 2.
Calculation Formulas
Convert the base cabinet run to inches and divide by the average base cabinet width (24" default), rounding up to whole boxes. Stock cabinets only come in 3-inch width steps, so the real order rounds to standard sizes and closes the remainder with fillers.
Example:
A 20 LF base run ÷ 24" avg = ceil(240 ÷ 24) = 10 base cabinets.
Same method for uppers, using a 24" average wall cabinet width. Wall cabinets are 12" deep and come in the same 9"–48" width range as base cabinets.
Example:
16 LF wall run ÷ 24" = ceil(192 ÷ 24) = 8 wall cabinets.
Pantry, oven, and utility cabinets are counted against a 30" average width. Tall cabinets are 84", 90", or 96" high and 24" (or 12") deep.
Example:
3 LF tall run ÷ 30" = ceil(36 ÷ 30) = 2 tall cabinets.
Average door fronts per cabinet across a typical run — bases average 1.4 doors (a mix of single-door and double-door boxes), uppers 1.5, tall/pantry cabinets 2. A user with an exact cabinet schedule can adjust the run inputs to match.
Example:
10 base, 8 wall, 2 tall → 14 + 12 + 4 = 30 doors.
Drawers ride on base cabinets — an average of 1.3 per base box blends single-door-with-drawer cabinets (1 drawer) with 3- and 4-drawer bank bases. Wall and tall cabinets are treated as doored storage.
Example:
10 base cabinets × 1.3 = 13 drawers.
Manufacturer hinge-spacing tables (aligned to ANSI/BHMA A156.9) set hinge count by door height and weight. Base and wall doors are short (≤40") and take 2 hinges; tall cabinet doors are split top/bottom, so each leaf usually still takes 2–3.
Example:
30 base/wall doors × 2 = 60, plus 4 tall doors on 42" leaves × 3 = 12 → 64 hinges (rounded from the split-leaf rule).
One pair of drawer slides per drawer box; the default hardware scheme is one knob per door and one pull per drawer. Swap to all-pulls or all-knobs by reading the door and drawer totals directly.
Example:
13 drawers → 13 slide pairs and 13 pulls; 30 doors → 30 knobs.
Crown runs along the tops of uppers and tall cabinets (added when cabinets go to the ceiling or the ceiling is 9 ft+). Light rail trims the underside of wall cabinets only when they stop short of the ceiling. Toe kick skins the recessed base under base and tall cabinets.
Example:
16 LF wall + 3 LF tall = 19 LF crown; 16 LF light rail; 20 + 3 = 23 LF toe kick.
Because cabinets only step in 3-inch widths, a run almost never lands exactly on a wall. 3-inch filler strips close the remainder and give doors and drawers clearance to open past adjacent walls at inside corners.
Example:
A galley with two end walls and one inside corner → 2–3 fillers.
Standard Constants
| Constant | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Standard base cabinet height | 34½" (36" to counter top) | ANSI/KCMA A161.1 nominal base height; the 1½" countertop brings the work surface to 36". |
| Base cabinet depth | 24" | Standard base depth; 12" and 15" shallow bases exist for tight layouts. |
| Wall cabinet depth | 12" | Standard upper depth; 15"–24" deep uppers are used over refrigerators and for pantries. |
| Standard width increments | 9"–48" in 3" steps | Stock and most semi-custom lines size in 3-inch increments; custom shops build any width. |
| Toe kick | 4½" high × 3" deep | The recessed base that lets you stand close to the counter; skinned with matching toe-kick trim. |
| Average cabinet widths | base 24" · wall 24" · tall 30" | Run-average widths used for the box count; override by adjusting the linear-foot inputs to a known schedule. |
| Doors per cabinet (avg) | base 1.4 · wall 1.5 · tall 2.0 | Blended door fronts per box across a typical mix of single- and double-door cabinets. |
| Drawers per base (avg) | 1.3 | Blends single-drawer door bases with 3- and 4-drawer bank cabinets. |
| Hinge height thresholds | 40" and 60" | Doors over 40" tall need a third hinge; over 60", a fourth (mfr spacing tables, ANSI/BHMA A156.9). |
| Vanity dimensions (bath) | 32"–36" H × 21" D | Bath vanities run taller "comfort height" (36") or standard (32"), shallower (21") than kitchen bases. |
| Frameless interior gain | ~10% | Full-access (frameless) boxes give roughly 10% more usable interior on the same nominal width vs. face-frame. |
Note: All calculations include appropriate waste factors based on project complexity and material type. Results are estimates and should be verified by professionals before purchasing materials.
Cabinet Construction & Performance Standard(ANSI/KCMA A161.1)
View StandardThe North American standard for kitchen and vanity cabinet construction, structural performance, and finish durability. Cabinets carrying the KCMA certification seal pass a battery of loading, slam, and finish tests.
Key Requirements:
- •Standard sizing in 3-inch width increments (9"–48")
- •Base 34½" high × 24" deep; wall 12" deep; tall 84"/90"/96"
- •Structural, door-slam (25,000 cycles), and drawer-cycle performance tests
- •Finish resistance to heat, moisture, and common household chemicals
NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines(NKBA)
View StandardThe National Kitchen & Bath Association guidelines for clearances, work aisles, landing areas, and cabinet placement. They govern how cabinet runs fit a usable, code-aware layout.
Key Requirements:
- •Work aisles 42" (one cook) to 48" (two cooks)
- •Recommended 158" of continuous counter frontage in a full kitchen
- •Landing areas beside sinks, cooktops, and refrigerators
- •Bath vanity and fixture clearance minimums
Cabinet Hardware Standard(ANSI/BHMA A156.9)
View StandardPerformance standard for cabinet hardware — hinges, slides, and pulls — including cycle testing and load ratings. Manufacturer hinge-spacing tables that set hinges-per-door derive from this framework.
Key Requirements:
- •Hinge count scales with door height and weight (2 up to 40")
- •Drawer slide load ratings (75–100+ lb classes)
- •Cycle-test durability for hinges and slides
Formaldehyde Emissions — Composite Wood(EPA TSCA Title VI / CARB Phase 2)
View StandardFederal (and originally California) limits on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood — MDF, particleboard, and hardwood plywood — used in cabinet boxes, doors, and shelving. Compliant product is labeled.
Key Requirements:
- •MDF, particleboard, and hardwood plywood must meet Title VI emission caps
- •Each panel or finished good carries a compliant label
- •Applies to imported and domestic composite-wood components
Hardwood & Decorative Plywood(ANSI/HPVA HP-1)
View StandardGrading and construction standard for the hardwood plywood commonly used in better cabinet boxes and shelves — defines veneer grades, core types, and bond durability.
Key Requirements:
- •Veneer face-grade classification
- •Core construction (veneer, MDF, particleboard) and bond type
- •Dimensional tolerance and flatness
Accessible & Usable Cabinets(ICC A117.1 / ADA)
View StandardAccessibility standards governing reach ranges, knee/toe clearance, and work-surface heights for cabinets in accessible kitchens and baths — the basis for aging-in-place and universal-design cabinet layouts.
Key Requirements:
- •Forward/side reach ranges (15"–48")
- •Knee and toe clearance at accessible sinks and work surfaces
- •Lowered work-surface and lever/pull hardware provisions
Standards Disclaimer: Standards and codes are subject to periodic updates. Always verify current requirements with local building authorities and professional engineers before beginning construction. Links provided are for reference only.
Framed vs. frameless prevalence
Construction style shifts by region and price tier
Face-frame (framed) cabinets remain the US default, but frameless/full-access construction is more common in modern and European-influenced markets and at the high end. Frameless gives ~10% more interior volume but demands dead-square boxes.
Regional Examples:
Sizing increments & availability
Stock 3" steps vs. semi-custom/custom sizing
Stock lines size in 3-inch increments and stock a limited width range; semi-custom offers ¼–1" adjustments and more configurations; custom builds any size. What is quickly available varies widely by metro and supplier.
Regional Examples:
Humidity & door material
Solid wood vs. MDF panels by climate
Solid-wood raised panels move with seasonal humidity — fine in stable climates, prone to visible seams and finish cracks at painted joints in very dry or very humid regions, where MDF or engineered painted doors stay flatter.
Regional Examples:
Formaldehyde & material rules
CARB origin, now national via TSCA Title VI
California’s CARB Phase 2 formaldehyde limits became the de facto national standard through EPA TSCA Title VI. Product sold anywhere in the US must comply, but buyers in stricter or green-building markets often specify additional certifications.
Regional Examples:
Install code & attachment
Blocking, clearances, and inspection vary
Cabinets themselves rarely need a permit, but the work around them does — wall blocking for upper-cabinet loads, cooktop-to-cabinet clearances, and range-hood requirements are enforced differently by local jurisdictions.
Regional Examples:
Accessibility requirements
Aging-in-place and accessible units
Accessible and universal-design projects lower work surfaces, add knee clearance at sinks, and favor pulls over knobs — changing cabinet selection (drawer bases, roll-outs) more than the linear-foot count.
Regional Examples:
Before You Build
- •Contact your local building department for specific requirements
- •Verify frost line depths, wind zones, and seismic requirements for your area
- •Check if permits are required and schedule required inspections
- •Consult with a local contractor familiar with local codes
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Related Calculators
Kitchen Cabinets Calculator
Estimate kitchen cabinets, doors, hinges, slides, knobs, pulls, and trim by tier — RTA, stock, semi-custom, custom. ANSI/KCMA & NKBA. Free.
Bathroom Cabinets Calculator
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Countertop Calculator
Calculate net square feet, slabs, edge LF, seams, and weight for granite, quartz, marble, and butcher block. NSI, ANSI/ISFA, NKBA. Free.
How to Use This Calculator
- Pick a room (kitchen, bath, laundry, mudroom, office, or garage) to load a typical cabinet layout, or choose Custom to enter your own.
- Enter the linear feet of base, wall, and tall cabinet run — measure the wall length each cabinet type runs along. Use 0 for any type you are not installing.
- Set construction (framed or frameless), ceiling height, door style, and overlay. These drive the reveal, hinge count, and trim — not the box count.
- Toggle soft-close hardware, cabinets-to-ceiling, crown molding, and light rail to match your plan.
- Enter filler strips, finished end panels, and any roll-out shelves or pull-out trash units.
- Click Calculate to get cabinets by type, doors, drawers, hinges, drawer slides, knobs, pulls, fillers, and crown/light-rail/toe-kick linear feet, plus ordering notes.
- For room-specific extras, follow the link to the Kitchen or Bathroom cabinet calculator.
Why the count rounds up and needs fillers
Stock and most semi-custom cabinets are only made in 3-inch width increments (9" to 48"), so a cabinet run almost never lands exactly on a wall. This calculator converts your linear feet to inches, divides by the average cabinet width for each type, and rounds up to whole boxes — then you close the leftover gap with 3-inch filler strips, which also give doors and drawers clearance to open past adjacent walls at inside corners. The counts are estimates from average cabinet widths and typical door/drawer ratios; a supplier working from your exact elevation will produce a precise cabinet schedule, but this take-off gets you the box, hardware, and trim quantities to budget and cross-check a quote. It reports materials only — no pricing — because cabinet prices swing enormously by line, finish, and market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cabinets do I need?
Measure the wall length (in feet) that your base, wall, and tall cabinets run along, then divide the inches by the average cabinet width — about 24" for base and wall cabinets and 30" for tall/pantry cabinets — and round up to whole boxes. A 20-foot base run works out to roughly ten 24" base cabinets. Because stock cabinets only come in 3-inch width steps, the real order rounds to standard sizes and you close the leftover gap with filler strips. This calculator does that math for every cabinet type at once and adds the doors, drawers, and hardware.
How do I measure linear feet of cabinets?
Run a tape along the wall where each cabinet type will sit and record the total length in feet — separately for base (floor) cabinets, wall (upper) cabinets, and tall pantry/oven cabinets, since they stack differently. Don't measure the cabinets themselves; measure the wall space they occupy. For an L-shaped or U-shaped layout, add the lengths of each leg. Leave out the space taken by a freestanding range or refrigerator, since no cabinet goes there.
What's the difference between this and the kitchen or bathroom cabinet calculators?
This is the general cabinet take-off: it counts boxes, doors, drawers, and hardware for any room from your linear feet. The Kitchen Cabinets Calculator adds kitchen-specific planning — islands, NKBA work-triangle and landing-area checks, and appliance and filler panels. The Bathroom Cabinets Calculator handles vanity door and drawer schedules by width, plus linen towers, medicine cabinets, and mirrors. Start here for a fast count, then use the room-specific tool when you're finalizing a kitchen or bath.
Framed or frameless cabinets — which should I pick?
Framed (face-frame) construction is the North American default: a hardwood frame on the front of the box adds racking strength and is the only style that supports inset doors. Frameless (full-access, European) cabinets skip the face frame, so the doors mount directly to the box and you get roughly 10% more interior space on the same nominal width — but the boxes must be perfectly square or full-overlay doors reveal the racking. Your choice changes the reveal, interior volume, and available overlays, not the number of boxes.
How many hinges does each cabinet door need?
Manufacturer hinge-spacing tables (aligned with ANSI/BHMA A156.9) set it by door height and weight: two concealed hinges for a door up to about 40 inches tall, three for 40–60 inches, and four beyond 60 inches. Most base and wall doors take two. Tall pantry doors are usually split into an upper and lower leaf, so each leaf still lands in the two-to-three-hinge range. The calculator applies this rule automatically from your ceiling height and cabinet mix.
Why does the count round up and add filler strips?
Stock and most semi-custom cabinets are only built in 3-inch width increments (9" to 48"), so a run almost never lands exactly on a wall. Rounding up to whole boxes and closing the remainder with 3-inch filler strips is standard practice — the filler also gives doors and drawers room to clear an adjacent wall at an inside corner, where two cabinets meet at 90 degrees. Most runs need two or more fillers.
Does this calculator include cabinet prices?
No — it reports materials only: cabinet counts, doors, drawers, hinges, slides, knobs, pulls, fillers, end panels, and crown/light-rail/toe-kick trim. Cabinet pricing swings enormously by product line, door style, finish, and local market, and prices drift fast, so a quoted number would be misleading. Use these quantities to budget and to sanity-check a supplier's quote — the box and hardware counts are what a bid should line up against.