What is the depth of the upper kitchen cabinets [2023]

Kitchen cabinets come in three types: wall, tall, and base. What is the depth of the upper kitchen cabinets? While custom cabinets are made in any dimension you want, ready-to-assemble or semi-custom cabinets have standard measurements that most manufacturers follow. Standard kitchen cabinet sizes make designing kitchens easier since the spacing is already predictable.

Kitchen remodeling projects help to increase your home’s appeal. However, they can be disruptive and expensive. Since cabinets are the focal point in your kitchen, you must invest time and resources in choosing the best materials, designs, and sizes.

Base, wall, and tall cabinets have their specific range of standard sizes. We will give you a detailed guide on standard kitchen cabinet dimensions for semi-custom or ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets.

How Deep Are Kitchen Wall Cabinets?

Since upper cabinets cannot surpass the depth of base cabinets, they typically have a depth of 12 inches or 24 inches deep. The only exception to this standard measurement is the wall cabinet installed on top of refrigerators, which can be 24 inches to 36 inches deep.

Upper Cabinets

Upper or high cabinets are the same as wall kitchen cabinets. They don’t support as much weight as base cabinets, but they need to be properly mounted on the walls to hold the weight of lighter kitchenware and food items.

Upper Kitchen Cabinet Sizes and Depth (Explained)

The standard kitchen cabinet heights for wall cabinets are 30 inches, 36 inches, and 42 inches. The general upper cabinet depth is 12 inches deep, but some cabinets can be up to 24 inches deep. When mounting upper cabinets over empty spaces or tables, hang them so they are 54 inches from the floor. This places the wall cabinet at the same height as installed over a countertop.

Upper kitchen cabinet widths runs from 9 to 36 inches with a 3-inch interval depending on your kitchen space and preferences. Wide cabinets can feature double doors, while narrow ones can have single doors for a proper proportion.

How Much Space Should Be Between Upper and Lower Cabinets?

The standard distance that is left between the upper cabinets and base cabinets is known as the optimal working space. The standard optimal working space is 18 inches in height. This is also the standard measurement of backsplashes. However, the height can be altered depending on your height, kitchen design, or ceiling height, but keep it between 15 inches to 20 inches away.

Kitchen Wall Cabinet Height, Depth, and Width

Wall cabinets are attached directly to the wall studs using screws. They store food, small appliances, and lightweight kitchen items. They are the kitchen’s focal point and the most visible cabinetry, serving as a showpiece. Wall cabinets are also the most used in the kitchen.

Sometimes, the cabinets can be open shelves, suspended from the ceiling, or attached to the overhanging soffit. You can get wall cabinets with accessories like in-cabinet lighting or glass inserts.

Kitchen Wall Cabinet Sizes

Wall cabinets don’t need to support as much weight as base cabinets, but they have to be properly installed to hold the weight of plates, glasses, and other kitchen items. You can choose between framed and frameless cabinets.

The size of a wall kitchen cabinet is determined by its height, depth, and width.

Kitchen Wall Cabinet Depth

Cabinet depth is the space between the cabinet doors and the wall. The maximum depth for wall cabinets is 24 inches, which is dictated by the standard depth of base cabinets. However, shallower cabinets are more common to provide full working space on the countertop.

Most commonly, wall cabinets are 12 inches deep to balance workable countertop space below the cabinet and storage space in the cabinets. Shallower cabinets are also safer to attach to walls, as deeper cabinets might tear out of the walls if loaded with heavy plates and foodstuff.

The common depth of cabinets placed above microwave ovens is 15 to 18 inches. Above-refrigerator cabinets are the only exceptions from the informal rule that wall cabinets need to be shallow. Since most refrigerators have a depth of 24-36 inches deep, wall cabinets placed above fridges can be equally deep or close; therefore, a 24-inch-deep cabinet is standard.

Kitchen Wall Cabinet Height

Wall cabinets mostly come in limited heights since they must fit between the counter and the ceiling. The common wall cabinet heights are 30, 36, and 42 inches. Most standard kitchen cabinets are 30 or 36 inches tall, with the remaining space enclosed by soffits or crown molding. Commonly, an 18-inch space is left between your base cabinets and the wall cabinets. So, when wall cabinets are installed over lower cabinets, the top of the cabinets will be 84 inches, 90 inches, and 96 inches, respectively.

If the cabinets run from the floor to the ceiling, 48-inch cabinets are the best choice. Where there is a refrigerator, a 12-inch-tall or 15-inch-tall wall cabinet fits neatly.

Kitchen Wall Cabinet Width

The width of kitchen wall cabinets runs from 9 to 48 inches in increments of 3 inches. But it is rare to find cabinets wider than 36 inches. The most common installations are 30-inch cabinets that feature double doors to offer the best proportions for your storage needs.

Wall Cabinets

Choosing the right height for your kitchen wall cabinets depends on your ceiling height and personal preferences. It is ideal to install your wall cabinets 54 inches from the floor to the bottom of the cabinet. Remember to leave the 18-inch height that is standard for a backsplash.

Tall Cabinets

Tall kitchen cabinet sizes vary depending on your ceiling height and your choice to leave enough space between the cabinet and ceiling, which can be covered with crown molding. The standard height of tall kitchen cabinets is 84 inches, 90 inches, or 96 inches. Tall cabinets can be used as utility cabinets or stock cabinets.

The standard kitchen cabinet dimensions for pantries are typically limited to 18 inches or 24 inches wide. For semi-custom cabinets, the width ranges from 9 inches with 3-inch intervals, up to 36 inches wide. Tall oven cabinet standard width is 30 inches to 36 inches to fit the standard size for single oven widths in the market.

The common depth for pantry cabinets is 24 inches deep, but you can find 12 inch-deep cabinets for tighter spaces.

Pantry Cabinets

Tall kitchen cabinets are typically used as pantry storage space and oven cabinets, and they can reach up to 96 inches. To pick the right pantry cabinets for your kitchen, it is ideal to use an 84-inch-tall pantry with 30-inch-high cabinets, 90-inch pantry cabinets with 36-inch high cabinets, and 96-inch pantry cabinets with 42-inch high cabinets.

Kitchen Base Cabinet Height, Depth, and Width

Kitchen base cabinets are the foundation for countertops, sinks, or other surfaces. They rest on the floor and can come as one drawer with shelves, or several drawers stacked on each other, giving you more storage space. Base cabinets increase your kitchen’s appeal.

Base cabinets tend to do all the heavy lifting; therefore, they should be sturdy. They also attach to the range hood, dishwasher, and other kitchen appliances. You can store small appliances in the base cabinets along with heavy kitchenware like pots and other cookware. Consider installing custom-made corner cabinets with pull outs drawers instead of a lazy Susan to maximize your storage space.

Standard base cabinet dimensions are 34 ½ inches and 36 inches from the floor to the top of the countertop when a countertop is installed. The standard counter depth tends to be 1 ½ inch.

The standard width of a standard base cabinet measures 9 inches with a 3-inch interval up to 42 inches. Cabinets can be framed or frameless, and they can feature double doors or single doors.

The base cabinets’ depth is 24 inches deep without countertops. For applications where wall obstacles prevent the installation of full cabinet depth, the base cabinets can be reduced down to 12 inches in 3-inch intervals.

Are All Upper Cabinets the Same Depth?

Standard wall cabinets are 12 inches deep to 24 inches deep. However, the standard wall cabinet depth can vary depending on your needs to provide more than enough space.

How Deep Are Upper Wall Cabinets?

The standard wall cabinet depth is 12 inches. Over-refrigerator wall cabinets can be 24 inches deep for easy access.

How Do I Measure Kitchen Cabinets?

The best way to determine the size of your cabinets during a kitchen remodeling project is to take horizontal measurements. Note the distance from both edges of the walls to get the total space. Also take vertical measurements; the floor-to-ceiling height. You should also consider existing fixtures such as appliances, sinks, windows, and door height.

It is crucial to use accurate measurements when buying kitchen cabinets to prevent mishaps in kitchen renovation.

How High Are Wall Cabinets from the Floor?

The standard distance for wall cabinets from the floor is 54 inches (4 feet and 6 inches). The measurement is derived from 34 1/2 –inch base cabinets, a 1 1/2 –inch thick countertop, and an 18-inch backsplash. Therefore, the bottom of the wall cabinets should be 54 inches from the floor.

Can You Alter the Depth of a Cabinet?

If the standard ready-to-assemble or semi-custom cabinets do not fit your storage needs, it can be impossible to add more depth. However, reducing the depth of the wall and lower cabinets is easier by taking down the units, disassembling, and cutting them with a saw.

If you need more information on the depth of upper kitchen cabinets, click on more links to get tips on kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects.