Cabinet Cut List Calculator: Build Cabinets From Plywood

Pick the kind of cabinet and enter its size, how many you are making, the shelves and doors. You get every part with its size, the sheets to buy, the hinges, legs and edging tape.

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This calculator needs JavaScript. Turn it on to enter your own numbers. The example result on this page is worked out for the typical job shown in the form, and the formula and worked example below let you check it by hand.

Kind of cabinet

Width

Height of the box (floor to top)

A base cabinet box is 34 1/2 in high; a wall cabinet is 30 or 36 in.

Depth (overall, including the back)

A base cabinet is 24 in deep, a wall cabinet 12 in.

Board thickness

Sheet goods sold as 3/4 in are often a little thinner (plywood 23/32 in); the difference is small.

Back panel

A back panel keeps a free-standing case square. A built-in fixed to the wall can leave it off.

Toe kick height

The toe kick is a notch at the foot of the sides. Ignored for wall cabinets.

Shelves per cabinet

shelves

Doors per cabinet

doors

Use 0 for open shelves or for drawer fronts you make separately.

Cut the doors from the same board

Number of cabinets

cabinets

Sheet size

Price per sheet

Results

Example job shown. Change the numbers to match yours.

Sheets for the carcasses and doors

2 sheets

Packed into strips with a saw cut of 3 mm

Sheets for the backsBy area with 10% extra: 1 sheet
Cost of the main sheetsBacks not included: 140.00 price
Shelf pins4 per shelf, 10% spare: 5 pins
Hinges2 per door: 4 hinges
Door sizeHeight of each door: full overlay with a 3 mm gap, 17 7/8 in wide: 29.88 in
Adjustable legs4 per cabinet, 6 if it is wider than 900 mm (36 in): 6 legs
Edging tape for the visible edgesFronts of the sides, top, bottom and shelves, plus the door edges: 30.3 ft

Cut list for 1 cabinet (parts run along the sheet length)

Side panels: 2 × 34 1/2 in × 23 3/4 in
Bottom panel: 1 × 34 1/2 in × 23 3/4 in
Top stretchers (front and back): 2 × 34 1/2 in × 4 in
Shelves: 1 × 34 3/8 in × 23 3/8 in
Toe-kick board: 1 × 36 in × 4 1/2 in
Doors: 2 × 29 7/8 in × 17 7/8 in

Assumptions used: base cabinet 36 in wide, 34 1/2 in high and 24 in deep overall including the back; sides run the full height, top and bottom fit between the sides; shelves are set back 10 mm from the front; two top stretchers replace a full top so a sink or hob can drop in; doors cover the front with a 3 mm gap.
A standard US base cabinet box is 34 1/2 in high and 24 in deep with a 4 1/2 in toe kick, and a wall cabinet is 12 in deep. The toe kick is cut out of the sides, so the sides are counted at full height.

Before you buy: round up to whole packs, check the size printed on the label, and add a little spare. Your supplier has the final say.

How this calculator works

A cabinet is a box: two sides, a bottom, a top (or two stretchers on a base cabinet that takes a countertop), shelves, a back and doors. The calculator sizes each part from the overall width, height and depth less the board thickness, then packs the parts into sheets in strips, the way you would cut them with a track saw.

bottom and top length = width − 2 × board door width = width ÷ doors − 3 mm gap shelf depth = depth − back − 10 mm

Worked example: one 36 in wide base cabinet, 34 1/2 in high and 24 in deep in 3/4 in plywood, with one shelf and two doors, takes 2 sheet for the carcass and doors, and 1 for the back. It needs 4 hinges and 6 legs. A 12 in deep, 30 in high wall cabinet uses 1 sheet with a full top and no legs.

Sheets are packed efficiently but not perfectly: a bigger kitchen shares leftover pieces between cabinets, so ten cabinets need less than ten times one. Order a few percent extra for mistakes, defects and edge damage.

Assumptions and sources

The assumptions behind your numbers (waste, sizes, rates) are listed in the notes directly under your results, and they update when you change an input.

The formula and a worked example are shown above, so you can check any result by hand. Read how we calculate and check our numbers. Results are estimates for planning: supplier products vary, so check the size printed on the label.

Sheets for a run of base cabinets

36 in wide, 34 1/2 in high, 24 in deep, 3/4 in plywood, 2 doors, 1 shelf.

Cabinets	Sheets for carcasses and doors	Back sheets	Hinges
1	2	1	4
2	4	1	8
4	6	2	16
6	9	2	24
8	12	3	32
10	15	3	40

Tips before you buy

Cut all the parts of one cabinet from the same sheet batch where you can, and keep the grain running the same way on the doors.
Check the size of any sink, hob, dishwasher or oven before you set the width: appliances are measured in standard widths and the cabinets must leave the gap.
Set the top stretchers back so a countertop overhang of 1 in sits right, and scribe the back or the sides to the wall.
Use a track saw or a panel saw guide for straight, chip-free cuts, and put tape on the line when you cut melamine or veneer with a handsaw.
Soft-close hinges need a 35 mm cup hole in each door: a Forstner bit and a jig make it easy.

Tools & materials for this project

Affiliate links As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not change what you pay.

Soft-close concealed hinges Adjustable cabinet legs 35 mm Forstner bit Pocket hole jig Edge banding iron-on

Frequently asked questions

How much plywood do I need to build a kitchen cabinet?

One 36 in base cabinet uses about 2 sheet for the carcass and doors plus a share of a back panel. For a run of cabinets, enter the number and the calculator shares the leftover pieces: 9 sheets for six.

Can I build kitchen cabinets from scratch?

Yes. Frameless cabinets are a good first project: they are plain boxes made from sheet, joined with screws or dowels, and finished with doors and hinges. A track saw and a pocket hole jig or a dowelling jig do most of the work.

What size are standard kitchen cabinets?

A base cabinet is 34 1/2 in high and 24 in deep with a 4 1/2 in toe kick, and goes on to 36 in with a countertop. A wall cabinet is 12 in deep and hangs with its bottom at about 54 in. Widths go up in steps of 3 in.

What thickness board should I use for cabinets?

Use 3/4 in (18 mm) for the sides, top and bottom, and the same or thinner for the doors. A 1/4 in (6 mm) back is usual, and a 1/2 in (12 mm) back helps a wide cabinet stay square.

How many hinges per door?

Two for a door up to about 1 m tall and three above that. Heavy or wide doors may need more.

Is a plywood or MDF carcass better?

Plywood is stronger, holds screws better and copes with damp better; MDF and melamine particleboard are cheaper and flat. Use plywood near a sink.

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Related calculators & guides

Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.