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 worktop), 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.
Worked example: one 600 mm wide base unit, 720 mm high and 560 mm deep in 18 mm board, with one shelf and two doors, takes 2 sheet for the carcass and doors, and 1 for the back. It needs 4 hinges and 4 legs. A 300 mm deep, 720 mm high wall unit 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
600 mm wide, 720 mm high, 560 mm deep, 18 mm board, 2 doors, 1 shelf.
| Cabinets | Sheets for carcasses and doors | Back sheets | Hinges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 24 |
| 8 | 7 | 2 | 32 |
| 10 | 9 | 2 | 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.
- Leave the worktop to overhang the front by about 20 mm, and scribe the end panel 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
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Frequently asked questions
How much plywood do I need to build a kitchen cabinet?
One 600 mm base unit 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: 5 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 unit carcass is 720 mm high and 560 mm deep on legs about 150 mm tall, which gives about 910 mm to the top of the worktop. A wall unit is 300 mm deep. Widths go in steps of 100 mm, from 150 mm to 1000 mm.
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.