Kitchen Cabinet Sizes in cm: Clear Guide for Every Home: 1 Minute to Find the Perfect Cabinet Size for Your Kitchen Layout

I’ve planned more than a hundred kitchens over the past decade, and cabinet sizing in centimeters is the backbone of a safe, comfortable, and efficient layout. Getting heights, depths, and widths right protects posture, improves storage, and streamlines cooking. The WELL Building Standard recommends kitchen task lighting at 500–750 lux (WELL v2) to keep prep zones legible; that only works when cabinet heights and clearances avoid casting shadows over worktops. Steelcase research also notes that reducing awkward reaches and repetitive strain directly supports sustained performance—an outcome tightly linked to correct cabinet heights and ergonomic zones.

Most residential kitchens sit on a 60 cm planning grid, with worktop height commonly 90 cm in Europe. The NKBA reports typical base cabinet depths at 60 cm and wall cabinet depths at 30–35 cm, ensuring adequate toe clearance and safe headroom above worktops. Where wall cabinets meet the cooktop, clearance to the bottom of a non-combustible hood is often 60–75 cm; to combustible materials it’s higher per local code. I hold a simple rule: if your tallest frequent user’s eye level is 150–160 cm, the bottom shelf of the wall cabinet should sit near that band for daily items, maintaining reach within the 5th–95th percentile ergonomics window.

Core Cabinet Dimensions in Centimeters

Base cabinets: Height 72–78 cm carcass + 10–12 cm plinth + 2–4 cm worktop yields 86–94 cm finished height. Depth 56–60 cm carcass with a 60 cm worktop; allow 2–3 cm overhang. Common widths: 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80, 90, and 120 cm. The 60 cm base with drawers is a workhorse for pots and dry goods. Wall cabinets: Height 60–72 cm in most standard kitchens; depth 30–35 cm; typical widths mirror base units for alignment. Keep 50–60 cm vertical clearance from worktop to cabinet underside to reduce glare and provide headroom for appliance use. Tall cabinets: Height 210–230 cm (to align with full-height doors and ceiling lines), depth 60 cm for integrated ovens and fridges; pantry units may be 40–60 cm deep depending on pull-out hardware.

Ergonomic Heights and Reach Zones

Comfortable prep height generally sits 5–10 cm below elbow height. For a user with 100 cm standing elbow height, a 90–95 cm worktop minimizes wrist extension while chopping. Drawer top edges between 75–110 cm keep daily-use items in neutral reach. Upper cabinet bottom at 135–145 cm above floor suits most users; shelves above 170 cm move into occasional-use territory. Combine these guidelines with task lighting targets of 500–750 lux over prep areas (WELL v2) and 150–300 lux for general ambient to reduce eye strain and shadowing under wall cabinets.

Clearances Around Appliances and Sinks

Cooktop to wall cabinet underside: 60–75 cm minimum for non-combustible surfaces. Vent hood depths often 30–50 cm; ensure alignment with cooktop width (60–90 cm typical). Sink centers at 90–95 cm height maintain wrist neutral angles; allow 60–90 cm of counter on either side for staging. Dishwasher needs 60 cm width and 120 cm clear arc for door swing. Refrigerator doors can require 90–120 cm swing clearance—plan adjacent tall cabinets at 60 cm depth and avoid conflicts with corner units.

Base Cabinet Modules and Drawer Strategy

I default to a 3-drawer stack in 60 cm bases: 1 shallow (10–15 cm front height) and 2 deep (25–30 cm) for pots and pantry bins. For 80–90 cm bases, split drawers with internal organizers to keep center of gravity near the runners. Corner solutions: 90 x 90 cm blind corner with pull-out, or 100 x 100 cm for LeMans/turning trays; both reduce dead space while staying within the 60 cm depth standard.

Wall Cabinet Proportions and Visual Balance

At 60–72 cm tall and 30–35 cm deep, wall cabinets should respect the work triangle sightline. I keep door heights connected to window headers and hood bodies to avoid visual clutter. Use 40–60 cm widths for symmetrical runs, reserving 30 cm doors for spices or vertical trays. Open shelves at 25–28 cm depth lighten massing and minimize head bumps.

Tall Units: Ovens, Pantries, and Integrations

Full-height runs at 210–230 cm stabilize the elevation and provide generous storage. Built-in ovens often center 90–110 cm above floor for safe loading. Pantry pull-outs work best at 45–60 cm width; 40 cm is tight for larger cereal boxes. For integrated fridges, maintain a 60 cm cavity depth; oversize doors (60–75 cm) need side clearance free of handles and knobs.

Lighting, Glare Control, and Cabinet Shadows

Under-cabinet linear LEDs at 3000–3500K reduce glare and improve color rendering for food prep. The Illuminating Engineering Society recommends task illuminance within the 300–500+ lux band for residential tasks; I design for 500–750 lux on cutting surfaces and ensure the cabinet lip doesn’t block the beam spread. Matte finishes on worktops and cabinet fronts cut specular reflections and ease eye strain in glossy kitchens.

Color Psychology and Material Choices

Light, desaturated fronts expand perceived space—pale gray-blue or warm off-white relieve visual load in compact kitchens. Saturated accent interiors in drawers guide behavior—people quickly spot red or yellow bins for high-use items. Durable laminates and lacquered MDF perform well in 60 cm deep bases; high-moisture zones around sinks benefit from water-resistant substrates and sealed edges. Recycled content fronts and low-VOC finishes support respiratory comfort without compromising fit.

Layout Planning and Module Alignment

Working in 60 cm blocks simplifies appliance integration and keeps toe-kick lines straight. For complex rooms or galley constraints, a room layout tool helps simulate cabinet widths, door swings, and tall unit sightlines before ordering.

room layout tool

2024–2025 Design Notes

Shallower wall cabinets at 30–32 cm paired with deeper drawers are trending, reducing head mass while improving base storage. Open niches (20–30 cm high) within tall runs break elevation monotony and host daily appliances. Warm 3000K lighting, rounded pulls, and soft-closing hardware ease sensory load and enhance longevity.

Common Size Reference (in cm)

- Base cabinet: H 72–78 (carcass) + 10–12 plinth + 2–4 top, D 56–60, W 30/40/45/50/60/80/90/120

- Wall cabinet: H 60–72, D 30–35, W 30/40/45/50/60/80/90

- Tall cabinet: H 210–230, D 60, W 45/60

- Worktop height finished: 86–94

- Worktop depth: 60

- Worktop-to-wall cabinet clearance: 50–60

- Cooktop to hood undersurface: 60–75 (non-combustible)

Authority Insight

For ergonomic context and lighting performance targets, consult WELL v2 for residential-relevant task lighting ranges and the IES guidance for illuminance bands to safeguard visual comfort.

FAQ

Q1: What is the standard base cabinet depth in cm?

A1: 60 cm is standard for worktop depth, with cabinet carcasses typically 56–60 cm to allow a slight overhang.

Q2: How high should wall cabinets be above the worktop?

A2: Keep 50–60 cm clearance to the underside to reduce shadows and provide safe headroom for appliances.

Q3: What finished worktop height suits most people?

A3: 86–94 cm finished height works well; 90 cm is common. Aim 5–10 cm below elbow height for comfortable prep.

Q4: Are 30 cm-deep wall cabinets enough?

A4: Yes for dishes and glassware; 30–35 cm is typical. Shallower depths reduce head bumps and visual mass.

Q5: What widths do base cabinets come in?

A5: Common widths are 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80, 90, and 120 cm. A 60 cm unit with drawers is the most versatile.

Q6: How high should a built-in oven be?

A6: Center the oven between 90–110 cm above the floor to minimize bending and improve visibility.

Q7: What clearance is needed above a cooktop?

A7: 60–75 cm to the underside of a non-combustible hood; check local codes and manufacturer specs for exact requirements.

Q8: How deep should a tall pantry be?

A8: 45–60 cm works well; 40 cm is narrow for larger items. Pull-outs at 45–60 cm width maximize use.

Q9: How do lighting levels relate to cabinet placement?

A9: Plan under-cabinet lighting to achieve roughly 500–750 lux on prep surfaces; avoid deep cabinet lips that block light (per WELL v2 and IES guidance).

Q10: Can I use 80–90 cm base cabinets without feeling bulky?

A10: Yes, but pair them with internal organizers and maintain rhythm with adjacent 60 cm modules to balance the elevation.

Q11: What toe-kick height is comfortable?

A11: 10–12 cm provides foot clearance and stabilizes posture when working close to the counter.

Q12: How high should the bottom of wall cabinets be from the floor?

A12: Typically 135–145 cm, aligning the bottom shelf around 150–160 cm eye level for daily-use items.

Q13: Are open shelves a good alternative?

A13: Yes, at 25–28 cm depth they reduce head mass and ease access, but use them for items tolerant of dust.

Q14: What color temperatures suit kitchen task lighting?

A14: 3000–3500K balances warmth and clarity, cutting glare on glossy cabinet fronts.