Kitchen Unit Sizes Guide

Last updated: 22 Apr 2022

Find out about the standard kitchen unit sizes and dimensions including cabinets, wall units and worktops and how to work out measurements

Kitchen Unit Sizes Guide

The complete guide to kitchen cabinet dimensions

How many kitchen units do you need?

Once you have decided on the type and style of kitchen you want fitting you then need to think about how many units you need and unit sizes matter.  The measurements of the units and cabinetry and how many you need depends on quite a few different factors.  Most importantly, you need to think about where the key kitchen work centres will be located  These tend to be around the cooking and washing areas.  So think about where you are going to put your sink and cooking appliances such as ovens, stoves and microwaves and then begin to think about the available space once you have taken that step.

Kitchen unit sizes matter

Isn’t the choice of units, doors and worktops bewildering? It doesn’t have to be so confusing though, as once you start looking more closely at the separate elements, you’ll find they come in standard sizes which make planning a whole lot easier.

What size are kitchen base units?

Kitchen base units can vary in size. The width of kitchen cabinets is normally worked out in a multiple of 10 or 15 cm between 30 cm and 60 cm.  The height of base units will again vary if you include a worktop and reach up to 90 cm.  Adjustable legs on base units can make the base units higher, plus the addition of the worktop which can add either 2cm, 3cm or 4cm due to its thickness.

Kitchen unit sizes - kitchen cabinets - base & wall units

  Height Width Depth
Base Units 72cm plus any plinth 15-120cm 60cm
Wall Units 72cm to 91cm 15-10cm 30cm
Corner Wall Units   60-90cm  
Full Height Tall Units Up to 2.1metres 30-100cm 60cm

Different Kitchen Unit Widths

Base Units Widths: 150mm, 300mm, 350mm, 400mm, 450mm, 500mm, 600mm, 700mm, 800mm, 900mm, 1000mm, 1200mm

Corner Base Unit Widths: 800mm, 900mm, 950mm, 1000mm

Wall Units Widths: 150mm, 300mm, 350mm, 400mm, 450mm, 500mm,  600mm, 700mm,  800mm, 900mm, 1000mm (Available in 3 heights)

Corner Wall Unit Widths: 600mm, 700mm, 800mm, 900mm

Tall Unit Widths: 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm

Working out measurements for kitchen base and wall units

All kitchen retailers will have details of the sizes of their products on their website, so start by measuring the space available and plan how best to use the space by using planning tools and old fashioned pen and paper.  Some of the well known kitchen manufacturers and suppliers have their own interactive, online kitchen design tools where you can take your own kitchen measurements and then add units online and move units around to see what fits into the available space with the best design.

Designing a fitted kitchen is made easier as units and cabinets are made in standard sizes and dimensions.

For example, kitchen cabinets at floor level are typically 60cm deep, and come in widths of anything from 30cm to 60cm. Adjustable legs on cabinets allow for some difference in height on the base units.

Having a cabinet of a standard depth and height but which comes in a variety of widths helps maximise the storage space available in the kitchen and fill all the wall space.

Cabinets which are fitted to the wall above any worktop space are generally less deep but also come in a variety of widths. Tall “larder” cupboards and units are designed to reach the full height of the kitchen.

Any good kitchen designer will be able to show you how to put the different elements of the kitchen together and there are several software packages which allow you to play around at home with various layouts and combinations.

Kitchen worktop sizes

In the UK, the standard height of a kitchen worktop is 90cm.

You are of course free to have your worktop higher or lower if you prefer, but remember that appliances such as fridges which are designed to slot under the worktop may not fit under a lower worktop, or if your worktop is higher, you’ll be left with a gap. Buying worktops for your new kitchen is simple too, as worktops are produced in a standard range of sizes.

Worktops can always be cut to size, but joins can be unsightly and awkward, and it’s easier to plan your kitchen with as few joins and corners in the worktop as you can.

600mm is the standard depth of a worktop, which matches with the 600mm standard depth of your base cabinet.

Most worktop manufactures produce their products in 3m lengths, but some will produce up to 4m lengths.

It may be better to buy a longer section of worktop and have it cut to size than two shorter lengths which you must join together.

Take advice from your kitchen planner and fitter about how best to do this.

If you are buying a very expensive granite worktop, then it may be possible to get a bespoke piece cut with no joins, but this will depend on the size and weight of the piece of worktop required.

Kitchen worktop sizes table

  Depth Length Thickness
Standard 600mm 3m 40mm
Minimum 400mm 1.5m 26mm
Maximum 600m 4m 40mm