
Cabinet Types: Base, Wall, and Pantry
- Base Cabinets. Base cabinets set the footprint for your floor plan and bear most of the everyday work. Base cabinets are mounted on the floor that support the countertops.
- Wall Cabinets. The obvious – wall cabinets are cabinets that mount to the wall. Wall cabinets are also called upper cabinets or “uppers”.
- Pantry/Utility Tall Cabinets
How to install wall and floor cabinets?
Prepare for the Install
- First, locate the highest point in your floor using your level. Then, using your tape measure, measure up from the floor about 48-inches and use a pencil to mark. ...
- Next, outline where the first cabinet will hang. ...
- Label the location of the kitchen wall cabinets and appliances on the wall. ...
How to build frameless wall cabinets?
- Measure and sketch a design
- Cut the plywood pieces
- Cut the groove for the back panel (optional)
- Cut the plywood back
- Apply edge banding
- Drill shelf pin holes
- Drill pocket holes or countersink holes
- Assemble the wall cabinet parts
- Attach the nailer strips
What is the standard depth of a wall cabinet?
Wall cabinets typically have a depth of 12 inches or 24 inches. Wall cabinets cannot surpass the depth of a base cabinet. Designed to store kitchen supplies and food items, wall kitchen cabinets do not touch the ground and offer various sizes.
How to install shelving in cabinets?
- Find the wall studs using a stud finder.
- Plan to fasten your brackets through the tile and into the wall studs. ...
- Pre-drill holes through the masking tape X’s using a masonry drill bit. ...
- Start drilling at an angle until you make an indent in the tile. ...
- Check and recheck the level of the holes as you go.
- Remove the masking tape.

What is a wall cabinet used for?
A helper for some kitchen functions, wall cabinets are located above the base cabinets and mainly provide storage space. These attach to the wall studs with screws. Wall cabinets can be open (no doors) or with solid or glass doors. Often, wall cabinets mirror the arrangement of the base cabinets, but not always.
What is the difference between wall and base cabinets?
Base cabinets have extra space at the bottom, known as toe kick space, as well as being between 24 and 30 inches deep. Wall cabinets are shallower at only 12 to 18 inches in depth and have no extra base at the bottom.
What are the different types of cabinet?
There are three types of cabinets: partial overlay, full overlay, and inset. Each term is used to describe how the cabinet door or drawer sits on or in the cabinet frame. The three types of cabinets also represent different budgets and styles.
Can you use base cabinets as wall cabinets?
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How deep are wall cabinets?
Standard wall cabinets are generally 24 inches in depth.
How tall are wall cabinets?
Kitchen Wall Cabinet Height Common wall cabinet heights are 12, 36, and 42 inches. In standard kitchens, the wall cabinets are typically 30 or 36 inches tall, with the space above enclosed by soffits. Where the cabinets run all the way to the ceiling, 48-inch cabinets are the logical choice.
What is a small cabinet called?
A cabinet intended to be used in a bedroom and with several drawers typically placed one above another in one or more columns intended for clothing and small articles is called a dresser or a chest of drawers. A small bedside cabinet is more frequently called a nightstand or night table.
How can I tell what type of cabinets I have?
Cabinet brands that belong to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) will have a sticker on the back side of the sink door or side wall of the cabinet. On the sticker there should be a code or the cabinetry name in the middle of the label.
What is the cabinet?
1 : a case or cupboard with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying things a medicine cabinet.
Can you use an IKEA base cabinet as a wall cabinet?
Yes, just be sure to have good support.
Do you install base or wall cabinets first?
Mark Bottom of Wall Cabinets Mark and label the position of all of the upper cabinets on the wall with a pencil and level to double-check your layout. Plan to install wall kitchen cabinets first. That way, the base cabinets won't be in your way while you're installing the upper cabinets.
Can I use wall cabinets for Island?
Rather than just base cabinets, wall cabinets can be used on the back end of the island to add space for kitchen seating. Both base cabinets and wall cabinets can be used to make a kitchen island. Similar to base cabinet dimensions, the kitchen island stands at 34.5″ tall (36″ with the countertop).
What is a base cabinet?
Base Cabinet A cabinet that sits on the floor. These cabinets usually support the countertops. They differ from wall cabinets which hang on the wall. Base cabinets are typically 24" deep, and vary by width.
What are wall units in kitchen?
A modular storage element that is not floor-standing but is hanging and mounted on the wall, that can either be closed with doors or open-fronted. Wall units complete the kitchen base units, in terms of practicality and aesthetics.
Can I use wall cabinets for Island?
Rather than just base cabinets, wall cabinets can be used on the back end of the island to add space for kitchen seating. Both base cabinets and wall cabinets can be used to make a kitchen island. Similar to base cabinet dimensions, the kitchen island stands at 34.5″ tall (36″ with the countertop).
What is the bottom of kitchen cabinets called?
Toekick – The recessed toe space at the bottom of a base cabinet.
What are Wall Cabinets?
Wall-mounted cabinets are the workhorses of cabinetry, providing much needed storage space above base cabinets, making them ideal for accessing items that are needed while standing or moving about the room.
What are cabinet solutions?
Cabinetry solutions are usually classified into categories such as wall cabinets, tall cabinets and base cabinets. As you plan your remodel, use this overview to learn about wall cabinets and the kinds of things you can do with them in your home.
How deep should a wall message center cabinet be?
Add a Wall Message Center Cabinet at the end of a run to reduce everyday kitchen clutter. Just a few inches deep, the wall cabinet opens to reveal a dry erase message board, key hooks and space for school notes and the like.
What is a wall cabinet?
Wall Cabinets. The obvious – wall cabinets are cabinets that mount to the wall. Wall cabinets are also called upper cabinets or “uppers”. These cabinets have the most design flexibility: three different heights, multiple widths, custom depth options and glass door options.
What are the different types of cabinets?
There are three types of basic cabinets: wall, base and tall. Variations on these basic cabinets will function to store specific cookware, display art or dishware and reinforce a style with special cabinet design. Cabinets can be combined to form another cabinet type. For example, stacked wall cabinets can form a tall utility or pantry cabinet ...
What is the backbone of a kitchen?
Cabinets form the backbone of the kitchen and may add value, function and beauty to your kitchen. In its simplest form, a cabinet is just a box on the wall. Yet, after layout, the next most important factor in kitchen design is the choice of cabinets . There are three types of basic cabinets : wall, base and tall.
Can you stack drawers with wall cabinets?
A drawer base cabinet can be stacked with a wall cabinet to configure a wall oven cabinet. Combinations of basic cabinets can be used to create an endless assortment of custom kitchens.
Can you combine cabinets to make another cabinet?
Cabinets can be combined to form another cabinet type. For example, stacked wall cabinets can form a tall utility or pantry cabinet that reaches from floor to ceiling. Combining base and wall cabinets for an island can create a unique design.
When hanging cabinets do you check for plumb and level?
Check for plumb and level after hanging wall cabinets and before moving on to hanging the next set of cabinets.
What do you use to make cabinets plumb?
Use shims, if needed, to make cabinets plumb and level before securing them to the wall.
How to fix a cabinet vent that won't work?
If that doesn't work, proceed to just getting a technician to seal it and move it to a different area.
Do you need a contractor to hang wall cabinets?
For this reason, it is imperative to hang wall cabinets correctly, using builder-standard methods. You do not need to be a contractor, builder ...
Do you need to include the thickness of the flooring in the measurement for your horizontal hanging line?
If you plan on installing flooring after hanging wall cabinets, be sure to include the thickness of the flooring in the measurement for your horizontal hanging line.
How wide is a standard wall cabinet?
A standard wall cabinet will vary in multiples of threes between 12 inches and 36 inches. Our assembled cabinets and ready to assemble cabinets also include widths of 5 inches and 9 inches in some styles. The width of a wall cabinet can vary to allow for single or double doors.
What is a base cabinet?
Base cabinets serve as the base or foundation for countertops and other surfaces. They rest on the floor and typically come with one drawer and a set of shelves or a few drawers stacked on top of one another, depending on your needs and preferences.
How wide is a pantry?
When working with stock cabinet lines, pantry widths are typically limited to 18" wide or 24" wide. However, when working with semi-custom cabinet manufacturers, pantry cabinets range from 9" W in 3" W intervals up to 36" wide. Tall oven cabinets are typically 30" W to 36" W to fit most standard size single oven widths on the market.
How deep should a base cabinet be without a countertop?
Depth: The depth of base cabinets without a countertop is 24 inches. Base cabinets have a standard depth for easy access. When adding a countertop, there is often an overhang that can add another inch or two.
What to consider when designing kitchen cabinets?
There are a few factors to consider when designing the perfect kitchen cabinets including the use, price, and style —but none as important as the size of your cabinets. If you're a builder, contractor, or industry professional, take advantage of our discount for kitchen contractors.
How deep should a wall cabinet be?
Standard wall cabinet depth is 12 inches, and 24 inches deep over the refrigerator to allow easier access. When designing a kitchen with a staggered height cabinet look, it is important that you make taller cabinets 3 to 15 inches deeper.
How tall are kitchen cabinets?
Tall cabinets are typically 84" H, 90" H, and 96" H. The height of these cabinets will vary depending on your ceiling height and your preference to have space between the cabinet and ceiling or not.
What are the two basic styles of cabinets?
Let's start with the two basic styles of cabinets: face frame vs frameless.
How wide should a kitchen cabinet be?
In general, you don't want your cabinet to be more than 36" wide, or you'll start to get bowing in the middle.
What is frameless cabinet?
This style of cabinet covers up the plywood edges of the cabinet box with edge banding instead of a face frame.
What is the difference between overlay and inset cabinet doors?
The best way to describe the difference between overlay and inset cabinet doors is that one overlaps each side of your cabinet box, while the other "insets" into the face frame so it's flat across the front.
Why doesn't a base cabinet have a solid top?
The typical base cabinet doesn't have a solid top, because you'll be adding a countertop to it later. The stretchers serve three purposes:
What should the sides of all base cabinets be?
The sides of all the base cabinets should be the same height and depth. This makes it really quick and easy to cut them all out in one big batch!
Do you have to assemble a face frame for frameless cabinets?
I'll be making frameless cabinets for my kitchen remodel, because they're much easier to build. You don't have to assemble a face frame, and worry about it matching up exactly with your cabinet box. Just iron on some edge banding and you're good to go!
What is a wall cabinet?
Wall cabinets are used for storing food and lightweight kitchen implements. They are attached directly to the wall studs with screws. In some cases, such as when forming a bank of upper cabinets above a peninsula or island, the cabinets can be suspended from the ceiling or attached to overhanging soffits.
What is the standard height of a wall cabinet?
Standard heights. 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 inches.
How deep are stock cabinets?
The depth measurement is taken from the front outer front edge of the cabinet to the wall. Stock base cabinets are generally 24 inches deep (not counting countertop overhang). Deeper base cabinets make it difficult for you to reach the back of the counter or to plug in appliances. If you have ever had difficulty reaching items in a blind corner (where two sets of cabinets meet at a right angle), you will know how distances beyond 24 inches quickly become difficult.
How tall are base cabinets?
Kitchen base cabinets are the most expensive of all kitchen cabinets, and for a good reason: We ask a lot from them. When buying semi-custom or stock preassembled or RTA cabinets, base cabinets are generally available in these dimensions: Height, without countertop. 34 1/2 inches. Height, with countertop. 35 to 36 inches.
What is the difference between a 12 inch and 24 inch cabinet?
Tall cabinets are typically available either at 12-inch or 24-inches deep. The 12-inch variety is typically used for pantry cabinets that store canned goods, while 24-inch-deep cabinets make good utility cabinets for brooms, mops, and appliances. Pull-out and slider hardware can give greater functionality to 24-inch-deep cabinets.
What is a tall cabinet called?
These tall cabinets are sometimes known as pantry cabinets or utility cabinets. As befits the name, tall kitchen cabinets can even extend from floor to ceiling. Height.
How tall should a kitchen countertop be?
After adding a countertop, the eventual height of most base cabinets is between 35 and 36 inches, depending on the material used in the countertop. Height is flexible.
