How to Measure Kitchen Cabinets

There are a variety of reasons for measuring your kitchen cabinets, but whatever your reason, you will need three measurements of each cabinet in your kitchen--the width, height and depth.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen or pencil
• Measuring tape
• Paper

1. Make a rough drawing of your kitchen on a piece of paper (it doesn’t have to be perfect or to scale).

2. Draw in a rough outline of the cabinets in your kitchen.

3. Take out your measuring tape starting at one end of the kitchen cabinets.

4. Measure the width of the cabinet on the frame by placing the measuring tape at one end and extending it to the end of the cabinet.

5. Look at the inches markings and note where the end of the cabinet is on the lines.

6. Draw a line on your drawing and write down “w=x” (width equals ‘x’ inches).

7. Measure the height of your cabinet by placing the measuring tape at the top of the cabinet and extending it to the bottom of the cabinet.

8. Look at the inches markings and note where the end of the cabinet is on the measuring tape lines.

9. Beside width, write down “h=x” (height equals ‘x’ inches).

10. Measure the depth of your cabinet inside on the shelving by placing the end of the measuring tape at the back of the cabinet and extending it to the outer edge.

11. Look at the inches markings and note where the end of the cabinet is on the measuring tape lines.

12. Beside width and height, write down “d=x” (depth equals ‘x’ inches).

Tips & Warnings

• Measure each cabinet separately, even if they look to be a similar size to another one.
• Check the depth and different sections, top, middle and bottom, to make sure the cabinets were built evenly.
• Use a stable chair, a ladder or step stool to reach high places--don’t stand on the counter.