How to Measure Your Kitchen for Cabinets

October 16, 2026
Posted by DIY Depot USA

Before you order kitchen cabinets, you need to know the dimensions of your room. Measurements help you plan cabinet placement, appliance openings, and storage.

This guide explains how to measure your kitchen for cabinets and what information to bring to DIY Depot USA in Bakersfield.

1. Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need:

A tape measure
Paper or graph paper
A pencil
A phone for photos
Someone to help hold the tape

Record everything in inches, including fractions. Write 120½ inches instead of rounding to 121 inches.

2. Draw Your Kitchen Layout

Sketch your kitchen as if you’re looking down from above. Your drawing does not need to be to scale.

Show each wall, window, doorway, and opening. Add the sink, refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and any island or peninsula.

Label your walls A, B, C, and D. Use those labels when recording measurements and taking photos.

Mark anything you plan to move, remove, or keep.

3. Measure Each Wall

Measure the full length of each wall from corner to corner. Measure the room itself rather than relying on the dimensions of your existing cabinets.

Next, measure the sections along that wall:

Corner to the outside edge of window or door trim
Width of the opening, including trim
Outside edge of the trim to the next corner

For example, a wall might measure:

Corner to window trim: 36 inches
Window width, including trim: 48 inches
Window trim to next corner: 60 inches
Total wall length: 144 inches

Add the sections together and compare them with the full wall measurement. If they don’t match, measure again.

If cabinets or appliances block access, label that measurement as unverified.

4. Measure Windows and Doorways

For each window, record:

Width and height of the opening
Overall width and height, including trim
Floor to the bottom of the sill or trim
Distance from a wall corner to the outside edge of the trim

For each doorway, record:

Opening width and height
Overall width, including trim
Distance from the trim to the nearest corner
Direction the door swings

Include openings to dining rooms, hallways, and other rooms, even when there is no door.

These measurements help identify where cabinets, countertops, and doors could interfere with one another.

5. Measure Ceiling Height and Obstructions

Measure from the floor to the ceiling in several places. Record each measurement because floors and ceilings may vary.

If flooring will change, record that too. The finished floor height affects cabinet and appliance fit.

Include the location and dimensions of:

Soffits or boxed areas above cabinets
Beams
Sloped ceilings
Wall projections
Posts
Vents

Measure the underside of any soffit from the floor and record how far it extends from the wall.

6. Mark Plumbing, Electrical, and Gas Locations

On your sketch, mark:

Sink drain and water connections
Dishwasher connections
Refrigerator water connection
Gas connection
Electrical outlets and switches
Range hood duct or exhaust opening
Heating and cooling vents

Where accessible, measure from a labeled corner to the center of each connection. Record its height above the floor.

For plumbing that comes through the floor, also record its distance from the wall.

Identify any connections you intend to move. Your cabinet plan should account for those changes.

7. Record Appliance Models and Dimensions

List every appliance that will be part of the kitchen:

Refrigerator
Range or cooktop
Wall oven
Microwave
Dishwasher
Range hood

Record the model number, width, height, and depth.

For replacement appliances, use the manufacturer’s specifications and installation instructions. The appliance’s outside dimensions do not always equal the required cabinet opening.

Include the sink model if you have selected one. Its installation requirements help determine the sink base cabinet size.

Account for handles, ventilation, door swings, and space needed to open drawers or remove refrigerator bins.

8. Measure Islands and Walkways

If you have an island or peninsula, record its length, width, and location.

Measure the distance between it and nearby countertops, walls, and appliances. State whether you measured from the cabinet box, countertop edge, or appliance front.

For a proposed island, mark where you want it on your sketch. Its size and placement need to work with appliance doors, seating, and movement through the kitchen.