How to Measure Your Kitchen for Cabinets
Accurate measurements are the foundation of a successful cabinet project. Here is how to get them right.
What You'll Need
Tape Measure
25 ft minimum
Pencil
For notes and sketching
Graph Paper or Phone
For sketching the layout
Step-by-Step Measuring Guide
Follow these seven steps in order. Do not skip steps — each one builds on the last.
Draw a rough floor plan from above
Sketch an overhead view of the room on graph paper or your phone. It does not need to be to scale — just a rough outline showing all walls. You will fill in the measurements as you go. Label each wall so you can reference them later (Sink Wall, Window Wall, etc.).
Measure each wall length at counter height (36 inches)
Run your tape measure along each wall at approximately 36 inches from the floor — counter height. Measure wall to wall, corner to corner. Record everything in inches, not feet and inches. Walls measured at floor level can be misleading because baseboards and floor irregularities throw off the reading.
Mark window locations
For each window, record three things: the width of the window opening (including trim/casing), the height of the window opening, and the distance from the floor to the bottom of the window sill. Also record the distance from each window edge to the nearest corner. These measurements determine whether you can run wall cabinets above the window and where the cabinets on either side need to stop.
Mark door openings
For each door into the kitchen, record the width of the opening and the distance from each side of the door opening to the nearest corner. Also note which way the door swings — a door that swings into the kitchen can block a cabinet drawer or interfere with appliance clearances. Mark these on your floor plan sketch.
Mark appliance locations
Mark the center line of the sink, the width of the range or cooktop opening, the width and depth of the refrigerator space, and the location of the dishwasher. These are non-negotiable fixed points that the cabinet layout has to work around. For appliances you plan to keep, measure the actual appliance. For new appliances, use the rough-in dimensions from the manufacturer.
Measure ceiling height in multiple spots
Measure the floor-to-ceiling height in all four corners and in the center of the room. Write down every measurement — do not just assume they are all the same. Use the lowest measurement when selecting wall cabinet heights, so you have room for crown molding without needing to cut cabinets down. Note any soffits, bulkheads, or dropped ceiling sections and measure their depth and height.
Note obstructions
Anything that sticks out from a wall or takes up floor space needs to go on your sketch. This includes exposed pipes or ductwork, electrical panels or junction boxes, radiators or heating vents, structural posts or columns, and any other feature that a cabinet might run into. Measure the depth that each obstruction sticks out from the wall and its distance from the nearest corners.
Room Condition Check
If your home is older than 30 years, your walls may not be perfectly plumb and your floors may not be perfectly level. This is normal. Houses settle, frames shift, and nobody built with laser precision 40 years ago. It does not mean you cannot have great-looking cabinets — it just means you need to know what you are dealing with before you order.
To check, hold a 4-foot level against each wall vertically and look for gaps between the level and the wall. Then lay the level on the floor along each cabinet run and look for the same thing. Note where the gaps are and how large they are. A small gap (1/4 inch or less) is normal and easily shimmed. A large gap means you need to plan for scribing or filler strips.
Measurement Worksheet
Download our printable measurement worksheet to record all your dimensions in one organized place.
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