Before visiting a kitchen showroom or ordering flat-pack boxes, it helps to know how many linear feet of cabinets a wall can take. This calculator subtracts the appliances and the window from the wall, then fits standard cabinet widths into what is left.
How the run is worked out
Base cabinets sit along the whole wall except where a freestanding range, a dishwasher or a refrigerator stands:
base run = wall − range − dishwasher − refrigerator
Wall cabinets hang above the counter, except above the range (where the hood goes), above the refrigerator in this simple model, and across the window:
wall run = wall − hood − refrigerator − window
The sink does not reduce the base run: it sits in a sink base cabinet, usually 30 to 36 in wide.
Standard sizes in the US
| Cabinet | Height | Depth | Widths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 34.5 in (36 in with countertop) | 24 in | 9 to 48 in, in 3 in steps |
| Wall | 30, 36 or 42 in | 12 in | 9 to 36 in, in 3 in steps |
| Tall pantry | 84 to 96 in | 12 to 24 in | 18 to 36 in |
The calculator divides each run by your chosen standard width and shows the leftover. A leftover of several inches becomes a narrower cabinet; one of 3 in or less becomes a filler strip, which also keeps doors and drawers clear of walls and appliances.
Example
A 14 ft wall (168 in) with a 30 in range, a 24 in dishwasher and a 36 in refrigerator leaves 78 in of base cabinets: two 30 in boxes and one 18 in box. With a 30 in hood and a 36 in window, the wall run is 66 in: two 30 in cabinets plus a 6 in filler or open shelf. That is 12 linear feet in total, about $2,400 at $200 per linear foot.
L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens
Measure each wall separately. Where two runs meet, a corner cabinet (blind corner or lazy Susan) takes about 24 in from each wall at the base and 12 in at the top, so enter the corner once and subtract it from the second wall.
What cabinets cost
Prices per linear foot vary widely:
- Stock cabinets from home centers: roughly $100 to $300.
- Semi-custom: roughly $200 to $650.
- Custom: $500 and up.
Countertops, hardware, the sink and installation are extra. Measure to the nearest 1/8 in, note outlets, pipes and vents, and have the supplier check the final layout before ordering.