Project tools
Cabinet Drawer Calculator
Built for UK makers in millimetres. Pick a typical carcass size, check your measurements, and get plain-English sizes plus a cut list — no joinery jargon required.
Quick start
- Pick the carcass type closest to yours — usually a 600 mm kitchen base.
- Measure the internal opening in mm and overwrite the preset if your carcass differs.
- Choose side-mounted runners unless you already have undermount slides and a fitting chart.
- Pick inset (traditional) or full overlay (modern kitchen) drawer fronts.
- Read the plain-English summary, then copy the cut list for the workshop.
What each thing means
- Opening (not outer carcass size)
- Novices often measure the outside of the cabinet — you need the inside gap the drawer box travels through.
- Side-mounted runners
- The most forgiving option for a first build. Buy runners whose length matches your drawer depth (450 mm or 500 mm kits are common in the UK).
- Full overlay fronts
- Typical on flat-pack kitchens from Howdens, Wickes, Magnet, etc. The front hides the carcass edges.
- 18 mm sides + 6 mm ply bottom
- Standard UK drawer box materials — 18 mm PSE/ply sides and 6 mm hardwood ply bottom from any timber merchant.
Step 1
What are you building?
Choose the closest match — we'll fill in typical UK opening sizes. You can tweak them in the next step.
Step 2
Check your opening size
Measure inside the carcass in millimetres. Adjust any field that doesn't match your cabinet.
Orange = drawer fronts · dashed = space inside the opening
Step 3
Drawers and runners
How many drawers, and which slide type? Side-mounted is the best starting point for most DIY builds.
Number of drawers
Runner type
Step 4
Drawer fronts and bottom
Pick the look you want. Full overlay suits modern kitchens; inset suits framed or workshop furniture.
Front style
Bottom panel
Step 5
Your drawer sizes
Read this first — then take the cut list to your bench or timber merchant.
Each drawer box (before the decorative front)
539 mm wide × 510 mm deep
Sides cut at 222 mm tall · 3 drawers in the stack
In plain English
- You have a 564 mm wide × 684 mm tall opening, 520 mm deep.
- 3 equal drawers — each slot is about 226 mm tall.
- Runner type: Side-mounted runners. The tool allows 12.5 mm per side for the slides.
- Each drawer box is 539 mm wide × 510 mm deep, with 222 mm high sides.
- Drawer fronts (Full overlay (modern kitchen)): cut at 600 × 230 mm — often left slightly oversize and planed flush after fitting.
- Material: 18 mm board for sides, back, and front; 6 mm ply for bottoms.
What to buy
- 6 × drawer side pieces (222 mm long — from 18 mm board)
- 3 × drawer backs (222 mm high, 503 mm wide between sides)
- 3 × drawer bottoms (531 × 492 mm from 6 mm ply)
- 3 × drawer fronts (600 × 230 mm)
- 3 × runner sets (check slide length matches 510 mm box depth)
Front panel
600 × 230 mm
Back panel
503 × 222 mm
Bottom ply
531 × 492 mm
Runner clearance
12.5 mm each side
Cut list (mm)
Width × length — take this to the workshop or copy to your phone.
| Drawer | Part | Qty | Cut size (W × L mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drawer 1 | Side panels | 2 | 18 × 222 (18 mm thick) | Cut 2 @ 222 mm long — runs 510 mm into the carcass |
| Back panel | 1 | 503 × 222 (18 mm thick) | 503 mm wide × 222 mm high (fits between the sides) | |
| Bottom panel | 1 | 531 × 492 (6 mm thick) | 6 mm ply — grooved into sides | |
| Front panel | 1 | 600 × 230 (18 mm thick) | Overlay front — check against your chosen hinges/runners | |
| Drawer 2 | Side panels | 2 | 18 × 222 (18 mm thick) | Cut 2 @ 222 mm long — runs 510 mm into the carcass |
| Back panel | 1 | 503 × 222 (18 mm thick) | 503 mm wide × 222 mm high (fits between the sides) | |
| Bottom panel | 1 | 531 × 492 (6 mm thick) | 6 mm ply — grooved into sides | |
| Front panel | 1 | 600 × 230 (18 mm thick) | Overlay front — check against your chosen hinges/runners | |
| Drawer 3 | Side panels | 2 | 18 × 222 (18 mm thick) | Cut 2 @ 222 mm long — runs 510 mm into the carcass |
| Back panel | 1 | 503 × 222 (18 mm thick) | 503 mm wide × 222 mm high (fits between the sides) | |
| Bottom panel | 1 | 531 × 492 (6 mm thick) | 6 mm ply — grooved into sides | |
| Front panel | 1 | 600 × 230 (18 mm thick) | Overlay front — check against your chosen hinges/runners |
Get better results
- Buy runners before final cutting — check the clearance figure on the cardboard packet.
- Cut drawer fronts 1–2 mm oversize and plane flush — easier than filling a gap.
- Undermount needs an exact side thickness (often 16 or 18 mm) — only choose it if you have the manufacturer's chart.
- Grooved bottoms need a router or table saw slot in the sides — underneath is simpler for a first drawer.
- Standard UK base units are 720 mm tall overall, but the drawer opening is usually a bit less once rails are fitted.
Reading the numbers
The big number is your drawer box width × depth — the package that slides on the runners. Side height is the drawer sides only (not the decorative front). Front sizes include your inset gap or overlay overlap.
Not a substitute for structural sign-off
Typical rectangular UK kitchen and workshop carcasses only. Unequal drawer heights, metal drawer systems, and angled cabinets are not covered. Always confirm against your runner manufacturer's datasheet.