Cabinet manufacturers use standard cabinet specifications to create a consistent baseline, even in custom work. These specifications define how cabinets are constructed, sized, and engineered before any project-specific changes are applied. While each manufacturer constructs its cabinets differently, these standards are a great resource for designers because they break down basic cabinet construction and what to expect.

Standard Specifications for Cabinet Sides

Standard cabinets are usually 34.5″ high and 24″ deep.  Widths are usually available in 3″ increments. Cabinets will include drawers, pullouts, doors, or a combination of them.

Wall cabinets are typically 12″ deep. Widths are usually available in 3″ increments, and heights in 6″ increments. They most often feature doors, and in some cases, might include a drawer, particularly when positioned above a countertop.

Tall cabinets are generally 24″ deep and can reach heights up to 96″. Widths are offered in 3″ increments. They may include a combination of doors, drawers, pullouts, or interior storage accessories.

Cabinet box sides are often a melamine-covered particleboard. This makes up the body of the cabinet, which is often called a carcass or case. They are available in 6 case colors:

• white melamine (default)
• natural maple melamine
• sunset grey melamine (applied ends only)
• novablack melamine (applied ends only)
• walnut melamine
• willow grey melamine (applied ends only)

Typical sides will have melamine on the inside and outside. The cabinet box front facing edge has a PVC edge banding to match the door or case color as close as possible. The finished sides can have one or both sides covered in material to match the doors. Veneer edge banding will be applied to the front of the cabinet on finished sides only. All other sides will get PVC edge banding.

Standard Cabinet Specifications for Top and Bottom Floors

In custom cabinetry, it is common to have a partial top floor. Our cabinet standard is a full 5/8″ melamine-covered particleboard top and bottom floor. The front-facing edge will have PVC banding to match the door color.

Standard Specifications for Cabinet Backs

A cabinet back is the panel on the wall-facing side of a cabinet box that encloses the structure, adds strength, and provides a solid surface for mounting the cabinet to the wall. All Decor cabinets have a melamine-covered hardboard cabinet back.

Standard Cabinet Specifications for Adjustable Shelves

All adjustable shelves are made of melamine-covered particleboard. The front-facing edge has 1mm PVC banding to match the shelf (and case) color.

Standard Specifications for Finished Adjustable Shelves

All adjustable shelves in a cabinet with a finished interior are veneer-covered particleboard, finished on both sides to match the door. The front-facing edge has veneer banding finished to match the door.

Standard Cabinet Specifications for Fixed Shelves

All fixed shelves are made of melamine-covered particle board. The front-facing edge has PVC banding to match the selected door or case color.

Standard Cabinet Specifications for Hanger Rails

Hanger rails are horizontal support rails installed inside or along the back of a cabinet box. Hanger rails are typically 3-4″ wide and provide a solid surface for wall mounting. It is standard to have 2 hanger rails on the back of the cabinet, but wall cabinets higher than 36″ will have 3 hanger rails.

Standard Drawer Box Specifications

Drawer boxes will be constructed from melamine-covered particleboard and are typically dadoed together. Custom cabinets can be upgraded to premium dovetail maple drawer boxes.                      

Standard Specifications to Pull-out Shelves

Pull-out shelves are typically made from a white melamine-covered particleboard bottom floor, or maple material. Standard pull-out shelves are 4-1/4″ high, but can be customized to varying heights.

Standard Cabinet Specifications for Drawers and Pull-out Tracks

• Movento tracks with Blumotion soft-close mechanism
• Standard Movento tracks are rated for 88lb (40kg)
• Cabinets automatically come with heavy duty tracks for cabinets 36″ wide or wider

Standard Specifications for Cabinet Doors

Doors are generally mortise and tenon or mitered. Cabinet doors can be made from different wood species as well as MDF or HDF.

Standard Specifications for Cabinet Hinges

Soft-close hinges are standard on most, if not all, custom cabinet projects, providing smooth, quiet door operation.

• It is standard for doors to have 2 hinges
• Doors 36″ high or greater will have 3 hinge locations
• Doors over 80″ high will have 4 hinge locations
• Standard hinge location is 4-21/64″ (110mm) from the top and bottom of the doors

Customizing Cabinets Beyond Standard Sizing

Standard cabinet specifications define what you can expect in every cabinet. They establish consistent construction methods and important functional limits, which ensures each cabinet performs as intended within proven size and engineering parameters.

For our custom cabinets, each cabinet can be built within defined minimum and maximum dimensions, allowing you to adapt designs to your client’s home while staying within structural guidelines. When a project requires adjustments beyond those standards, it becomes a custom modification, and our team will create a CAD drawing with you to confirm accuracy and feasibility. Within these boundaries, you still have plenty of design options from materials to finishes.