Cabinet Calculator
Calculate all parts of a cabinet: carcass, drawers and shelves. Get the complete cut list instantly.
How does this cabinet calculator work?
Calculation formulas
lColInt = (Lint − (n−1) × e) / n · Lint = Lext − 2e
Lext = outer width · Lint = inner width · e = panel thickness · n = number of columns · lColInt = usable width per column · gap = slide clearance per side · lbox = lColInt − 2×gap
The calculator first derives interior dimensions (Lint, Hint) by subtracting twice the panel thickness from the exterior dimensions. The usable depth (pUtil) depends on the back panel attachment method: in a groove, the back is integrated into the thickness — pUtil remains Pext; flush-mounted, the back sits at the rear face — pUtil = Pext − back_thickness. The width of each drawer box is computed by subtracting the slide clearance from each side (value depends on the selected slide model): lbox = lColInt − 2 × gap. The interior drawer height is reduced by 15 mm for slide clearance. Depth is reduced by a rear reserve (default 10 mm) to allow cable routing or slide extension. For shelves, depth is reduced by 15 mm to sit clear of the back panel.
Cabinetmaker's glossary
- Carcass
- Load-bearing frame of a piece of furniture: the assembly of two sides, top, bottom and back panel. The carcass sets the exterior dimensions and receives all interior elements (drawers, shelves, dividers). In standard construction, the sides frame the top and bottom (box construction).
- Grooved back / Flush back
- Two methods of back panel integration. Grooved: a 3–6 mm channel is routed into the inner face of all 4 carcass panels, the back (HDF or thin plywood) slides in before assembly — the exterior depth is not reduced. Flush-mounted: the back overlaps the carcass rear and is screwed on; usable interior depth is reduced by the back panel thickness.
- Drawer slide
- Mechanism enabling a drawer to open and close. Ball-bearing slides (Blum Tandem, Hettich Actro, etc.) require 12.5 mm of lateral clearance on each side between the drawer box and carcass walls. This clearance is manufacturer-specified and varies slightly by model (12.5–12.7 mm). Simple friction slides need only 1 mm of clearance per side.
- Divider (vertical partition)
- Vertical panel inserted inside the carcass to create multiple compartments (columns). It divides the interior width into equal sections, each able to hold its own drawers or shelves. The divider has the same thickness as the carcass panels and the same height as the interior (Hint). Its depth equals that of the sides (pUtil). For n columns, n−1 dividers are required.
- Drawer front height
- Height of the visible front panel of the drawer. This dimension is entered in the calculator. The actual drawer box (the sliding wooden box) is always smaller: its height is reduced by 15 mm to accommodate the slide at the bottom and allow clearance at the top. Example: for a 200 mm front, the drawer box height will be 185 mm.
When should you use this calculator?
- Prepare the full cut list before ordering panels or moving to the table saw
- Design a kitchen, bathroom or workshop cabinet with precise dimensions for every part
- Calculate a multi-column horizontal TV unit with drawers and shelves in each compartment
- Compare the impact of slide type (standard 45 mm, Blum Tandem, simple) on the drawer box width
- Verify design feasibility: ensure drawers fit within the available height with the required gaps
- Export the cut list in CSV format to import into a spreadsheet or send to a cutting workshop
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