What Is the Standard Number of Kitchen Cabinets to Have?
There isn’t exactly a standard, but there are design principles professional designers use when planning layouts. The standard number of cabinets depends on the kitchen ‘needs’ which will decide the real estate needed.
The first step is to list out exactly what you’d like in the kitchen for example An Oven, Hob, Dishwasher, Sink, Extractor, Fridge/Freezer.
If you have an average size Kitchen of 12 units there are possibly 6 units already accounted for before we even start to plan!
For an average-sized kitchen of about 10×10 feet, or nine square metres, this could mean:
- Installing between four and five base cabinets
- Having an equal four to five wall cabinets above
- Fitting one taller pantry or larder unit
Of course, larger kitchens might require significantly more cabinets, especially in open-plan family homes where kitchens need to accommodate space and storage for entertaining, food and sundries, and integrated appliances.
It’s also worth thinking about the size of the household, because, as another approximation, most designers will allow for between 1.5 and 2.5 cubic metres of storage for each person, which means they might suggest the following:
| Household Size |
Suggested Storage Volume |
| One to two people |
Three to five cubic metres |
| Family of four |
Six to 10 cubic metres |
| Larger households |
10+ cubic metres |
Do Kitchens Need Identical Numbers of Base and Wall Cabinets?
Not necessarily, because base cabinets form the backbone, or major proportion of kitchen storage, and a typical medium kitchen might incorporate:
- Four to six deep pan drawers
- Two to three medium drawer units
- One or two cutlery or utensil drawers
- Two to four standard cupboards
Modern kitchen design increasingly prioritises drawers over cupboards, as drawers avoid the wasted space at the back of cabinets, with a ratio of around 60-70% drawers vs 30-40% cupboards.
However, wall cabinets are still ideal for glassware, tea, coffee, dry foods and everyday crockery. That said, some homeowners choose to reduce the number of wall-mounted cupboards, creating more natural light, clearer sightlines, and open shelving.
Also we find that our customers are expanding the Kitchen size with extensions and removing walls are also removing wall units due to increase in base unit storage. It’s possible that you can opting for shelving instead of cabinets for a decorative touch.
