Measuring For Cabinet Drawer Fronts
Posted by Donovan Thornhill on Aug 22nd 2024
If you plan on replacing your cabinet doors, consider replacing the drawer fronts and maybe even the drawer boxes. This will ensure a complete, elevated finish in your kitchen or bathroom. If you decide to skip the drawer fronts, the color, wood species, or style may not complete the new look of your cabinet doors.
Not sure how to measure cabinet drawers? In this article, we'll teach you how to measure cabinet drawers accurately and efficiently. Here's everything you need to know:
Getting Started: Invest in the Right Tools
Before you can start measuring cabinet drawer fronts, you'll need a few tools to complete the job. Some tools that you should have nearby include:
- A Measuring Tape
- Paper and Pencil
- Calculator
- Digital Caliper
A digital caliper is not always necessary. However, it can help you achieve a more accurate and precise measurement.
Step-by-Step Guide for Measuring Cabinet Drawer Fronts
Measuring cabinet drawers for replacement drawer fronts and drawer boxes is relatively straightforward. However, you'll want to take the measurements and triple-check your work for accuracy. Here's how to get started:
Step One: Remove the Old Drawer Fronts
If you're ordering replacement drawer fronts for your cabinet drawers, you'll need to take the outside dimensions of the drawers. To do this, remove the drawer fronts from the drawer box and measure the opening of the drawer. You will not need to measure the old drawer fronts for your new ones.
Step Two: Measure the Width
Place the measuring tape or ruler at one edge of the drawer front. Stretch it across to the opposite edge, ensuring the tape is straight and aligned with the drawer's edges. Record the measurement in inches (or centimeters, if needed). This is the width of the drawer front.
Step Three: Measure the Height
Position the measuring tape or ruler at the top edge of the drawer front. Measure vertically down to the bottom edge. Note the measurement - this is the height of the drawer front.
Step Four: Overlay or Inset
Drawer fronts are designed to sit on top of the cabinet face and should be slightly larger than the opening. For example, if your drawers have 16-inch wide openings, you should order replacement drawer fronts that are 17 inches-wide. Most overlays are about 1/2 inch to 1 inch on each side.
If you're ordering drawer fronts with an inset, you'll want the replacement to sit flush against the drawer opening. This means your drawer front will only need about 1/8 inch clearance.
Contact our team if you have questions or concerns about cabinet drawer overlays. We're here to help answer any questions you may have before placing an order for custom drawer fronts.
Step Five: Double-Check All Measurements
Always double-check your measurements to avoid mistakes before cutting or ordering new drawer fronts.
Tips for Measuring Cabinet Drawers and Drawer Fronts
Accuracy and precision are important when ordering a new drawer box or drawer front. Here are some tips to help you get the exact measurements you need to get a perfect fit:
- Measure from Multiple Locations: If you get different measurements for each spot you measure, use the smallest measurement.
- Not Allowing for Clearance: Clearance helps with the drawers' functionality. You'll need at least 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch of clearance to ensure the cabinet drawers have enough room to move back and forth.
- Double and Triple Check Your Measurements: Mistakes can happen. To avoid any mistakes, you'll want to double-check your measurements before placing your order for replacements.
- Don't Forget the Hardware: If ordering new knobs or pulls for the drawer fronts, you must ensure the holes are aligned effectively and evenly.
Order Replacement Drawer Fronts Today
Replacing your drawer fronts and cabinet doors is a great way to get a professional finish in your kitchen or bathroom. At CabinetDoors.com, we have a wide range of drawer fronts to choose from that are part of a product family. All our cabinet doors and drawer fronts are custom-made to fit your measurements. We also have cabinet drawer handles, pulls, and knobs.
Explore our drawer front collection today.
Additional Guides and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How to measure cabinet drawers?
Measure the cabinet drawer width, height, and depth. The width and height are needed for the replacement drawer fronts, and the depth is for a replacement cabinet drawer box.
How to measure for drawer slides?
Start by removing the old replacement drawer front from the box. You'll then measure the width and height of the cabinet drawer opening.
