How to measure your kitchen for RTA cabinets

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, nothing is more important than the measurements. It doesn’t matter whether you are starting from scratch or renovating your current one, the measurements are critical, especially for planning your kitchen cabinetry.

Looking to order new kitchen cabinets? Then knowing how to measure your kitchen for cabinets is very important, so that you get your desired results. Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets are easily customizable but that means your measurements must be precise so that the RTA cabinets you order will fit beautifully in your home. To ensure accuracy, there are some tools to help you measure properly before ordering cabinets online.

Plan, plan, plan

To help you make the best measurement possible, follow these steps:

  • Use the right tools. A tape measure, straight edge and graph paper should be easy to find and will make measuring immensely easier.
  • Measure clockwise. Take note of the wall lengths as you work your way to the right around the room. This includes labeling walls, windows and doors with numbers.
  • Check width and height. Record horizontal measurements of walls at 36-inch increments. As for vertical measurements, check the height of the floor to windowsill, windowsill to top of window and the top of the window to the ceiling. Finally, include the height from the floor to the ceiling.
  • Remember your center. Mark the centerline of all permanent kitchen features such as the oven, sink, windows, doors and closets.
  • Don’t forget the trim. Always remember to include the trim of doors and windows since the casing is considered part of the door or window. Take note of the distance from one side of the window/door to the other as well as the distance from the outside of the door/window trim to the middle of the door/window.

Don't forget the details

Now that you know how to document your measurements, remember to double check the details. In a kitchen, every work surface should be well lit so take note of where you would like lighting which may affect your cabinetry measurements. The same also holds true for cabinet height. Base cabinet height is typically 36 inches high, but upper cabinets are usually 18 inches above the countertop and could range between 30-42 inches high.

As you think about the countertop space you would want with your cabinets, reflect on how much space you need, particularly near the fridge and sink. If you desire a lot of space for prep, you will want more countertop space than the average 24-inch or 18-inch landing area. As for waste receptacles, now is the time to plan where and how much space your trashcan will need.

As you can see, a lot of planning goes into designing your dream kitchen and cabinetry is a huge component of making your kitchen a success. That’s why Domain Cabinets is dedicated to making and distributing premium RTA Cabinets. Our custom kitchen cabinet design service will take your vision and make your dream kitchen a reality. Simple to ship and easy to assemble, our RTA cabinets will make your kitchen renovation a breeze.