Shaker Door Dimensions: Standard Sizes Explained

Why I Keep a Cheat Sheet Taped to My Desk

Early in my painting career, I ordered doors by guessing. "That looks like a 15-inch opening, so I'll order a 15-inch door." The doors arrived. They were too small. Every single one of them. I'd forgotten to account for overlay.

The homeowner was waiting. My crew was waiting. And I was on the phone with the supplier, trying to figure out how fast they could remake 28 doors. The answer was five weeks. Five weeks of a gutted kitchen because I didn't understand the math.

Now I keep standard shaker door dimensions posted where I can see them. The paper is coffee-stained and worn from years of daily reference. But it's saved me from hundreds of expensive mistakes. Every contractor I work with gets the same reference sheet. Here's what you need to know about sizing.

The Fundamental Concept: Doors Are Not Openings

This trips up more people than any other measurement issue. The door size and the opening size are not the same thing.

Opening size is the clear space between cabinet box walls. It's what you measure with your tape.

Door size is the actual dimensions of the door itself. It's almost always larger than the opening because the door overlaps (overlays) the cabinet face frame or box edges.

Understanding this difference is the foundation of correct ordering. Get it wrong, and every door in your kitchen will be wrong.

Standard Cabinet Door Widths

These are the dimensions you'll encounter on 90% of jobs. Cabinet manufacturers have standardized on these sizes because they work with standard appliance widths, standard countertop depths, and standard layout patterns.

Base Cabinets (Single Door)

Opening Width	Common Uses
9"	Spice pull-out, filler, narrow storage
12"	Standard narrow base, pull-out trash
15"	Narrow base, common starter cabinet
18"	Versatile base cabinet
21"	Odd but not uncommon
24"	Standard single-door base

Base Cabinets (Double Door)

These openings get two doors, each covering half the width (plus overlay):

Opening Width	Common Uses
30"	Sink base standard
33"	Large sink base
36"	Standard double-door base, sink base
42"	Wide storage, corner adjacent
48"	Maximum common width

Wall Cabinets

Wall cabinets follow similar patterns but include some smaller options for above-refrigerator applications and some larger options for corner installations:

Opening Width	Common Uses
9"	Narrow wall, end of run
12"	Standard narrow wall
15"	Common wall cabinet
18"	Standard wall cabinet
21"	Standard wall cabinet
24"	Standard wall cabinet
27"	Larger wall cabinet
30"	Maximum common single door

If you're working with standard factory cabinets from major manufacturers, these widths will get you through most projects. Custom cabinetry can be any width, which is where things get interesting.

Standard Cabinet Door Heights

Heights vary more than widths because ceiling heights, soffits, and design preferences create more variability. Here's what I see most often:

Base Cabinet Doors

Height	Notes
24"	Short base, under-counter storage
27"	Less common, some European systems
30"	Most common base door height

Base door heights are remarkably consistent across manufacturers. If someone tells you they have a 30" base door, they probably do. The 30" height works with standard counter heights and toe kick dimensions.

Wall Cabinet Doors

Height	Common Applications
12"	Above refrigerator, above range hood
15"	Short wall cabinet, design accent
18"	Above refrigerator, above microwave
24"	Standard wall cabinet (lower ceiling)
30"	Standard wall cabinet (8' ceiling)
36"	Standard wall cabinet (9' ceiling)
42"	Extended wall cabinet (tall ceiling)

Wall cabinet heights are where you'll see the most variation. I've walked into kitchens where every wall cabinet is a different height. Sometimes that's intentional design. Sometimes it's a builder using whatever was on sale at the time. Either way, measure each one individually.

Tall/Pantry Doors

Height	Common Applications
84"	Standard pantry, 8' ceiling with crown
90"	Tall pantry, 9' ceiling
96"	Maximum common, 9-10' ceiling

Tall doors are heavy and require additional hinge consideration. We recommend three hinges minimum for doors over 40" tall, and four hinges for doors over 72" tall.

The Overlay Math That Tripped Me Up

Understanding overlay is where most ordering mistakes happen. Here's the formula:

Door Width = Opening Width + (2 × Side Overlay) - Reveal Gap

Door Height = Opening Height + Top Overlay + Bottom Overlay - Reveal Gap

Let me break this down with a real example.

Full Overlay Example

Full overlay means the door covers most of the cabinet face frame, leaving only a small gap between adjacent doors.

Measurement	Value
Opening width	12"
Side overlay	1.25" (each side)
Reveal gap	0.125" (each side)
Door width	14.25"

For height:

Measurement	Value
Opening height	30"
Top overlay	1.25"
Bottom overlay	1.25"
Reveal gap	0.125" (top and bottom)
Door height	32.25"

Partial Overlay Example

Partial overlay (sometimes called traditional overlay) leaves more of the face frame visible:

Measurement	Value
Opening width	12"
Side overlay	0.5" (each side)
Reveal gap	0.125" (each side)
Door width	12.75"

Inset Example

Inset doors sit inside the cabinet opening, flush with the face frame:

Measurement	Value
Opening width	12"
Side reveal	0.0625" (each side)
Door width	11.875"

Inset requires more precision than overlay. Any variation in the cabinet box shows immediately because the door edges are visible inside the opening.

This formula seems simple until you're calculating 30 openings at the end of a long day. That's when mistakes happen. I've made them. My customers have made them. It's why we confirm every measurement before cutting anything.

Common Overlay Types Explained

Different overlay types are more common in different contexts:

Full Overlay (Most Common)

• Door covers 1" to 1.5" of face frame on each side
• Only 1/8" to 1/4" gap between doors
• Modern, streamlined appearance
• Most popular in contemporary and transitional kitchens

Partial Overlay (Traditional)

• Door covers 1/2" to 3/4" of face frame
• More face frame visible between doors
• Common in older homes and traditional styles
• Easier to fit because tolerances are more forgiving

Inset

• Door sits inside the opening, flush with frame
• Most precision required
• Classic, furniture-like appearance
• Common in high-end traditional and Craftsman kitchens

When you call to order, knowing which overlay type you need is essential. If you're replacing doors on existing cabinets, measure an existing door against the opening to determine your current overlay.

Custom Sizes Without the Upcharge

Not all cabinets are standard. Old houses, custom builds, modified boxes, previous renovations. They all create non-standard openings.

Here's a story that happens at least once a month: A contractor calls me with a weird dimension. Previous supplier told them custom sizes require a premium and add two weeks to delivery. They're frustrated because one cabinet is 1/4" off standard and suddenly they're paying extra for the whole order.

We don't work that way. We cut to any dimension:

Specification	Our Range
Minimum width	6"
Maximum width	36"
Minimum height	6"
Maximum height	96"
Pricing	Same as standard sizes
Delivery	Same 21-day timeline

I had a contractor call me last month with a pantry cabinet that was 37.5" wide. Some previous remodel had created an odd opening. Previous supplier quoted him 15% extra and added two weeks to his order. We made it standard pricing, standard timeline. That's how it should work.

Our CNC doesn't care if you need 14.25" or 14.375". The programming time is the same. The material cost is the same. There's no reason to penalize you for non-standard dimensions.

Shaker Profile Proportions

The shaker profile has specific proportions that affect how different door sizes look:

Standard Proportions

Component	Dimension
Rail width (top/bottom)	2.25"
Stile width (sides)	2.25"
Panel recess	1/4"
Inside edge	Square (90°)

There's a reason for the 2.25" dimension. It's been refined over decades of shaker door production. On a typical 15" door, it gives you a center panel that's properly proportioned. The frame feels substantial without overwhelming the panel. The panel has room to breathe without swimming in empty space.

How Panel Size Changes with Door Size

Door Width	Panel Width	Visual Effect
9"	4.5"	Narrow, vertical emphasis
12"	7.5"	Balanced, traditional
15"	10.5"	Balanced, classic look
18"	13.5"	Wider panel, horizontal emphasis
24"	19.5"	Large panel, modern feel

For doors under 10" wide, the center panel gets narrow. That's normal for the style and still looks correct. But on very narrow doors (under 7"), the panel can feel cramped. For those situations, we can discuss reducing rail and stile widths to maintain proportion.

For very large doors, the opposite concern applies. A 24" wide door with 2.25" frame components has a very large center panel. Some designers prefer this modern, minimal look. Others prefer increasing the frame width to 2.5" or 2.75" for more traditional proportions. We can accommodate either preference.

Drawer Front Sizing

Drawer fronts follow similar logic to doors but with some additional considerations:

Standard Drawer Front Heights

Height	Common Applications
5"	Shallow drawer, under-counter
6"	Standard shallow drawer
7"	Standard base drawer
8"	Standard base drawer
10"	Deep drawer, pots and pans
12"	Very deep drawer, file drawer

Drawer Bank Configurations

A common 30" base cabinet with four drawers might use:

• Top drawer: 5" or 6" front
• Second drawer: 6" or 7" front
• Third drawer: 7" or 8" front
• Bottom drawer: 10" or 12" front

The graduated sizing creates visual interest and matches practical storage needs. Smaller top drawers for utensils, larger bottom drawers for pots.

Measuring Tips from Years of Mistakes

Here's what I've learned about accurate measurement:

Measure Three Times

I'm not kidding. Measure at the top of the opening, the middle, and the bottom. If the numbers don't match, use the smallest dimension and note the variance.

Check for Square

Measure corner to corner diagonally both ways. If the numbers match, the opening is square. If they don't, note the discrepancy. Out-of-square openings happen more than you'd think, especially in older homes.

Use the Right Tools

A worn tape measure lies. I replace mine every six months. The hook wears, the rivets loosen, and suddenly you're 1/16" off on every measurement. That adds up across 30 doors.

Document Everything

Take photos. Mark your measurements on the image. When you call to place an order, you want a clear record of exactly what you measured.

Double-Check Your Math

After calculating door sizes from opening dimensions, go back and verify the math. One transposed digit creates a wrong door.

Related Resources

Compare profiles in our shaker vs chamfer style guide to help clients choose.

See what's trending in modern shaker cabinet design for 2025.

Ready to order? Visit our shaker cabinet doors collection.

FAQ

What's the most common shaker door size?

15" x 30" for base single doors, 12" x 30" for wall cabinets. These sizes fit standard kitchen layouts and work with common appliance dimensions.

Do you charge extra for odd sizes?

No. Our CNC programs any dimension. 14.25" costs the same as 15". Custom doesn't mean premium.

What's the smallest door you can make?

6" x 6" is our minimum. Below that, the shaker proportions break down. The frame components don't leave enough room for a center panel.

What's the largest door you can make?

36" wide by 96" tall. Larger doors create handling and shipping challenges. For openings larger than this, we recommend using two doors.

How do I calculate door size from opening size?

Opening + (2 × overlay) - reveal gaps = door size. Call us with your overlay type and we'll help you do the math.

Get the Sizing Right

Call 941-417-0202 with your measurements. I'll confirm door sizes before production starts. Because I've been the guy who ordered wrong, and I don't want you to experience that.

That cheat sheet on my desk? It's coffee-stained and worn from years of daily use. But it's saved me from hundreds of reorders. And that's the real value of understanding dimensions. Not just ordering correctly once, but never ordering incorrectly again.

Send me your measurements. I'll double-check the math. And your doors will fit the first time.