Kitchen cabinet cut list: parts, sizes and sheets
Updated 29 September 2026
A kitchen is a repeated set of simple rectangles, which makes it easy to list and easy to get wrong by one board thickness. Below is one common way to build 600 mm carcasses in 18 mm board, the parts it produces and what the real layout needs.
Where the sizes come from
Carcass parts are derived from three decisions: the outside size of the unit, the board thickness and the way the parts meet. In the construction used here the sides run full height and the bottom, rails and shelves fit between them. With 18 mm board a 600 mm wide unit therefore has parts 564 mm long between the sides: 600 − 2 × 18.
Kitchen construction varies — sides can sit on the bottom instead, backs can be grooved in or screwed on, and depths differ between makers. Use the rule for your own construction; the method below stays the same.
Base unit, 600 wide, 720 high, 560 deep
| Part | Length × width (mm) | Qty per unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side | 720 × 560 | 2 | Full height, full depth |
| Bottom | 564 × 560 | 1 | Between the sides |
| Top rail | 564 × 100 | 2 | Front and back rails instead of a full top |
| Shelf | 564 × 520 | 1 | Set back from the front |
Wall unit, 600 wide, 720 high, 300 deep
| Part | Length × width (mm) | Qty per unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side | 720 × 300 | 2 | Full height |
| Top and bottom | 564 × 300 | 2 | Between the sides |
| Shelf | 564 × 280 | 1 | Set back from the front |
What a small kitchen needs
Five base units and four wall units in 18 mm MFC give 50 parts with a total area of 11.35 m². Calculated in Cutspan with a 4.5 mm kerf and 5 mm trim:
| Sheet | Area method | Real layout | Last sheet used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2440 × 1220 (8x4) | 3.8 → 4 | 5 | about a third |
| 2800 × 2070 (Egger MFC) | 2.0 → 2 | 3 | about 13 % |
Both results end with a partly used last sheet — about a third full on 8x4, only 13 % on Egger. That is the moment to look at what sits on it: a shelf or two might come from an offcut you already have, or the next job might use the rest. Locking grain for a woodgrain decor did not change the count on this list. See how many sheets do I need for why area division under-counts.
What this list leaves out
- Backs, often a thinner board such as 3 mm hardboard or 8 mm MFC — a separate material with its own sheets.
- Doors and drawer fronts, usually in a different decor, thickness or edging.
- Plinths, end panels, fillers and worktops, which are sized to the room rather than the unit.
- Drawer boxes, if you make them rather than buy them.
Edging and machining
Front edges of sides, bottoms, rails and shelves are usually banded; hidden edges are not. The edging summary totals metres per material and thickness — see edge banding. Hinge cups, 32 mm shelf-pin rows and grooves for backs can be added to the parts and exported for a CNC — see machine files.
Questions
Why 564 mm and not 600?
Because the bottom, rails and shelves fit between two 18 mm sides: 600 − 36 = 564. With a different board thickness or construction, the number changes.
Should I use 8x4 or Egger board for a kitchen?
Whatever your supplier sells in the decor you want. Egger MFC comes at 2800 × 2070 mm; calculate both if you have the choice.
Does the grain matter on carcasses?
On plain white carcasses, no. On woodgrain decors it matters on visible parts; tick Grain direction on that board.
Can I import this list?
Yes. Type it, paste it or use the CSV template.