Drawer front calculator
A drawer column is one height shared between several fronts. Take off the gaps, share the rest, and every front lines up with the doors beside it.
Two common columns
Both with 1.5 mm edge gaps and 3 mm between fronts: 720 − 3 − 6 = 711 mm to share. Width is the carcass width less the edge gap each side, like a door — see the cabinet door calculator.
Common columns and their proportions
1, 1, 1
Three equal drawers: cutlery, utensils, tea towels.
1, 1, 2
Two shallow drawers over a deep pan drawer, the usual hob-side column.
1, 2
One shallow drawer over one deep one, for pots, lids and baking trays.
1, 1, 1, 1
Four equal shallow drawers for small items or files.
Lining up with the rest of the kitchen
Match the door gapsUse the same edge and centre gaps as the doors, and the fronts line up across the run. If the tops of the fronts must align with a door’s rail or handle position, set the proportions so the top front matches it.
Drawer boxes behind the fronts are sized separately, from the opening and the runners — see the drawer box calculator.
Questions
What gap between drawer fronts?
Commonly 2–3 mm, the same as between doors. Follow the runner and hinge makers’ figures.
Can the fronts be different heights?
Yes. Proportions like 1, 2, 3 give graduated fronts; the tool keeps the gaps exact.
Can I give exact heights instead?
Type them as the proportions — 240, 240, 231 keeps their ratio — and the tool fits them to the column with the gaps taken off.
Are the fronts on the same board as the doors?
Usually. Pick the sheet and tick grain for woodgrain decors so the fronts are cut the right way round.
Plan your cut list now
Free, in the browser, with no account. Layouts, edging totals and machine files from one list.