Measuring guide
How to measure for a drawer box
Ten minutes with a tape measure is the difference between a drawer that glides and a drawer that binds. Here is exactly what to measure and in what order.
The one rule: we build to outside box dimensions. Width is the outside of the box side to side, depth is front to back, height is the side panel top to bottom. When in doubt, send us what you measured and say what it was. We would rather translate than guess.
Case 1: you still have the old drawer box
Easiest case. Pull the drawer out, set it on a bench and measure the box itself, ignoring the decorative face on the front.
| Measure | Where | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| WIDTH | Outside face of one side to outside face of the other | Measure at the front and the back. If they differ, the old box is racked, use the smaller number. |
| DEPTH | Front of the box to the back, not counting the face | The decorative face is not part of the box. Measure the box behind it. |
| HEIGHT | Bottom edge of a side to its top edge | Sides, not the face. Faces are almost always taller than the box. |
Case 2: measuring the cabinet opening
No old box? Measure the opening the drawer lives in.
- Opening width. Inside edge to inside edge of the cabinet opening. Measure top, middle and bottom, keep the smallest.
- Opening height. Inside of the opening, bottom to top. Your box height must clear this with room for hardware and the face.
- Cabinet depth. From the front edge of the cabinet to the back panel, minus clearance for whatever sits behind the drawer.
- Note your slides. Side mounted slides need clearance between box and opening on each side. If you are keeping existing slides, write down their brand, length and how they mount, and include it with your order.
Box only vs with slides: what changes
Box only. You are matching the box to hardware you already have or are buying separately. Give us the finished box size your hardware needs. If you are replacing an old box that ran on its slides fine, copying the old box dimensions is the safe move.
With slides. We supply the slides, so we handle the clearance math. Give us the cabinet opening dimensions and the box arrives sized so slides and box fit the opening together. Tell us the cabinet depth so the slide length is right.
Height in both cases is the box side height. Remember the face usually overhangs the box, so pick a box height that clears the opening with hardware in place.
Which slide, which clearance
Slide type decides how the box width relates to the opening. These are the usual rules of thumb. Always follow your slide maker’s spec sheet for the exact number, and when in doubt send us the slide model and we will check it with you.
| Slide | How to size the box | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SIDE MOUNT (1/2 in) | Box about 1 in narrower than the opening, 1/2 in of clearance per side. | The common case for box only replacements. Copy the old box if it ran well. |
| UNDERMOUNT | Box built to the full opening width with an undermount notch. | Depth and height matter to the bracket. Give us the slide model. |
| BLUM (563, Movento) | Full opening width, with the Blum notch and bore cut for you. | Tell us the exact Blum model so the prep matches. |
| BOTTOM MOUNT | Box sized to the opening with side and bottom clearance. | Older cabinets and RVs often use these. |
Not sure which you have? Pull the drawer and look at where the slide grips: on the side of the box is side mount, underneath at the back is undermount or Blum, along the bottom edge is bottom mount. For standard dimensions and clearance in one place, see the drawer box sizes page.
Ready when you are
Want the printable versions? Our step by step measurement guides cover side mount, bottom mount, face frame, frameless and spacers.
Write your three numbers down as W x D x H and head to the shop, or send them straight to us for a quote.