How To Guide

How to Measure

For Flat Pack Cabinets

Accurate measurements are essential when planning a flat pack kitchen, laundry, wardrobe or storage project.

Taking the time to measure the complete space can help you select suitable cabinet sizes, identify potential obstructions and reduce the risk of problems during assembly and installation.

Pinnacle Flatpacks manufactures your selected cabinets after your order is confirmed. Products are made to order from the sizes, configurations, colours and options available within the Pinnacle Flatpacks range. They are not manufactured to unrestricted custom dimensions.

The customer is responsible for checking all room, appliance and product measurements before placing an order.

Before You Start Measuring

Measure the complete room before selecting individual cabinets.

Do not measure only the wall where you expect the cabinets to be installed. Doors, windows, adjoining walls, appliances, plumbing, electrical services and walkways may all affect the final cabinet layout. Use millimetres for every measurement and clearly label each dimension on your sketch.

Explore the available kitchen cabinets, laundry cabinets and wardrobe cabinets after completing the initial measurements.

Helpful items include:

Tape measure / Pencil Paper or notebook / Phone or camera / Spirit level if available / Step ladder if required / Appliance manuals or specifications / Existing house plans if available / Take photos of the room as well. Photos can help when checking power points, plumbing, windows, doors, ceiling bulkheads and appliance locations later.

Step 1: Draw a Simple Room Plan

Begin with a basic overhead sketch of the room. The drawing does not need to be professionally prepared or perfectly to scale. It should clearly show the shape of the space and the position of every fixed feature that could affect the cabinets.

Mark the following on your plan:

Each wall
Internal and external corners
Windows and architraves
Doors and their opening direction
Plumbing connections
Waste outlets
Power points and switches
Gas connections
Existing appliances
Bulkheads and ceiling changes
Columns, beams and fixed obstructions
Heating, cooling and ventilation equipment

Label each wall so that your measurements can be matched to the correct part of the room.

Step 2: Measure Every Wall

Measure the full length of each wall, including adjoining walls that may affect cabinet doors, appliance access or walkways.

For better accuracy, measure each proposed cabinet wall at three different heights:

Record all three measurements.

Walls may bow, taper or change slightly across the room. When planning a cabinet run, work from the smallest available measurement unless a suitably experienced installer has confirmed another approach.

Do not assume that opposing walls are the same length.

Step 3: Measure the Room Height

Measure vertically from the finished floor surface to the ceiling.

Take measurements in several positions, particularly where tall cabinets, pantry cabinets, wall cabinets or wardrobe units may be installed.

Record anything that reduces the available height:

Bulkheads
Cornices
Ceiling beams
Sloping ceilings
Light fittings
Exhaust fans
Air conditioning units
Pipes or ducting
Existing overhead structures

Confirm whether your floor covering is already installed. A future change in flooring height may affect the finished cabinet position

Step 4: Measure Windows and Doors

Record the size and position of every window and door in the room.

For windows, record:

For doors, record:

Door opening width and height
Architrave dimensions
Distance from the nearest wall corner
Door swing direction
Space required for handles and hardware
Any sliding-door tracks or cavity openings

Cabinet doors, drawers and appliances must be able to open without contacting room doors, windows or architraves.

Step 5: Record Plumbing, Electrical and Gas Services

Clearly mark all existing services on your plan. Measure each service from a fixed reference point, such as the nearest wall corner and the finished floor.

Record the locations of:

Hot and cold water supplies
Sink or trough waste outlets
Dishwasher connections
Washing machine connections
Power points
Light switches
Oven power supplies
Cooktop power or gas connections
Rangehood power points and ducting
Fridge power and water connections
Dryer power points
Data or communications outlets

Existing service locations can affect which cabinets and appliances can be used in a particular position. Electrical, plumbing and gas work must be completed by appropriately licensed tradespeople where required. Do not relocate or modify services without obtaining suitable professional advice.

Step 6: Confirm Every Appliance

Select your appliances or obtain their complete specifications before finalising the cabinet order. Do not rely on general descriptions such as “standard oven”, “standard dishwasher” or “large fridge”. Appliance dimensions and installation requirements vary between brands and models.

Confirm the following:

Appliance width, height and depth
Door or drawer opening requirements
Ventilation clearances
Manufacturer installation clearances
Power, water, waste or gas requirements
Location of appliance connections
Required access for servicing
Any surrounding panel requirements

Check the specifications for:

Compare the appliance specifications directly with the dimensions shown on the relevant cabinet product page before ordering.

Step 7: Check Floors, Walls and Corners

Rooms are not always perfectly straight, level or square, particularly in older homes. Use a spirit level where possible and inspect the room carefully.

Check whether:

The floor is level
Walls bow inward or outward
Internal corners are square
The ceiling height changes
Existing tiles project from the wall
Skirting boards affect cabinet placement
Pipes or conduits sit proud of the wall
Wall linings can support the intended cabinets
The floor or wall surface is damaged
Existing structures need to be removed

Record any variation on the room plan. An installation professional may be required to assess significant variations or determine suitable fixing and adjustment methods.

Step 8: Allow for Fillers and End Panels

Cabinet dimensions alone may not fill the entire available wall space. Fillers and finishing panels can provide clearance, accommodate minor site variations and create a finished appearance.

Face fillers may be required:

Between a cabinet and a wall
Beside a tall cabinet
Near an internal corner
Where a handle or door requires additional opening clearance
Where the wall is not straight
Between cabinets and nearby appliances

End panels may be required:

At the visible end of a cabinet run
Beside a fridge or appliance cavity
On exposed tall cabinets
At the end of wall cabinets
Around an island or peninsula
On exposed wardrobe cabinet sides

Do not assume that every available millimetre should be filled with cabinet boxes. Appropriate allowances may be needed for installation, levelling, panels and operating clearances. Review the individual product listings to identify the available face fillers, end panels, underpanels, island panels and kickboards.

Step 9: Check Doors, Drawers and Walkways

A cabinet arrangement may fit within the room dimensions but still be difficult to use.

Check the space required to fully open:

Cabinet doors
Cabinet drawers
Corner-cabinet doors
Fridge and freezer doors
Oven doors
Dishwasher doors
Washing machine and dryer doors
Wardrobe doors
Room entry doors

Consider whether two opposing doors or drawers could contact each other. Allow practical access through the room and around islands, appliance doors and open drawers. Obtain professional advice where the layout involves restricted access or applicable building requirements.

Step 10: Plan for Benchtops

Benchtop requirements should be considered when measuring the cabinet layout.

Before ordering a benchtop, confirm:

Overall cabinet-run length
Finished cabinet depth
Wall variations
Required front and side overhangs
Exposed ends
Internal and external corners
Island or peninsula dimensions
Sink position
Cooktop position
Required joins
Appliance clearances
Splashback position

Cabinets should generally be assembled, positioned and levelled before final fabrication measurements or cut-out positions are confirmed.

View the available Simply Ceram benchtops and check the listed dimensions and product options before ordering.

Step 11: Measure for Splashbacks

Measure the intended splashback area separately from the cabinets and benchtop.

Record:

Full wall width
Height above the finished benchtop
Window positions
Cabinet positions
Rangehood position
Cooktop location
Sink location
Power points and switches
Internal corners
Required joints
Any potential cut-outs

Check all appliance clearances and installation requirements before selecting a splashback for use near a cooktop or other heat source.

View the available Simply Ceram splashbacks and compare the listed dimensions with your measured space.

Made to Order

From the available Range

Pinnacle Flatpacks manufactures cabinet products after an order has been confirmed.

Made to order does not mean fully custom made. Customers select from the cabinet sizes, configurations, colours and options listed within the available Pinnacle Flatpacks range.Your room measurements should therefore be used to determine which available products can be combined within the space.

Where the total selected cabinet width is less than the available wall width, face fillers, panels or another planned allowance may be needed. Review the cabinet colours and finishes and confirm that each required product is available in your selected finish.

Measurements, product selections and quantities should be checked before the order is placed. Changes may not be possible after manufacturing has commenced. Read the Order Process and Frequently Asked Questions before completing your purchase.

This guide provides general information to assist customers with measuring a room and selecting products from the available Pinnacle Flatpacks range.