To measure for cupboard drawers, you need to measure the opening in the cabinet where the drawer will be installed. Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Measure the Opening:
- Head over to the cabinet where you plan to install the drawer.
- Carefully measure the height of the opening, from top to bottom, using a measuring tape. Record this measurement.
- Carefully measure the width of the opening, from side to side, using a measuring tape. Record this measurement.
- Carefully measure the depth of the opening, from the front to the back, using a measuring tape. Record this measurement.
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Consider Drawer Hardware:
- The opening dimensions are not the final drawer box size. You need to consider the drawer slides you will be using.
- Different drawer slides require different clearances (the space between the drawer box and the cabinet opening).
- Refer to the specifications of your chosen drawer slides for the required clearances. These specifications will tell you how much smaller than the opening the drawer box needs to be.
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Calculate Drawer Box Dimensions:
- Height: Subtract the necessary vertical clearance (as specified by your drawer slide hardware) from the opening height.
- Width: Subtract the necessary horizontal clearance (as specified by your drawer slide hardware) from the opening width.
- Depth: The drawer box depth is generally dictated by the slide length available. Choose a slide length that maximizes drawer depth without interfering with anything at the back of the cabinet.
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Example:
Let's say your opening measures:
- Height: 6 inches
- Width: 12 inches
- Depth: 18 inches
And your drawer slides require a 1/2 inch clearance on each side (width) and 1/4 inch clearance on the top and bottom (height).
Then, your drawer box dimensions would be:
- Height: 6 inches - (1/4 inch + 1/4 inch) = 5.5 inches
- Width: 12 inches - (1/2 inch + 1/2 inch) = 11 inches
- Depth: Select a drawer slide length slightly less than the 18 inch opening depth, such as 16 inches. The actual drawer depth will then be slightly shorter than this.
In summary, to measure for cupboard drawers, measure the cabinet opening and then subtract the clearances required by your chosen drawer slide hardware to determine the appropriate drawer box dimensions.
