Linear Feet Calculator for Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are priced by the linear foot because depth and height are standardized — base cabinets are 24 inches deep, wall cabinets are 12 inches deep. Use this calculator to estimate the total linear footage of your kitchen cabinet layout across all runs, including waste for fillers and adjustments.
Linear Feet for Cabinets
Calculate linear feet for cabinets
Length of one cabinet run along the wall
Count each wall run and island separately
Filler strips, scribe molding, and adjustments
How Kitchen Designers Measure Cabinet Runs
Cabinet linear feet are measured along the wall for each run — the full length from the inside corner to the outside end of the last cabinet. Designers do not subtract for the sink base cabinet, which typically comes in 30-inch or 36-inch widths and is counted as part of the run. Dishwasher openings are not subtracted either; a standard 24-inch dishwasher space is flanked by cabinets that continue the run. The only spaces not counted as linear footage are pure openings — a doorway, a hallway entrance, or a window that goes to the countertop. Filler strips (typically 3-inch gaps) are included because they are part of the cabinet order. Most designers add 3-5% for scribe molding and filler adjustments.
Standard Cabinet Widths Reference
| Width (inches) | Linear Feet |
|---|---|
| 9" | 0.75 |
| 12" | 1.00 |
| 15" | 1.25 |
| 18" | 1.50 |
| 24" | 2.00 |
| 30" | 2.50 |
| 33" | 2.75 |
| 36" | 3.00 |
| 42" | 3.50 |
| 48" | 4.00 |
Linear feet = width in inches ÷ 12. For example, a 24-inch cabinet = 2.0 linear feet. A run of four 24-inch bases and one 30-inch sink base = (4 x 2.0) + 2.5 = 10.5 linear feet.
Cabinet Cost Per Linear Foot by Grade
| Grade | Material $/LF | Installed $/LF |
|---|---|---|
| Stock (RTA/Flat-Pack) | $60 – $150 | $100 – $300 |
| Semi-Custom | $100 – $400 | $150 – $650 |
| Custom | $300 – $800 | $500 – $1,200 |
Prices are 2026 national averages. Includes delivery and installation. Does not include countertops, backsplash, or plumbing. Upper cabinets are priced the same per LF as lower cabinets, but the total linear footage runs are independent of each other.
Step-by-Step: Calculate Cabinet Linear Feet for Your Kitchen
- Sketch your floor plan. Draw each wall and label the cabinet runs. For an L-shaped kitchen, you have two runs. For a U-shaped kitchen, three runs. An island is an additional run.
- Measure each run along the wall. Use a tape measure and record the wall length in feet and inches that each run occupies. Include the space over the dishwasher and the sink base — these are cabinet positions.
- Identify appliance openings that do not count. A freestanding range (30 inches) or refrigerator opening (36 inches) that sits between cabinets and does not have a cabinet above it should not be counted. But a cooktop with cabinets below and a vent hood cabinet above does count on both upper and lower runs.
- Add filler strips. Most designers add 3 inches of filler per run (0.25 linear feet) for scribe molding against walls. Multiply by the number of runs that terminate against a wall.
- Sum and apply waste. Add all run lengths together and multiply by 1.03 to 1.05 (3-5%) to cover filler strips, scribe molding, and the fact that cabinet widths increment in 3-inch units.
- Separate uppers and lowers. Upper cabinets and lower cabinets are priced per linear foot at the same rate, but the runs are measured independently. A wall with 12 feet of base cabinets and 10 feet of wall cabinets (accounting for a window above the sink) totals 22 linear feet between the two runs.
What Does and Does Not Count as Cabinet Linear Footage
Understanding what fabricators and kitchen designers count toward linear footage can save thousands on a remodel. Counted: all cabinet box widths (base and wall), sink base cabinets, corner cabinets (measured along both legs), appliance garage cabinets, filler strips, and decorative end panels. Not counted: pure wall space between runs, doorway openings, window openings without a cabinet above, freestanding appliance spaces without flanking cabinets, and peninsula overhangs (the seating side of a breakfast bar does not add cabinet footage — only the cabinet boxes below count). Crown molding, light rail, toe kick, and decorative hardware are priced separately and not included in the linear-foot cabinet price.