Good measurements are the starting point for any new kitchen. With an accurate sketch, a designer can show you real cabinet layouts and give you a meaningful estimate at your first visit. You don't need special skills: a tape measure, a pencil and about 30 to 45 minutes are enough. Here's how to do it.
What you need
- A 25-foot tape measure (a laser measure helps but isn't required)
- Graph paper or plain paper and a pencil
- Your phone, to take photos of each wall
- A second person to hold the other end of the tape, if possible
Measure in inches, and write down every number as you go. Don't round to the nearest foot.
Step 1: Sketch the room from above
Draw a simple outline of the kitchen as if you were looking down from the ceiling. It doesn't have to be to scale. Mark:
- every wall,
- doors and which way they swing,
- windows,
- openings into other rooms,
- anything that sticks out, such as a chimney, a column or a bump-out in the wall.
Number the walls (Wall 1, Wall 2 and so on) so your measurements are easy to follow.
Step 2: Measure each wall
Measure each wall from corner to corner, along the floor. Then measure it again at about counter height (36 inches) and near the ceiling. Walls are rarely perfectly straight, and old houses especially can differ by more than an inch from floor to ceiling. Write down all three, and use the smallest.
Next, measure along each wall and note where every feature starts and ends, measured from the same corner:
- the edges of each window and door (including the trim),
- openings and corners,
- the center of the sink and the range,
- anything else on the wall.
Step 3: Windows and doors
For each window, write down:
- the distance from the corner to the edge of the trim,
- the width including trim,
- the height from the floor to the bottom of the trim (the sill),
- the height from the floor to the top of the trim.
For doors and openings, measure the width including trim and note the swing direction. A door that swings into the kitchen affects where cabinets and appliances can go.
Step 4: Ceiling height
Measure from the floor to the ceiling in a few places. Note any soffits (boxed-in areas above the cabinets), beams or slopes, and measure their height and depth. Ceiling height decides how tall your upper cabinets can be and whether they can go to the ceiling.
Step 5: Plumbing, gas and electrical
Mark the location of:
- the sink drain and water lines (center measurement from the nearest corner, and height from the floor),
- the gas line, if you have a gas range,
- outlets and switches along each wall,
- the range hood vent, if there is one,
- radiators, heating vents and returns.
Moving plumbing or gas is possible, but it affects cost, so knowing where things are now helps your designer plan.
Step 6: Appliances
List every appliance you plan to keep or buy, with its width, height and depth:
- refrigerator (and how much space the doors need to open),
- range or cooktop and wall oven,
- dishwasher,
- microwave and hood,
- any extras: wine fridge, beverage center, second dishwasher.
If you are buying new appliances, the model numbers are even better; the exact specifications matter for cabinet sizes.
Step 7: Photos
Take a photo of each wall from straight in front, plus a few from the corners. Photos help a designer spot details that are easy to miss on a sketch, such as an outlet behind the fridge or a pipe in the corner.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Measuring only once. Check every important measurement twice.
- Forgetting the trim. Measure windows and doors including their casing.
- Ignoring the floor. If you are changing the flooring, note it; floor height affects cabinet and appliance fit.
- Rounding. A quarter of an inch matters when cabinets fit between two walls.
What happens next
Your measurements are enough to start designing and to compare options and budgets. Before cabinets are ordered, the kitchen should be measured precisely again on site, so the final order matches the room exactly.
Bring your sketch, measurements and photos to one of our showrooms. Our design team can turn them into cabinet layouts with you, and you can see the door styles and finishes in person at the same visit.