Cut List for a Basic Kitchen — 8 Cabinets from Sheet Goods

This guide provides a complete panel cut list for a simple one-wall kitchen built from 18 mm hardwood plywood carcasses with 18 mm MDF doors. It is suitable for someone fitting out a small rental, workshop, or utility room. All dimensions are in millimetres. Cabinet sizes follow standard UK conventions.

600Sink Base600Base600Base400Base800Wall Unit600Wall Unit500Wall Unit300Wall2200 mm Total Base Run2200 mm Total Wall Run720 mm720 mm

The Kitchen Layout

The kitchen consists of 8 cabinets arranged along a single wall:

Base units (4)

  • 3 × 600 mm wide standard base units — one for the sink (no shelf), two with one shelf each
  • 1 × 400 mm narrow base unit with one shelf

Wall units (4)

  • 1 × 800 mm wide wall unit (2 shelves)
  • 1 × 600 mm wall unit (1 shelf)
  • 1 × 500 mm wall unit (1 shelf)
  • 1 × 300 mm wall unit (1 shelf)

Key dimensions

  • Total base run: 2200 mm — total wall run: 2200 mm
  • Base carcass height: 720 mm (+ 150 mm plinth + 40 mm worktop = 910 mm working height)
  • Base carcass depth: 570 mm
  • Wall carcass height: 720 mm
  • Wall carcass depth: 300 mm

Materials

  • 18 mm hardwood plywood (e.g. birch ply) — carcasses, shelves
  • 6 mm plywood — cabinet backs
  • 18 mm MDF — doors (to be primed and painted)

Standard UK sheet size: 2440 × 1220 mm.

Base Unit Cut List

CabinetPartQtyLength (mm)Width (mm)Material
600 mm Base UnitSide panel472057018 mm ply
600 mm Base UnitBottom panel256457018 mm ply
600 mm Base UnitTop rail25648018 mm ply
600 mm Base UnitShelf256455018 mm ply
600 mm Base UnitBack panel27206006 mm ply
600 mm Sink BaseSide panel272057018 mm ply
600 mm Sink BaseBottom panel156457018 mm ply
600 mm Sink BaseTop rail15648018 mm ply
600 mm Sink BaseBack panel17206006 mm ply
400 mm Base UnitSide panel272057018 mm ply
400 mm Base UnitBottom panel136457018 mm ply
400 mm Base UnitTop rail13648018 mm ply
400 mm Base UnitShelf136455018 mm ply
400 mm Base UnitBack panel17204006 mm ply

Internal width = external width minus 36 mm (two 18 mm sides). Shelves are 20 mm shallower than the carcass to allow easy access.

Wall Unit Cut List

CabinetPartQtyLength (mm)Width (mm)Material
800 mm Wall UnitSide panel272030018 mm ply
800 mm Wall UnitTop panel176430018 mm ply
800 mm Wall UnitBottom panel176430018 mm ply
800 mm Wall UnitShelf276428018 mm ply
800 mm Wall UnitBack panel17208006 mm ply
600 mm Wall UnitSide panel272030018 mm ply
600 mm Wall UnitTop panel156430018 mm ply
600 mm Wall UnitBottom panel156430018 mm ply
600 mm Wall UnitShelf156428018 mm ply
600 mm Wall UnitBack panel17206006 mm ply
500 mm Wall UnitSide panel272030018 mm ply
500 mm Wall UnitTop panel146430018 mm ply
500 mm Wall UnitBottom panel146430018 mm ply
500 mm Wall UnitShelf146428018 mm ply
500 mm Wall UnitBack panel17205006 mm ply
300 mm Wall UnitSide panel272030018 mm ply
300 mm Wall UnitTop panel126430018 mm ply
300 mm Wall UnitBottom panel126430018 mm ply
300 mm Wall UnitShelf126428018 mm ply
300 mm Wall UnitBack panel17203006 mm ply

Door Cut List

CabinetQtyHeight (mm)Width (mm)Material
600 mm Base Unit271659618 mm MDF
600 mm Sink Base(pair of doors)271629618 mm MDF
400 mm Base Unit171639618 mm MDF
800 mm Wall Unit(pair of doors)271639618 mm MDF
600 mm Wall Unit171659618 mm MDF
500 mm Wall Unit171649618 mm MDF
300 mm Wall Unit171629618 mm MDF

Door dimensions allow a 2 mm gap on all sides. Adjust if using thicker edge tape or overlay hinges.

Sheet Count Estimate

  • 18 mm plywood (2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 5 sheets
  • 6 mm plywood (2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 2 sheets
  • 18 mm MDF (2440 × 1220 mm): 2 sheets

These are estimates. Paste the cut list into CutList to get an optimised cutting diagram and exact sheet count.

Construction Tips

  • Use 18 mm pre-finished birch plywood from B&Q or Wickes for a clean interior finish
  • Apply iron-on edge banding to all visible plywood edges
  • Drill 5 mm shelf pin holes on a 32 mm system for adjustable shelves
  • Use 35 mm concealed hinges (Blum or Hettich) — bore with a 35 mm Forstner bit
  • Attach backs with 15 mm panel pins or a brad nailer into a 6 × 10 mm rebate
  • Screw base units together through the sides and fix to the wall through the top rail

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