Recreate an IKEA METOD Kitchen — Full Cut List from Plywood
Many woodworkers admire IKEA's kitchen layouts and pricing but want better material quality. IKEA METOD carcasses are 18 mm particleboard — functional but not as durable or attractive as real plywood. This guide takes a standard IKEA METOD L-shaped kitchen layout (10 cabinets) and provides the complete cut list to rebuild every carcass from 18 mm birch plywood. You get the same proven dimensions with a premium material upgrade.
Why Rebuild an IKEA Kitchen?
- Material quality:IKEA uses 18 mm particleboard (melamine-faced). Birch plywood is stronger, more moisture-resistant, and looks better inside the cabinets
- Custom sizing:you can adjust dimensions to fit your space exactly — IKEA only offers fixed widths
- Sustainability: plywood cabinets last decades; particleboard can swell and delaminate in kitchens with moisture
- Cost:the carcasses are often comparable in price (IKEA charges for convenience; plywood costs more per sheet but you're not paying for flat-pack packaging and logistics)
- You can still use IKEA doors, handles, and hinges on your plywood carcasses — they use standard 32 mm system hole spacing
The IKEA METOD Layout
We're recreating a small L-shaped kitchen with 10 cabinets. This is based on a typical IKEA kitchen planner layout:
Base run (long wall, ~2400 mm)
- 800 mm base cabinet (drawers)
- 600 mm base cabinet (sink)
- 600 mm base cabinet (general storage)
- 400 mm base cabinet (narrow storage)
Corner
- 880 mm corner base cabinet (L-shaped corner unit — two panels form the L)
Short return (~1200 mm)
- 600 mm base cabinet (general storage)
- 600 mm base cabinet (appliance housing, e.g., dishwasher — just the side panels and top rail, no bottom)
Wall cabinets (above the long wall)
- 800 mm wall cabinet (80 cm high)
- 600 mm wall cabinet (80 cm high)
- 600 mm wall cabinet (60 cm high, above the sink)
IKEA vs Plywood — Key Dimensions
| Dimension | IKEA METOD | Plywood Rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Base carcass height | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| Base carcass depth (excl. door) | 560 mm | 560 mm |
| Wall carcass depth | 370 mm | 370 mm |
| Wall carcass height (tall) | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| Wall carcass height (short) | 600 mm | 600 mm |
| Panel thickness | 18 mm particleboard | 18 mm birch plywood |
| Back panel | 3 mm hardboard | 6 mm plywood (stronger) |
| System hole spacing | 32 mm | 32 mm (use IKEA drill template) |
These dimensions follow the standard METOD carcass system closely so you can use IKEA doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and accessories on your plywood carcasses without having to redesign the layout.
Base Cabinet Cut List
| Cabinet | Part | Qty | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 mm Base | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Bottom panel | 1 | 764 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Top rail | 1 | 764 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Shelf | 1 | 764 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 800 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Side panel | 6 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Bottom panel | 3 | 564 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Top rail | 3 | 564 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Shelf | 2 | 564 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Back panel | 3 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Bottom panel | 1 | 364 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Top rail | 1 | 364 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Shelf | 1 | 364 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 400 | 6 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Side panel (left) | 1 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Side panel (right) | 1 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Bottom panel(Guide layout: 564 × 564 mm rear notch) | 1 | 844 | 844 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Top rail (front left) | 1 | 844 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Top rail (front right)(Short return after the corner notch) | 1 | 280 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Back panel (left) | 1 | 800 | 880 | 6 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Back panel (right) | 1 | 800 | 580 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Top rail | 1 | 564 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
Frameless construction — sides are full height. Internal width = external width minus 36 mm (two 18 mm sides). The 600 mm base cabinets include 3 units: the sink cabinet has no shelf, the two general storage cabinets have one shelf each.
For the 880 mm corner base layout used in this guide, start with an 844 × 844 mm blank and cut a 564 × 564 mm rear notch to create the L-shape. That leaves the 844 mm main front run and the 280 mm short return shown in the table.
Wall Cabinet Cut List
| Cabinet | Part | Qty | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 764 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 764 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Shelf | 2 | 764 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 800 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Shelf | 2 | 564 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 600 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Shelf | 1 | 564 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 600 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
The 370 mm carcass depth is deliberate here because METOD wall units are built on the deeper 37 cm wall-cabinet system. If you want a looser drop-in fit for adjustable shelves after paint or edge banding, trim those shelves 1–2 mm in length (span) before installing.
Door Cut List
| Cabinet | Qty | Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 mm Base | 2 | 796 | 396 | Pair of doors |
| 600 mm Base (×2 general) | 2 | 796 | 596 | Single doors |
| 600 mm Sink Base | 2 | 796 | 296 | Pair of doors |
| 400 mm Base | 1 | 796 | 396 | Single door |
| 880 mm Corner Base | 1 | 796 | 446 | Angled corner door |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | 2 | 796 | 396 | Pair of doors |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | 1 | 796 | 596 | Single door |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | 1 | 596 | 596 | Single door |
You can use IKEA's own METOD doors (sold separately) on plywood carcasses. The hinge holes are at standard 32 mm positions. Or cut your own doors from 18 mm MDF — allow a 2 mm gap on all sides.
Cost Comparison
| Item | IKEA METOD (approx.) | Plywood Build (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 carcasses (flat-pack / sheets) | £800–£1,000 | £600–£800 (8 sheets birch ply @ £60–£80) |
| Back panels | Included | £80–£100 (3 sheets 6 mm ply) |
| Doors (IKEA range) | £400–£800 | £400–£800 (same IKEA doors) or £120 (2 sheets MDF) |
| Hardware (hinges, runners) | Included | £150–£250 (Blum or Hettich) |
| Worktop | £200–£600 | £200–£600 (same options) |
| Total estimate | £1,400–£2,400 | £1,150–£2,550 |
Prices are approximate UK estimates and will vary by supplier, finish, and sheet grade. The plywood build is often similar in cost but significantly higher in quality and durability. Labour is not included — the plywood build takes more skill and time.
Sheet Count Estimate
- 18 mm birch plywood(2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 7–8 sheets
- 6 mm plywood(2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 3 sheets
- 18 mm MDF for doors (if not using IKEA doors): approximately 2 sheets
Tips for Using IKEA Accessories
- Drill shelf-pin holes on the 32 mm system (same as IKEA) so IKEA shelf supports, drawer runners, and interior organisers fit
- IKEA UTRUSTA hinges mount with a 35 mm cup bore — same as Blum and Hettich
- IKEA MAXIMERA drawer runners are proprietary — if you want IKEA drawers, use their runners. Otherwise, Blum TANDEMBOX is a direct substitute
- The IKEA METOD suspension rail system works on plywood carcasses — just screw through the top rail at 32 mm centres
- IKEA KNOXHULT legs and plinths fit standard 150 mm plinth heights
Optimise this cut list
Paste these dimensions into CutList to get an optimised cutting diagram and exact sheet count for your build.
Open CutList — it's freeIKEA, METOD, MAXIMERA, UTRUSTA, and KNOXHULT are registered trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Blum and TANDEMBOX are registered trademarks of Julius Blum GmbH. CutList is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by these companies. This guide is provided for informational purposes to help woodworkers plan their projects.