How to Measure Your Cabinet for a Spice Rack (With Diagrams)

Buying a spice rack that doesn't fit your cabinet is one of the most common (and most frustrating) mistakes in kitchen organization. The fix is simple: measure before you buy. This guide walks you through exactly how to measure your cabinet for a spice rack the same way Vertical Spice recommends, so you get the right fit the first time.

All you need is a tape measure and about five minutes.

The 3 Measurements You Need

Every fit comes down to three numbers, taken in this order: width, depth, then height. Get these right and your spice rack will slide in perfectly.

Step 1: Measure the Width

Open the cabinet door and measure the narrowest width between your hinges. The hinges usually stick into the opening, so measuring between them gives you the true usable width without any guesswork or subtraction.

• If you have a single door, or a center stile (the vertical strip of wood between double doors), measure from the hinge to that frame instead.
• If your cabinet has a center stile, measure each side separately. You will likely use two narrower units, one per side.

This width tells you which units, and how many side by side, will fit. Vertical Spice units come in set widths (from 2.3 inches up to 6.9 inches), so you can combine them to fill the space you have. The drawers extend out past the cabinet when you open them, so you are only fitting the frame of the unit inside.

Step 2: Measure the Depth

Measure from the back of the cabinet to the inside of the closed door. This is the space the unit body has to sit in.

Three things affect this measurement, so check each one:

• Back of the cabinet. Some cabinets have a block of wood or electrical wiring at the back that reduces usable depth.
• The closed door. Doors vary. Some sit away from the frame, and some have raised panels or inserts that extend back into the cabinet. Measure to the part of the door that sits furthest in.
• The front lip / face frame. Vertical Spice units have a cut-out at the front designed to fit over the frame, so you measure to the door, not the frame.

The x11 units need a minimum of 10.6 inches of depth. Vertical Spice offers four depths: 10.6", 13.8", 18", and 22.1". Pick the closest size that fits within your measured depth.

Step 3: Measure the Height

Measure from the shelf or cabinet base the unit will sit on, up to the shelf above.

This decides how many tiers your unit can have, but measure for the unit plus the jars sitting on the top tier, not just the unit height. The x11 panel heights are:

• Single tier: 5 inches (the drawer top sits only 1.5 inches above the base, so your container height sets the total)
• 1.5 tier: 9.25 inches (allow about 9.5 inches for a half-size jar on the top tier)
• 2 tier: 10.75 inches (allow about 12 inches from the base to the shelf above for standard jars)
• 3 tier: taller multi-tier units in the deeper lines (see the product chart for exact heights)

A quick rule: add the height of your tallest container to the drawer top to get the total clearance you need.

Important safety note: the shelf the unit mounts to must be fixed in place. Because the drawers pull out past the front of the cabinet, an adjustable or loose shelf could tip forward when a drawer is open. Vertical Spice carries Shelf Hold-Down kits to easily fix your shelf in place. The units attach with the included self-tapping screws, or with a 3M Dual Lock tape kit if you would rather not use screws (a good option for renters).

Quick Reference: Common Spice Rack Fit Issues

If something does not fit on the first try, here is what to check.

The Easy Way: Use the Spice Rack Finder

Don't want to match measurements to models yourself? Vertical Spice has a spice rack finder that does it for you. Enter your width, depth, and height, and it recommends the units that fit your cabinet.

It is the fastest way to go from "I have these measurements" to "this is the unit I need," and it is especially useful if you are outfitting several cabinets at once. Once you know your numbers, our custom spice drawer insert guide explains how the sizing system maps to your exact cabinet.

FAQ

What measurements do I need for a cabinet spice rack? Three, in order: width (the narrowest point between your hinges), depth (from the back of the cabinet to the inside of the closed door), and height (from the shelf to the shelf above). Also check for a center stile and make sure the shelf is fixed in place.

Do I measure width wall to wall or between the hinges? Between the hinges. The hinges protrude into the opening, so the narrowest point between them is the true usable width. Measuring wall to wall overstates the space and leads to a unit that will not fit.

Do I measure depth to the door or the cabinet frame? To the inside of the closed door. Vertical Spice units have a front cut-out designed to fit over the face frame, so the door is what limits the depth, not the frame. Watch for raised door panels that extend back into the cabinet.

Does the shelf need to be fixed in place? Yes. Because the drawers extend out past the cabinet, a loose or adjustable shelf could tip forward when a drawer is open. Mount the unit to the cabinet base or a permanently fixed shelf using the included screws or a 3M Dual Lock tape kit.

Recap: Measure, Check, Buy

Here is the whole process in order.

1. Measure width between the hinges (or hinge to frame for a single door or center stile).
2. Measure depth from the back of the cabinet to the inside of the closed door.
3. Measure height from the shelf to the shelf above.
4. Check the back of the cabinet for wood blocks or wiring.
5. Check the door for raised panels that extend inward.
6. Confirm the shelf is fixed so it cannot tip when a drawer is out.
7. Use the spice rack finder to match your measurements to a unit, or check the product chart.

Three measurements, a few quick checks, and you're done. No guesswork, no returns, no "it almost fits" frustration.