Enter every measurement in metres: 500 mm = 0.500 m, 12 mm = 0.012 m, and 1 inch = 0.0254 m. Outputs are also in metres. Multiply an output by 1,000 to read millimetres.
Measure the usable opening width between the slide mounting planes, the opening height, and the usable depth from the cabinet front reference plane to the rear obstruction. Use the smallest usable measurements if the opening varies. Account for face-frame blocking before measuring the mounting-plane width.
Enter left and right slide clearances separately, using the selected hardware’s required side space. Slide thickness alone may not equal the required clearance; consult its installation instructions. Accuride explains how side space depends on the selected slide.
Top and bottom allowances are the gaps outside the complete drawer box. Front inset setback is the distance from the cabinet front reference plane to the outer face of the structural box front. For a separate inset decorative front, include its thickness and any additional box setback here. Use zero if the structural box front begins at the reference plane. Rear clearance is measured behind the structural box back. Do not subtract an allowance twice.
Defaults are worked-example values, not a recommendation for any particular slide.
This calculator describes one construction: full-depth sides, front and back fitted between the sides with square butt joints, and a full-footprint bottom applied beneath all four walls. The front and back outer faces are flush with the ends of the sides. All four walls have the same actual thickness. Their lower edges sit on top of the bottom panel, which adds its thickness to the complete box height.
Cut two sides, one structural front, one back and one bottom. A separate decorative drawer front is not included in the cut list. There are no grooves, rebates, dovetails or joint overlaps. Dimensions are finished panel sizes; saw kerf, trimming allowance and sheet layout are not included. Joint fastening, bottom support and load capacity require a separate construction decision.
Let W, H and D be the opening width, height and depth; L and R the slide clearances; T and B the top and bottom allowances; F the front inset setback; C the rear clearance; t the wall thickness; and b the applied-bottom thickness. All quantities use metres.
- Outer width: w = W − L − R.
- Complete outer height: h = H − T − B.
- Available outer depth: d = D − F − C.
- Wall height: p = h − b.
- Front and back width: q = w − t − t.
These formulas are geometric derivations of the construction documented above. Width partitions into left clearance, box width and right clearance; height and depth partition in the same way. Two side thicknesses occupy part of the box width, leaving q for the front and back. The applied bottom occupies b of the complete height, leaving p for every wall.
The external source supports measuring slide side space and selecting clearances from hardware documentation; the panel formulas are derived here rather than attributed to that source.
| Panel | Quantity | Dimensions | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sides | 2 | d × p | t |
| Structural front and back | 2 total | q × p | t |
| Applied bottom | 1 | w × d | b |
Supported opening ranges are 0.150–1.500 m wide, 0.080–0.800 m high and 0.150–1.200 m deep. Each slide clearance accepts 0–0.030 m; each vertical allowance accepts 0–0.020 m; front setback accepts 0–0.040 m; rear clearance accepts 0–0.050 m. Wall thickness accepts 0.006–0.025 m and bottom thickness 0.003–0.012 m. Input increments are 0.0001 m (0.1 mm).
These are calculator scope limits, not hardware specifications. Together they keep the calculated panel dimensions positive. Zero allowances are accepted mathematically but must be checked against the actual installation. Do not substitute an endpoint for a measurement outside the supported range.
The depth result is the space available after your deductions. It does not select a commercially available slide length or establish the drawer depth required by a specific slide. Confirm the required box depth and mounting position against the selected hardware; adjust the rear clearance if a shorter box is required. This geometry does not implement undermount-slide notches, bottom recesses or locking-device requirements.
Check opening squareness, slide alignment, fastener clearance and the actual stock thickness before cutting. Display precision is not a manufacturing tolerance. An unavailable result is not a zero dimension and must not be used as a cut size.
| Measurement or result | Example 1: defaults | Example 2: larger inset box |
|---|---|---|
| Opening W × H × D | 0.500 × 0.200 × 0.550 | 0.600 × 0.250 × 0.600 |
| Left / right slide clearance | 0.013 / 0.013 | 0.015 / 0.015 |
| Top / bottom allowance | 0.010 / 0.010 | 0.012 / 0.008 |
| Front setback / rear clearance | 0.020 / 0.030 | 0.025 / 0.025 |
| Wall / bottom thickness | 0.012 / 0.006 | 0.015 / 0.009 |
| Outer box w × h × d | 0.474 × 0.180 × 0.500 | 0.570 × 0.230 × 0.550 |
| Each side: length × height × thickness; cut 2 | 0.500 × 0.174 × 0.012 | 0.550 × 0.221 × 0.015 |
| Front and back: width × height × thickness; cut 2 total | 0.450 × 0.174 × 0.012 | 0.540 × 0.221 × 0.015 |
| Bottom: width × depth × thickness; cut 1 | 0.474 × 0.500 × 0.006 | 0.570 × 0.550 × 0.009 |
The outer width is 0.500 − 0.013 − 0.013 = 0.474 m. The front and back fit between two 0.012 m sides, so their width is 0.474 − 0.012 − 0.012 = 0.450 m. The complete height is 0.200 − 0.010 − 0.010 = 0.180 m; subtracting the 0.006 m bottom gives 0.174 m wall height. The depth is 0.550 − 0.020 − 0.030 = 0.500 m. In millimetres, the box is 474 × 180 × 500 mm.
Source for slide-clearance guidance
Draft production flag: create and register a 400 × 400 pixel WebP thumbnail before activation. Show the cheerful yellow five-point star mascot floating beside a drawer box and dimension arrows, with hands and no separate legs or feet, on white with navy, blue and teal educational graphics. Inspect neighboring tool thumbnails for style before creating the artwork. Once registered, insert its actual asset ID in the first image block. No asset ID is supplied because a suitable registered asset was not provided.