What depth should a wardrobe be?

Standard wardrobe depth is 600mm (including doors). The internal depth should be at least 550mm to allow hangers to sit without catching the doors. For sliding door wardrobes, allow 620-650mm total depth. Walk-in wardrobes need at least 600mm depth per side plus a minimum 750mm walkway.

How do I split hanging and shelf space?

A typical wardrobe splits 60% hanging and 40% shelving/drawers. Double hanging (short items top and bottom) maximises hanging capacity. Full-length hanging needs 1,600mm clear height for dresses/coats. Half-length hanging for shirts/jackets needs 900-1,000mm. Shelves work well for folded items, shoes and accessories.

How many sheets of board do I need for a wardrobe?

A standard 2.4m × 1.2m × 0.6m wardrobe typically needs 3-4 sheets of 18mm board (2440×1220mm). This covers 2 sides, top, bottom, back panel, shelves and partition. Melamine-faced chipboard is most common for carcasses, with MDF for painted finishes and plywood for premium quality.

What hinges should I use for wardrobe doors?

Use 35mm concealed cup hinges (such as Blum Clip Top) for wardrobe doors. Doors up to 1.2m tall need 2 hinges; taller doors need 3. Soft-close hinges prevent slamming. For overlay doors (covering the carcass edge), use full overlay hinges. For inset doors, use inset hinges. 170° hinges allow doors to fold fully back.

What drawer runner length do I need?

Drawer runners should match or be slightly shorter than the wardrobe internal depth. For a 600mm deep wardrobe with 18mm back panel, use 500mm runners. Full-extension runners allow the drawer to pull out completely. Soft-close runners prevent slamming and are strongly recommended. Typical load capacity is 30-50kg per pair.

TradeCalculator

Wardrobe Calculator

Calculate carcass boards, rail length, shelf area, drawer runners, hinge count and the hanging vs shelf split for fitted wardrobes.

Width

Height

Floor to ceiling or unit height

Depth

Standard: 600mm

Number of Doors

Number of Drawers

Number of Shelves

Hanging Space %

% of width for hanging rail

Board Type

Price Per Sheet (optional)

Price Per Hinge (optional)

How We Calculate This

This calculator works out the carcass boards, hanging rail, shelves, hinges and drawer runners for a fitted wardrobe based on dimensions and the hanging/shelf split.

The formula

Carcass area = 2 sides + Top + Bottom + Back
Sheets = Total area ÷ Sheet size (2.44 × 1.22m)
Rail length = Width × Hanging %
Hinges = Doors × 2 (or 3 for tall doors)

Standard dimensions

Depth: 600mm (550mm internal minimum)
Full-length hanging: 1,600mm clear height
Half-length hanging: 900-1,000mm clear height
Shelf spacing: 300-400mm between shelves

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.