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Wardrobe Calculator
Calculate carcass boards, rail length, shelf area, drawer runners, hinge count and the hanging vs shelf split for fitted wardrobes.
Floor to ceiling or unit height
Standard: 600mm
Hinge count assumes full-height doors
% of width for hanging rail
Leave 0 for auto-calculation
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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 + Shelves + Partition
Sheets = Total area ÷ Sheet size (2.44 × 1.22m) × waste factor
Rail length = Width × Hanging %
Hinges per door by door height: ≤900mm = 2, 901-1600 = 3, 1601-2000 = 4, 2001-2400 = 5
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
- Hinge count follows concealed-hinge height bands (Salice / Blum trade guidance); a full-height 2.4m door needs 5 hinges
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
A standard 2m wide × 2.4m tall × 0.6m deep wardrobe with a few internal shelves needs about 5 sheets of 18mm board (2440×1220mm). The calculator's sheet count covers 2 sides, top, bottom, back panel, every shelf you specify and one vertical partition dividing the hanging zone from the shelf zone, plus a cutting-waste allowance (5% melamine, 8% MDF, 10% plywood). Melamine-faced chipboard is most common for carcasses, with MDF for painted finishes and plywood for premium quality.
Use 35mm concealed cup hinges (such as Blum Clip Top) for wardrobe doors. Hinge count goes up with door height: up to 900mm tall need 2 hinges, 901-1600mm need 3, 1601-2000mm need 4, and 2001-2400mm (full-height fitted doors) need 5. A tall door on only 2 or 3 hinges will sag and pull the cup mountings out. Blum's weight-based counts apply up to 600mm wide, and Blum adds one extra hinge for doors in the 600-650mm width band. 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.
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.
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Last updated: March 2026
Verified against UK standards · estimates only, confirm with your supplier.