How it works · Measuring guide

How to measure for a kitchen or fitted wardrobes.

Good measurements are the start of every made-to-measure job. Take your time, measure in millimetres, and send us everything on this page with your enquiry. If you’re not confident, ask your joiner to measure for you.

Before you start

What you need.

A steel tape measure, at least 5m long
A spirit level, and a long straight edge if you have one
Paper and pencil, or squared paper, to sketch the room from above
Your phone, to take photos of every wall
About an hour for a kitchen, and a second person to hold the tape

Write every measurement in millimetres (2,450mm, not 2.45m or 8 feet). Measure everything twice. If two readings differ, use the smaller one.

Step 1

Sketch the room and measure each wall.

Measure each wall at three heights (A, B and C) and the height at both ends (D and E). Measure windows and sockets from the corner.

Draw the room from above and number the walls, going round clockwise from the door.
Measure each wall at three heights: just above the floor, at worktop height (about 900mm) and near the ceiling. Walls are rarely straight, so we work from the smallest.
Measure the ceiling height at both ends of each wall, and in the middle of the room.
Check the corners. Measure the diagonals of the room, or use our square checker. Corners that are out of square change how corner units and worktops fit.
Check the floor. Lay a level along each wall and note how far it falls. Our cabinet legs adjust, but a big slope needs planning.

Step 2

Mark everything on the walls.

Measure the position of each of these from the nearest corner, and its height from the floor:

Doors and windows: width, height, sill height, and the width of the frames and architraves
Radiators, boilers and meters, and anything boxed in
Water, waste and gas pipes, including where they come through the wall or floor
Sockets, switches, fused spurs and the cooker switch
Extractor ducting and air vents
Beams, chimney breasts, bulkheads and sloping ceilings
Skirting and coving: how deep they stand off the wall, and their height

Take a photo of each wall, straight on, with the tape measure laid on the floor.

Wardrobes and alcoves

Measuring for fitted wardrobes.

Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the space, and the height at both sides and in the middle.
Measure the depth available, allowing for skirting, sockets and the door swing or the path in front.
For sloping ceilings, measure where the slope starts, the height at the low end and the depth under the slope.
For sliding doors, measure the opening at the top, middle and bottom, side to side and floor to ceiling.

Use our door and drawer size calculator to work out door sizes for an opening.

Send it to us

What to send with your enquiry.

Send your sketch, the measurements, photos of each wall, and any plan or design you are working from. Tell us the decor and door style if you have chosen them, and the postcode the order is going to.

We draw the job up and send drawings with your quote. Please check every size on the drawings before you approve them: measurements you supply or approve are your responsibility, and everything is made to the sizes on the approved drawings.

Buying from DTJ

Next steps.

Buying from DTJ

How it works

Measure, quote, deposit, make, deliver, and your joiner fits. Six steps from your sizes to a finished room.

See how it works →

Fitting

Find a fitter

We can put you in touch with local joiners who fit our cabinets.

Ask for a fitter →

See it first

Samples

Board decor and door samples, £10 each and taken off your kitchen or bedroom order. Collect them from the workshop, or we post them in 3 to 5 working days.

Order samples →

Get a quote

Ready to send your sizes?

Email your measurements, photos and plans to info@dtjinteriors.co.uk, call 0115 784 8231 or WhatsApp 07956 032306.