The depth of standard garage cabinets can vary based on your needs, but the typical range is 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm).
Several factors influence the ideal cabinet depth for your garage, and this guide will break them down for you.
We’ll also share tips to help you assess your storage needs so you can avoid choosing cabinets that are either too large or too small.
Standard Garage Cabinet Dimensions
Garage cabinets come in various sizes to accommodate different storage needs and garage layouts. However, they typically have the following dimensions:
- Height: Most garage cabinets range from 30 to 72 inches tall. The height often depends on whether the cabinet is designed for floor placement or wall mounting.
- Width: Common widths are 24, 30, or 36 inches. Wider cabinets provide more storage space but will require more wall or floor area.
- Depth: Most standard garage cabinets range from 12 to 24 inches deep, with the most common depth sitting around 16 to 18 inches.
Standard Garage Cabinet Depth
Much like the dimensions, garage cabinets come in different depths to suit various storage needs and space constraints. Most standard garage cabinets range from 12 to 24 inches deep, with the most common depth sitting around 16 to 18 inches.
For context, this depth range matters because it determines what you can store inside. A 12-inch deep cabinet works well for smaller items like hand tools, paint cans, and automotive supplies. If these are the kind of items you often have, you don’t need deeper cabinets.
On the other hand, deeper cabinets around 18 to 24 inches are ideal for larger equipment like power tools and bulkier storage containers.
If you’re a DIY enthusiast or make a living out of your garage, we recommend sticking closer to the 24-inch range.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Garage Cabinet Depth
Here’s what to consider before you choose your next garage cabinet:
1. Storage Purpose
The primary purpose of your storage is arguably the most influencing reason for the size and depth of your cabinet.
Consider what you plan to store. Gardening tools, automotive supplies, and workshop equipment each require different storage strategies.
If you’re a mechanic, consider deeper cabinets because trust us, your tools will need them. On the other hand, if you just need some extra storage space for seasonal decorations or cleaning supplies, you can easily manage with 12-inch deep cabinets.
If you’re unsure, go ahead and measure the biggest tool you have to see what kind of depth you will need. Keep in mind that even if you have a couple of large tools, you may still be better off with smaller cabinets.
Larger cabinets will cost you more for the size and the sturdier materials they will need to accommodate the larger tools you will put in them. So the cost can ramp up pretty quickly.
In other words, getting a large cabinet for a handful of large tools isn’t the most cost-effective approach.
2. Available Garage Space
Your needs may push you toward larger cabinets, but you may still be limited to the size of your garage.
Measure and organize your garage space carefully before selecting the cabinet depth. Smaller garages require smarter space management.
Even if your garage can accommodate the space for the cabinet, you don’t want to block the vehicle parking or compromise the mobility inside the garage.
This is especially notable for wall-hanged cabinets that you may sometimes miss and bump your head into, which can be dangerous for children.
A rule of thumb is that narrower garages work best with 12 to 16-inch deep cabinets. They provide enough storage without blocking your movement or causing you or your family members to accidentally bump into them.
3. Budget
Cabinet depth directly impacts its pricing. We’ve talked about this earlier, but increased depth doesn’t only mean more materials, but sometimes stronger ones whose cost can take a good leap.
More depth also means more manufacturing complexity. You’ll need longer and stronger drawer slides which can raise the cost even more.
4. Accessibility
You may have garage space requirements, large tools that need depth, and enough budget to cover your purchase. However, you should still consider accessibility factors in the whole thing.
Accessibility, in our context, is how easy it is to reach a certain tool without having to look around for it too much, or without having to go to the end of the cabinet to get it.
Allow us to explain.
If you have some large tools that need a deep cabinet, then a deep cabinet is justified.
On the other hand, if your primary purpose for deep cabinets is just storage space, or if you don’t have large tools but too many small tools, you may end up with an accessibility issue.
Stacking too many tools will make it cumbersome to find the tools you need when you need them, especially if more than one family member stores their tools in there. When that happens, even if you do organize your tools, your family members may not.
5. Future Flexibility
You may not need a deep cabinet now. However, if you think about potential changes in your storage requirements, you may change your perspective.
Hobbyists who might expand their tool collection or homeowners anticipating lifestyle shifts should invest in slightly deeper cabinets for future-proofing.
Keep in mind that future-proofing doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go for the deepest possible cabinets, either.
An 18-inch deep cabinet offers more long-term flexibility compared to a 12-inch option but doesn’t cost as much as the 24-inch one. This approach saves money by reducing the need for future replacements or additional purchases without costing you too much.
In other words, unless you’re sure that you’ll need a lot of storage in the future, don’t spend too much money for the sake of future-proofing.
Tips for Selecting the Right Depth for Your Garage
Here are a few tips to help you select the most suitable cabinet:
Go for Mixed Depths
Your cabinets don’t need to be of uniform depth. If you only have a handful of large tools and are planning to get four cabinets, why not restrict the increased depth to only one of them?
After all, your priority in that case would be the storage space, so it makes no sense to pay too much for space that you may not need.
Plus, a decent garage arrangement can work out the asymmetric aesthetics of the four cabinets (symmetry is understandably an important aspect for many people).
Sort Your Items and Tools
The size and amount of your items aren’t the only factors to consider. You’d be surprised how organized your decision-making will be when you already have a clear idea of the item categories you have.
After all, while depth is important, the number of cabinets shouldn’t be ignored. The best set of cabinets is the one that accommodates your needs with a slight space to spare.
Hang Cumbersome Tools
Some tools and devices not only take up too much space but also make it harder for other tools to be stacked around them because of their complex designs.
Circular saws, drills with larger battery packs, rakes, hedge trimmers, bikes, and ladders all fall under this category.
If you can hang some of those on a wall-mounted rack, your sorting and space-calculating game will be a lot easier, so keep that in mind.
FAQs
How Deep Should Garage Cabinets Be?
A good rule of thumb is to choose a depth that accommodates your largest items, but avoid going excessively deep if you primarily store smaller things. A common range is 12-24 inches, with 16-18 inches being a versatile middle ground for many users.
Can I Use Kitchen Cabinets in My Garage?
While technically possible, kitchen cabinets aren’t ideal for garage use. They’re often not built to withstand the temperature fluctuations, humidity, and potential for bumps and scrapes common in garages. Garage-specific cabinets are generally more durable.
What’s the Best Way to Maximize Storage in Deep Garage Cabinets if I Have Lots of Small Items?
Using drawer dividers, bins, and stackable containers within the deeper cabinets can be helpful. This prevents items from getting lost in the back and makes it easier to access what you need without having to rummage through everything.
Closing Thoughts
The standard cabinet depth for garage storage ranges from 12 to 24 inches. How deep your own garage cabinet will be largely depends on your storage needs, available space, and current budget.
Sorting your items and considering wall racks for cumbersome items can help you assess your storage requirements properly.
You should also keep your family’s needs and potential for future expansion in mind before you make your purchase. It would be a waste to discard perfectly working garage cabinets just because you’re getting new ones due to insufficient storage space.
