How to Measure Your Kitchen Like a Pro (No Stress, No Guesswork!)

Whether you're planning a full remodel, ordering new cabinets, or just updating a few things, getting accurate kitchen measurements is critical. A good set of measurements helps contractors, designers, and suppliers give you realistic plans and pricing — and it prevents costly mistakes later on.

Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to measuring your kitchen like a pro:

What You’ll Need:

• Tape measure (preferably 25 feet or longer) - digital is even better!

• Pencil and paper

• A straight edge or ruler

• Optional: Graph paper (makes sketching easier)

Step 1: Draw a Rough Sketch of Your Kitchen

Start by drawing the general layout of your kitchen on paper. Don’t worry about being perfect — this is just a rough sketch showing where the walls, windows, doors, appliances, and fixtures are located.

Include:

• Walls

• Doors

• Windows

• Sink

• Stove

• Refrigerator

• Any other fixed items like radiators or soffits

Pro Tip: Label each wall (Wall A, Wall B, etc.) to stay organized.

Step 2: Measure Wall Lengths and Heights

Measure each wall from corner to corner. Write down the measurements on your sketch next to the corresponding walls. To measure the wall lengths, measure along the base of the walls, not at the ceiling — the floor measurement is more accurate for cabinetry.

Measure from the floor to the ceiling in multiple places — sometimes ceilings aren’t perfectly level and this is one of the trickiest things to get right if you're not a professional. Record the lowest measurement to ensure your new cabinets fit correctly.

If you have soffits (those lowered areas above cabinets), measure their height and depth too.

Step 3: Measure Openings

Next, measure the width and height of any windows and doors.

For each window/door:

• Measure the width (from outside edge to outside edge of trim).

• Measure floor to base of any window trim

• Measure the height of doors and windows (floor to top of the trim for doors; floor to top of the window frame).

• Measure the distance from the corner of the wall to the edge of the window/door trim.

This tells you exactly how much wall space is available for cabinets or other installations.

Step 4: Locate Plumbing, Gas, and Electrical

Mark on your sketch where important connections are:

• Sink plumbing, dishwasher plumbing, and water line for the refrigerator

• Gas line (for stove)

• Electric for appliances

• Electrical outlets and switches

• Light fixtures

You don’t need exact measurements here, but showing locations will help when designing your new kitchen.

Step 5: Double-Check Appliance Measurements

If you’re keeping any appliances (fridge, range, dishwasher, etc.), measure their width, height, and depth. If you’re getting new ones, get the dimensions from the manufacturer’s specs. It is critical that you know what appliances you will have before placing any cabinet orders so that the oven cabinets will fit the oven or microwave, the refrigerator will open properly, the proper venting is in place for refrigeration, any considerations for ducting can be made for range hoods, etc.

Step 6: Double-Check Everything

It’s easy to make mistakes when measuring. Before you hand off your measurements to a designer or contractor, double-check them:

• Add up all wall segments and make sure the totals match the overall wall length.

• Confirm that doorways and window openings match what you wrote down.

• Reconfirm ceiling height.

Quick Measurement Tips:

• Always measure twice!

• Round to the nearest 1/8" of an inch.

• Label everything clearly on your sketch.

• Take photos of each wall and feature for reference (super helpful!). If you're super tech-savvy, use a new AI scanner to automate the process! (But still measure by hand to be sure!)

Taking the time to measure your kitchen carefully will save you time, money, and frustration during your remodel. If you’re ever unsure, many professional remodeling companies — like services offered by Kitchen Me Now — offer free or low-cost services to guarantee accuracy before starting your project. Need help getting started? Download our FREE kitchen remodel HERE!