The Furniture Carcass: Definition, Structure & Standard Dimensions in Cabinet Making

October 12, 2025

The furniture carcass forms the structural framework of any cabinet. Traditionally, it consists of two side panels, a base panel, a top panel, and a stabilising back panel. Without moving elements such as doors, drawers, or shelves, the carcass represents the pure casing upon which all fittings and runners are mounted.

What exactly is a furniture carcass?

In furniture construction, the carcass is the load-bearing element. It takes the weight of shelves, drawers, and wardrobe rails, transferring it into the floor via the plinth or cabinet legs. In professional cabinet making, individual panels are usually joined using wooden dowels combined with specialist carcass connectors, such as cam and dowel fittings. The back panel is typically slotted into a groove or rebated and screwed to ensure the necessary bracing against shear forces. Much like the chassis of a car, the carcass defines the external dimensions and internal geometry for all subsequent fittings and components.

Standard dimensions and norms in cabinet construction

Cabinet construction almost always follows the System 32 grid. This international standard defines a continuous line of drilling holes spaced at 32 mm intervals, with a hole diameter of 5 mm (for shelf supports) or 3 mm (for screws). The standard distance from the front row of holes to the front edge is 37 mm.

Regarding carcass depth, fixed standards have become established, which are crucial for planning internal pull-outs:

Wardrobes: Typically 600 mm deep to allow clothes hangers to hang transversely. Compact variants measure 500 mm in depth.
Kitchen base units: The standard depth is 560 mm (excluding the front).
Living room cabinets: Usually between 400 mm and 500 mm in depth.
Shoe cabinets: Slim carcasses often measure only 300 mm deep and strictly require wall fixing due to their altered centre of gravity.

The material thickness for carcass side panels made of chipboard or MDF is generally 16 mm or 19 mm.

Hardware and the carcass: The interface

The carcass is the foundation for all moving wardrobe accessories. Cabinet doors are mounted using concealed hinges, whose cruciform mounting plates are screwed directly into the 32 mm hole line of the carcass side. The choice of hinge depends on the door overlay configuration on the carcass:

Full overlay: The door completely covers the carcass side panel edge.
Half overlay (twin): Two doors share a single central carcass divider (partially overlaying the edge).
Inset: The door sits flush inside the carcass opening between the side panels.

Additionally, specific installation requirements determine the opening angle. Standard doors frequently use 110-degree concealed hinges. For internal drawers or specialist corner setups, hinges with a wide opening angle, such as 155-degree concealed hinges, are used so that the front does not collide with the door when the drawer is pulled out. A smooth closing action is provided by soft-close mechanisms, which are usually integrated directly into soft-close concealed hinges.

Internal fittings and organisation

Depending on the cabinet's intended function, the carcass is equipped with further systems. Kitchens frequently utilise base unit storage solutions, which are mounted to the carcass side panels via side-mounted ball bearing runners or concealed undermount drawer runners. For corner cabinets in L-shaped or U-shaped kitchens, a corner cabinet carousel fitting is essential to make the dead space inside the carcass mechanically accessible.

If the contents of the carcass must be secured, a locking mechanism must be incorporated. For tall cabinets, an espagnolette locking system with rods is recommended; this locks the carcass at multiple points (typically top and bottom) simultaneously, preventing the door front from being prised open.