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A designer measures a kitchen wall with a tape measure

Before you design

How to measure your space.

Six steps, about thirty minutes with a tape measure. When you're done, a designer turns your numbers into a layout and a price — free.

printPrintable worksheet
~30 min
Time to complete
1 day
Designer turnaround
$0
Cost of design review

Step 01

Measure wall lengths

Start at one corner of the room and work clockwise. Measure from corner to corner along each wall the cabinets will run against.

  • check_circleMeasure at three heights: 6" from floor, mid-wall, and 6" below the ceiling — walls are rarely plumb.
  • check_circleUse the smallest of the three measurements for your plan. Cabinets fit the tightest dimension.
  • check_circleRecord lengths in inches. A 10-foot wall becomes 120".
Wall A · 142"Wall B · 98"Measure corner to corner,three heights each wall

Step 02

Mark windows, doors, and openings

Note the position and size of every opening along the wall. Cabinets can't cross a window trim; doors need clearance for a full swing.

  • check_circleFor each window: distance from the nearest corner, width of the opening, and height from the floor to the sill and to the top of the trim.
  • check_circleFor each door: width of the door, side of the hinge, and arc of the swing.
  • check_circleDon't forget pass-throughs and archways — they count as openings too.
Window · 36" × 48"sill 36" AFFDoorswing clearcorner → 70"

Step 03

Record ceiling height

Measure from the finished floor to the finished ceiling in multiple spots. Ceilings drift — yours probably does.

  • check_circleMeasure at the four corners of the kitchen and the center. The shortest measurement is your planning ceiling.
  • check_circleNote any soffits, beams, or bulkheads and their dimensions.
  • check_circleIf the ceiling is vaulted or sloped, we'll need a photo and the pitch.
96"floor → ceilingceilingfinished floorsoffit 8"

Step 04

Locate outlets, switches, and vents

Every outlet and vent needs to land somewhere. We can cut cabinets around them — but only if we know they're there.

  • check_circleNote height from floor and distance from the nearest corner for every outlet, switch, and vent.
  • check_circleFlag GFCI locations — code requires outlets above counter-depth runs.
  • check_circlePhotograph each one with a tape measure in the frame if possible.
Outlet44" AFFRange vent72" AFF · 6" round

Step 05

Sketch it, photograph it

A napkin sketch with your numbers plus a few photos from the opposite corner of the room is all our design team needs to start.

  • check_circleDraw the kitchen looking down from above, not from the front. Include every wall, every opening, every fixed element.
  • check_circleTake photos from each corner looking toward the opposite corner. We need to see floor, walls, and ceiling in each shot.
  • check_circleInclude a photo of the electrical panel location if it's in-room or adjacent.
⌂base runislandwindowplan view · looking down

Step 06

Send it over

Submit your sketch and measurements through our free design request. A designer reviews it within one business day and sends a layout + quote.

  • check_circleUpload your sketch as a photo — handwritten is fine, we prefer it.
  • check_circleInclude at least one wide-angle photo of the room.
  • check_circleEstimated price appears automatically; final price confirmed after designer review.
your sketchCoAdesignerwithin 1 day

Common questions

Before you pick up the tape

What if I don't trust my measurements?
That's normal. Submit what you have along with wide-angle photos of the room — our designer will spot-check your numbers against the photos and ask a follow-up question if anything looks off. If you'd like, we also offer a free 30-minute home measurement in the Los Angeles area; book it through the contact page.
Do I need to measure exactly, or are you okay with rough?
Rough is fine for the first submission. We'll confirm exact numbers with you before cutting anything. The only hard requirement is that you be honest about your tolerances — tell us 'this wall is 142" plus or minus half an inch' rather than guess the half-inch.
What tools do I need?
A 25-foot tape measure, a pencil, a phone camera, and a step stool if your ceiling is over eight feet. A laser distance meter is a nice-to-have but not required — we'll read tape-measure numbers just as happily as laser numbers.
I'm measuring a closet/bathroom, not a kitchen. Same process?
Same process, smaller space. Wall lengths, ceiling height, door swing, and outlet positions are the essentials. For bathrooms, also note the positions of the plumbing stub-outs (drain, hot/cold supply) in the vanity wall.
Can I skip all this and visit the showroom?
Yes. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday at our El Monte location. Bring a rough sketch and photos — a designer will walk the configurator with you and capture the rest of the detail in real time.

Done measuring?

Submit your measurements and we'll reply with a layout and a price within one business day. No charge, no obligation.