Drawer depth is the vertical internal measurement of a kitchen drawer — from the drawer floor to the lowest fixed obstruction above (usually the underside of the cabinet's worktop or the next drawer up). UK kitchens typically run 5 to 12 cm internal depth, with deeper drawers in newer kitchens with full-extension runners.
What depth decides
- Whether stacked tiers are possible. Over 8 cm internal depth fits a second tier of modules above the first using support-bridge modules. Doubles the drawer's capacity in the same width and length.
- Whether tall items clear. Cling-film boxes, cookie cutters, mortar-and-pestle sets — anything over 5 cm tall needs a corresponding depth.
- Whether hands fit comfortably. Drawers shallower than 4 cm internal depth become awkward to reach into, regardless of organiser.
The 8 cm rule
8 cm is the threshold for stacked-tier modules. Below 8 cm, a single layer with full-width modules is the right answer — depth alone doesn't help if you can't stack. Over 8 cm, the support-bridge module lets you put a second tier of fork-spoon bays or utility cells above the first, doubling capacity without taking any extra width or length.
How to measure
Open the drawer; measure from the inside floor straight up to whatever sits closest above. Round down to the nearest centimetre. Some drawers have an internal lip at the back — measure to the lowest obstruction, not to the cabinet roof, because that's the actual usable depth.
Where it fits in the system
The drawer builder takes depth as an input and shows the stacked-tier options when depth allows. See drawer length and drawer width for the other two axes.