One of the most frustrating parts of building cabinets is figuring out how many plywood or MDF sheets you’ll need. Guess too low, and you’re left short in the middle of a job. Guess too high, and you’re stuck with expensive panels sitting unused. That’s why Berta built the Cabinet Box Calculator—a tool made specifically for kitchen and closet cabinet carcasses.

How the Cabinet Estimator Works

The Cabinet Box Calculator goes beyond a simple area measurement. Instead of just wall size, you enter the number of base cabinets and wall cabinets, along with their average widths and shelves. The calculator then breaks the job into its real-world parts:

• Cabinet sides, tops, bottoms, and shelves (3/4" sheets)
• Optional cabinet backs (1/4" sheets)
• Waste and kerf allowances (5–12% default)
  

The tool is preset to a standard 4×8 sheet (32 sq ft) but also supports 49×98 Baltic Birch, 5×5, 5×10, or even custom sheet sizes.

Save Time, Cut Waste, and Order With Confidence

If you’re building a full kitchen, closet system, or garage cabinetry, this tool gives you:

• A realistic sheet count based on cabinet construction, not just wall area.
• Separate recommendations for 3/4" structural sheets and 1/4" backs.
• Built-in waste factor so you don’t come up short.
• A direct link to order the right panels at Berta.
  

Contractors use it for accurate job costing, and homeowners use it to avoid surprises during a project.

This ensures you get a reliable sheet count for cabinet carcasses without doing complicated math by hand.

Order the Right Panels from Berta

• Prefinished Plywood 4×8 – durable, smooth panels for cabinetry and shelving.
• Baltic Birch Film Faced Plywood – heavy-duty, phenolic-coated, moisture-resistant.
• Baltic Birch White Plywood 4×8 – bright, clean overlay, great for modern cabinetry.
• Baltic Birch Unfinished B/BB – one clean face, ideal for visible cabinet parts.
• Baltic Birch BB/BB – consistent both sides, excellent for structure.
• Premium Acrylic MDF 4×8 – high-gloss MDF, perfect for doors and panels.
  

When to Use Plywood vs MDF

• Plywood: strong, screw-holding, reliable for cabinet boxes, shelving, and structural parts.
• MDF: smooth surface for painting or laminating, excellent for doors, drawer fronts, and decorative panels.

Most cabinetmakers use a mix—plywood for boxes, MDF for doors and trims.

Before You Order

Always round up your sheet count. If the calculator says 11 sheets, buy 12. That extra sheet is cheap insurance against cutting mistakes or damage during transport.

For details about delivery zones, shipping minimums, and pickup options, check our FAQ page. To explore our full selection of plywood, MDF, and cabinet hardware, visit the BertaStore main page.

Difference Between Calculators

Berta offers two free tools to make your projects easier:

General Plywood & MDF Calculator

– Designed for paneling, wall cladding, closets, and general woodworking projects.
– Calculates coverage by area (length × height – openings).
– Best when you need to estimate material for large surfaces.

Cabinet Box Calculator

– Designed specifically for kitchen and closet cabinet carcasses.
– Calculates by cabinet count, width, shelves, and backs.
– Separates 3/4" structural sheets and 1/4" back sheets.

Best when you need accurate counts for cabinet building.

Both tools save time and reduce waste—but the Cabinet Box Calculator is the go-to when your project is cabinetry.