In short: Pull-out basket sizing is the most common source of rework on a sourcing program — not because the math is hard, but because it is easy to confuse cabinet outer width with cabinet inner width and easy to forget about runner clearance. The basket must fit the cabinet inner width with proper clearance for the runner type. The lookup table below covers the cabinet widths we ship most. Spec by the inner width and the runner type, not by the outer cabinet dimension or by a guess.
Three measurements you actually need
- Cabinet inner width — wall to wall, measured 100 mm in from the front and 100 mm in from the back. Use the smaller of the two if they differ.
- Cabinet inner depth — from the back interior face to the inside of the door.
- Cabinet inner height — from the shelf or floor to the underside of the top rail.
Most sourcing errors we see come from buyers quoting cabinet outer dimensions and expecting the factory to figure out the inner. For a standard 16 mm wall thickness frameless cabinet, subtract 32 mm to estimate inner width. For face-frame cabinets, subtract more — typically 54 to 60 mm — to account for the face frame.
Cabinet width to basket size — what we ship most
| Cabinet outer | Cabinet inner (typical) | Basket nominal (side-mount) | Basket nominal (under-mount) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 mm | 268 mm | 250 mm | 240 mm |
| 400 mm | 368 mm | 350 mm | 340 mm |
| 450 mm | 418 mm | 400 mm | 390 mm |
| 500 mm | 468 mm | 450 mm | 440 mm |
| 600 mm | 568 mm | 550 mm | 540 mm |
| 800 mm | 768 mm | 750 mm | 740 mm |
| 900 mm | 868 mm | 850 mm | 840 mm |
Assumes frameless cabinet with 16 mm wall thickness. For face-frame cabinets, subtract additional frame thickness.
Side-mount vs under-mount clearance
| Variable | Side-mount | Under-mount |
|---|---|---|
| Width clearance per side | ≈12.7 mm | ≈3 mm |
| Total width subtraction | ≈25 mm | ≈6 mm |
| Under-deck clearance | None | 22–28 mm |
| Visual impact | Runner visible on side wall | Runner hidden under basket |
Typical load ratings by size
What our standard pull-out baskets handle as distributed load on a typical under-mount runner pair:
- 300–400 mm width: 15–20 kg.
- 500–600 mm width: 25–30 kg.
- 800–900 mm width: 30–40 kg.
These are honest working loads, not headline numbers. The runner is usually the load-limiting component; we choose runners matched to the basket rating.
How to write the RFQ without ambiguity
- Cabinet outer width and inner width — both, in mm.
- Cabinet frame style — frameless or face-frame.
- Runner type — side-mount or under-mount.
- Basket nominal width target.
- Expected loaded weight in kg.
FAQ
Q: My cabinet is 600 mm outer. What basket do I order?
A: For a side-mount runner: 550 mm nominal. For an under-mount: 540 mm. Confirm the runner spec before placing the PO.
Q: How much should the basket overhang the front?
A: Zero for traditional pull-outs — the door is fixed to the basket. For pantry pull-outs, leave 3 to 5 mm clearance so the soft-close seats without contact.
Q: What if my cabinet is not standard?
A: Send us the measured inner width and we will tell you which nominal basket from our existing range fits. For non-standard widths above MOQ, we can also discuss a customized SKU.
Q: Do you provide sizing drawings for installers?
A: Yes — every SKU has an installation drawing showing cabinet hole positions and clearances.
Q: What is the most common installation mistake?
A: Mounting the runners out of square. A cabinet that is 2 mm out of square can bind a basket that fits the spec on paper.
