A full kitchen cabinet set includes base and upper cabinets, hung on the walls and usually holding everyday items like dishes and glasses. Cabinet dimensions are typically specified with width first, height second and depth last. For example, a cabinet with the label W1836X12 indicates that it is 18 inches (460 mm) wide, 36 inches (910 mm) tall and 12 inches (30.5 m) deep.
Framed and frameless cabinets are available. Framed cabinets include a face frame to which the doors and drawers attach. The face frame can be recessed to create a more traditional look, or it can be flush with the cabinet box for a modern or European-style look. Some cabinet manufacturers skip the face frame, and install doors directly onto the cabinet boxes. This makes interior access easier, but may compromise rigidity. Better frameless cabinet manufacturers use a thicker face frame, and they may also add plywood to the back and bottom of the cabinet box.
Stock or pre-fabricated cabinets are a budget choice, but they can be made with poor quality materials and construction. Past cabinet tests at Consumer Reports have shown that premium features such as dovetail joinery can be found on some low-end lines, so it is important to shop around. These cabinets often come fully assembled, or they are sold in flat-pack versions that will need to be put together onsite. Many are made of veneered particleboard, or foil-covered medium-density fiberboard (MDF).