METOD-Inspired Plywood Kitchen — Full Cut List
This guide takes a 10-cabinet L-shaped kitchen layout and provides the complete cut list for an 18 mm birch-plywood build inspired by IKEA METOD. It is not an exact replica: these base panels are 560 mm deep, while IKEA's current 80 × 60 × 80 cm frame is listed as 590 mm deep without the suspension rail in its official product specification. That difference affects internal fittings and appliances. If you want a tall pantry, see the Blum Space Tower cut list.
Why Rebuild an IKEA Kitchen?
- Material choice: IKEA uses melamine-faced particleboard; plywood offers a different appearance, edge treatment, and finishing method
- Custom sizing: you can adjust dimensions to fit your space exactly — IKEA only offers fixed widths
- Repair and finishing: a custom build lets you choose its joints and finish; service life still depends on materials, sealing, installation, and moisture
- Cost: compare complete current quotes because boards, hardware, finishing, tools, delivery, and your time all affect the result
- IKEA fronts and fittings only fit if you reproduce their current component dimensions and drilling accurately; verify every reference and use the manufacturer's template
The IKEA METOD Layout
We're recreating a small L-shaped kitchen with 10 cabinets. This is based on a typical IKEA kitchen planner layout:
Base run (long wall, ~2400 mm)
- 800 mm base cabinet (drawers)
- 600 mm base cabinet (sink)
- 600 mm base cabinet (general storage)
- 400 mm base cabinet (narrow storage)
Corner
- 880 mm corner base cabinet (L-shaped corner unit — two panels form the L)
Short return (~1200 mm)
- 600 mm base cabinet (general storage)
- 600 mm base cabinet (appliance housing, e.g., dishwasher — just the side panels and top rail, no bottom)
Wall cabinets (above the long wall)
- 800 mm wall cabinet (80 cm high)
- 600 mm wall cabinet (80 cm high)
- 600 mm wall cabinet (60 cm high, above the sink)
IKEA vs Plywood — Key Dimensions
| Dimension | IKEA METOD | Plywood Rebuild |
|---|---|---|
| Base carcass height | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| Base carcass depth (without rail) | 590 mm | 560 mm in this guide |
| Wall carcass depth | 370 mm | 370 mm |
| Wall carcass height (tall) | 800 mm | 800 mm |
| Wall carcass height (short) | 600 mm | 600 mm |
| Panel thickness | 18 mm particleboard | 18 mm birch plywood |
| Back panel | System component | 6 mm plywood |
| System drilling | Component-specific pattern | Copy only from current templates |
Nominal widths alone do not guarantee compatibility. Download the current instructions for every front, hinge, drawer, rail, and appliance, then test one module before cutting the full kitchen.
Base Cabinet Cut List
| Cabinet | Part | Qty | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 mm Base | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Bottom panel | 1 | 764 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Top rail | 1 | 764 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Shelf | 1 | 764 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 mm Base | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 800 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Side panel | 6 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Bottom panel | 3 | 564 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Top rail | 3 | 564 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Shelf | 2 | 564 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Base (×3) | Back panel | 3 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Bottom panel | 1 | 364 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Top rail | 1 | 364 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Shelf | 1 | 364 | 540 | 18 mm ply |
| 400 mm Base | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 400 | 6 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Side panel (left) | 1 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Side panel (right) | 1 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Bottom panel(Guide layout: 564 × 564 mm rear notch) | 1 | 844 | 844 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Top rail (front left) | 1 | 844 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Top rail (front right)(Short return after the corner notch) | 1 | 280 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Back panel (left) | 1 | 800 | 880 | 6 mm ply |
| 880 mm Corner Base | Back panel (right) | 1 | 800 | 580 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 560 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Top rail | 1 | 564 | 80 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 mm Appliance Housing | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
Frameless construction — sides are full height. Internal width = external width minus 36 mm (two 18 mm sides). The 600 mm base cabinets include 3 units: the sink cabinet has no shelf, the two general storage cabinets have one shelf each.
For the 880 mm corner base layout used in this guide, start with an 844 × 844 mm blank and cut a 564 × 564 mm rear notch to create the L-shape. That leaves the 844 mm main front run and the 280 mm short return shown in the table.
Wall Cabinet Cut List
| Cabinet | Part | Qty | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 764 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 764 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Shelf | 2 | 764 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 800 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 800 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Shelf | 2 | 564 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 800 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Side panel | 2 | 600 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Top panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Bottom panel | 1 | 564 | 370 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Shelf | 1 | 564 | 350 | 18 mm ply |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | Back panel | 1 | 600 | 600 | 6 mm ply |
The 370 mm carcass depth is deliberate here because METOD wall units are built on the deeper 37 cm wall-cabinet system. If you want a looser drop-in fit for adjustable shelves after paint or edge banding, trim those shelves 1–2 mm in length (span) before installing.
Door Cut List
| Cabinet | Qty | Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 mm Base | 2 | 796 | 396 | Pair of doors |
| 600 mm Base (×2 general) | 2 | 796 | 596 | Single doors |
| 600 mm Sink Base | 2 | 796 | 296 | Pair of doors |
| 400 mm Base | 1 | 796 | 396 | Single door |
| 880 mm Corner Base | 1 | 796 | 446 | Angled corner door |
| 800 × 800 mm Wall | 2 | 796 | 396 | Pair of doors |
| 600 × 800 mm Wall | 1 | 796 | 596 | Single door |
| 600 × 600 mm Wall | 1 | 596 | 596 | Single door |
These are nominal front sizes with about a 2 mm outer gap. Before buying IKEA fronts or cutting MDF, verify overlays, paired-door gaps, cup positions, mounting plates, and the current drilling pattern against the exact hardware.
Cost Planning Comparison
| Item | Commercial system | Plywood build |
|---|---|---|
| 10 carcasses | Current price of the selected METOD frames | Actual sheet count, grade, delivery, and machining |
| Back panels | According to the purchased configuration | Three 6 mm sheets as a planning estimate |
| Doors | Selected range and finish | Verified compatible fronts or about two MDF sheets |
| Hinges and drawers | Exact components in the kitchen plan | Chosen hardware, templates, and any adapters |
| Worktop | Material, length, and cut-outs | The same separate budget item |
| Labour | Assembly and installation | Cutting, edging, finishing, drilling, and installation |
Prices vary by date, country, supplier, and finish. Compare two complete quotes on the same day, including delivery, waste, consumables, finishing, tools, and labour.
Sheet Count Estimate
- 18 mm birch plywood (2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 7–8 sheets
- 6 mm plywood (2440 × 1220 mm): approximately 3 sheets
- 18 mm MDF for doors (if not using IKEA doors): approximately 2 sheets
Tips for Using IKEA Accessories
- Do not copy a 32 mm grid from memory: use the current instructions for each shelf, hinge, drawer, and organiser
- Concealed hinges commonly use a 35 mm cup, but the edge distance and mounting plate depend on the exact product
- MAXIMERA and Blum box systems require their own components and dimensions; TANDEMBOX is not a direct substitute without redesigning the cabinet and drilling
- Confirm how the suspension rail connects to your custom carcass and size the rail, cabinet members, and wall fixings for the expected load
- Verify legs, plinth, ventilation, and appliance clearances from the exact product sheets
Optimise this cut list
Paste these dimensions into CutList to get an optimised cutting diagram and exact sheet count for your build — see our guides on plywood sheet sizes and reducing plywood waste for background.
Open CutList — it's freeIKEA, METOD, MAXIMERA, UTRUSTA, and KNOXHULT are registered trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Blum and TANDEMBOX are registered trademarks of Julius Blum GmbH. CutList is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by these companies. This guide is provided for informational purposes to help woodworkers plan their projects.