Choosing Between Framed And Frameless Cabinets

By Author: Mark Philmont
Total Articles: 333
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With so many different cabinet styles, manufacturers, and even quality levels of cabinets, it is easy to get confused when trying to find the right one. With so many options to choose from such as color and style and height and width, drawer bases and regular bases, concealed hinges and semi exposed hinges, and full overlay doors or partial overlay doors, we quickly forget two very important factors. Do you want a frameless cabinet, meaning that the front of the cabinet is open and the doors attach directly to the side of the cabinets? Or do you want a framed cabinet, meaning that the door is attached to a wood frame that also receives the sides of the cabinet?

Your decision will most likely be determined by the following two things: First, do you want full doors and no drawers for some of your base cabinets, and second, what kind of quality are you aiming for?

Generally a cabinet that lacks a frame is a typical big box store cabinet such as Ikea's, who by the way, are notorious for cheap frameless cabinets. While a frameless cabinet may offer a more modern look by taking away the drawer(s) they are ...
... typically cheaper in quality than a framed cabinet, but surprisingly just as expensive as a framed cabinet. Also, if you go with frameless cabinets but you still would like to add a drawer to some of the base cabinets or would like to make a three or four drawer base cabinet you will typically have to buy many expensive accessories to make this happen.

By having the frame on the cabinet, it adds additional support to the cabinet box by allowing for additonal surfaces to secure the sides/top/bottom to. You can find a framed cabinet that offers a full door and no drawer but they are not nearly as popular as a framed cabinet that just has a typical drawer on top and a door under that. A framed cabinet also offers a nice system that allows for simple drawer glides for the drawers that attach easily to the side of the frame and to the back of the cabinet. A framed cabinet also allows your door to be attached to a sturdier surface versus to the side of the cabinet but also still allows you to have a full overlay door if that is what you want. Most framed cabinets will also have a groove cut into the frame to receive the sides of the cabinet. This allows for a more durable and sturdy cabinet.
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