How Much Weight Can a Kitchen Cabinet Hold?
Your kitchen cabinets create some additional storage space for different items and foods. During cabinet installation, you should consider the desirable weight capacity to make your cabinets as sturdy as possible. Your cabinet’s weight depends on various variables that affect cabinet strength. E&B Granite covers different factors that affect the amount of weight a cabinet can hold in this article.
Material Choices for Your Cabinet
The material you choose for your kitchen cabinet can determine the thickness and strength of your shelf. Some of the common cabinet materials include:
- Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF): This is an inexpensive and durable product you can use for your shelves. Depending on the installation, MDF shelves can hold small to medium-weight items since they are a medium-strength material.
- Wood: Creating shelves using wood can increase the ability to hold more weight. Wood is a strong material that can support more weight than most other products. It can be expensive to purchase and install real wood cabinets.
- Particleboard: Experts use particleboard as the industry standard for shelving. Most heavy-duty particleboard shelves can hold heavier weights, but you should support them to make them more effective.
- Plywood: As a manufactured product of wood, plywood is lighter and less sturdy when compared with solid wood. Plywood comes in layers that affect the thickness and strength of your shelves. You can use plywood for shelves, but only place light items on it.
At E&B Granite, we provide options to help you find a suitable choice for your home. Our experts will walk you through the benefits and downsides of each to help you select what to use for your shelves.
Cabinet Construction Design
The cabinet installation determines the amount of weight they can comfortably hold. Base cabinets can hold more weight since they are firmly connected to the wall and floor. Overhead cabinets do not maintain the same support, so they hold lesser weight.
E&B Granite constructs and installs kitchen cabinets practically to improve strength. Our experts add more fasteners to the overhead cabinets and increase support at the wall to enhance capacity.
Cabinet Hanging Screws
Your kitchen cabinet’s integrity is as good as its installation and the fasteners. Screws are the most common fasteners for overhead cabinets. The number of screws you use and their placement can determine the weight capacity your cabinet can hold.
E&B Granite recommends having four screws on your cabinet penetrating in separate studs. You can have two screws if it is not possible to get all four, but make sure the studs are placed at the maximum horizontal distance along the cabinet’s length. Screws increase strength when installed in huge numbers. You can double the screw numbers for more strength.
Studs and Joints
Studs and joints determine the weight rating of your cabinet since they will not hold more weight if not anchored correctly. You have to choose joints with the best rating in the market to improve how much weight your cabinet can hold. Studs made of strong material like steel will help your cabinet surpass the recommended shelf weight capacity.
E&B Granite experts help you select studs, joints, and supports strong enough for better weight capacity.
Work With Cabinet Installation Experts
Variables like the number of fasteners, cabinet material, and construction design determine your cabinet’s weight capacity. You should find the best cabinet installation experts for the premier results.
E&B Granite is your trusted cabinet and countertop installation expert serving St. Louis and the bi-state area. Our experts provide custom cabinet options and install them well, allowing you to hold more weight. Contact us today for a consultation.