Not every kitchen has room for a full-depth run of units, and that's where reduced depth kitchen units come in. You may also see them called shallow, slimline or narrow kitchen units. At Better Kitchens, the standard carcase depth is 570mm, but most base units and many tall larder units can also be ordered at 470mm or 300mm depth. This isn't a separate product range with its own catalogue; the depth is simply selected on the product page for the unit you want. That makes it easy to mix depths within one kitchen, but it also means you need to think carefully about where a shallower unit actually helps and where it causes more problems than it solves.
Double Highline Base Unit, 470mm deep
4 Drawer Base Unit, 300mm deep
Tall Single Larder Unit, 470mm deep
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What are reduced depth, shallow or slimline kitchen units?
When people talk about reduced depth, shallow or slimline kitchen cabinets, they mean cabinets that are shallower front to back than the standard carcase. A standard base unit at 570mm gives you the usual worktop overhang and storage space most kitchens are designed around. A 470mm unit is around 100mm shallower, and a 300mm unit is close to half depth, more like a slimline run than a working kitchen base.
The width and height of these units stay the same as the standard range. It's only the depth that changes, which is why it's handled as an option on the product page rather than a separate product line. This matters because it means you can order a single shallow unit to sit alongside standard depth units in the same kitchen, rather than having to commit to a whole run of reduced depth cabinets.
Who actually needs reduced depth units?
The most common reason someone asks about reduced depth units is a narrow room or an awkward wall where a standard 570mm base unit simply won't fit without blocking a walkway or a door swing. If you've measured a space and found you're short by 100mm or more, going to a 470mm depth can be the difference between fitting a run of units at all or not.
Reduced depth units also come up a lot in utility rooms, boot rooms, and narrow galley kitchens where floor space is tight. Some people use them for a breakfast bar or a run of storage along a hallway wall where a full depth unit would stick out too far. In each of these cases the decision is driven by the room, not by preference, so it's worth measuring properly before assuming you need to go shallow at all.
Which rooms benefit most from shallower cabinets?
Utility rooms are probably the single biggest use case. These spaces are often an afterthought in terms of floor area, and a 470mm or 300mm depth run can free up enough space to fit a washing machine and tumble dryer side by side, or simply give you more room to move around.
Narrow kitchens in older properties, particularly terraced houses with galley-style layouts, are another good fit. If the room is only just over a metre wide, every 100mm you can claw back from the depth of the units makes a real difference to how usable the space feels day to day.
Conservatories and garden rooms converted into secondary kitchens or drinks stations also tend to work well with reduced depth units, since these spaces are rarely built with a full kitchen footprint in mind.
470mm or 300mm - which depth should you choose?
This comes down to what the unit needs to do. A 470mm depth still gives you a reasonably useful cabinet. You lose some storage compared with a standard 570mm unit, but it will still take plates, pans, and most everyday kitchen items without much compromise. This is the depth most people choose when they need to save space but still want the units to function as normal storage.
A 300mm depth is a different proposition. At this point you're really looking at a slimline storage solution rather than a full working cabinet. It suits things like:
- Tray and baking sheet storage
- Narrow pantry-style cupboards
- Shallow display or open shelving runs
- Tight spaces where even a 470mm unit won't fit
If you're unsure which to pick, measure the available space first, then work out what you actually need to store in that run. There's little point choosing 300mm depth if 470mm would have fitted and given you more usable storage.
Can every unit be made shallower?
No, and this is one of the more common misunderstandings. Reduced depth is offered on most base units and many tall larder units. It isn't offered on every unit: wall units come at a fixed 330mm depth, and some base and larder units are only available at 570mm, so check the depth options on the product page.
Sink base units are a clear example, and they are only sold at 570mm. A standard sink needs a certain depth of cabinet to sit in properly, and a shallower unit would cause problems with the bowl, the tap, or the plumbing underneath. Similarly, units designed to house full-size integrated appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens, or fridge freezers, are built to match the depth of those appliances. Reducing the depth of the cabinet doesn't reduce the depth of the appliance, so you end up with either a poor fit or an appliance that sticks out awkwardly from the front of the unit.
Corner units are another area where reduced depth needs careful thought, since these are already designed around specific proportions to make the corner usable. Changing the depth on one side of a corner configuration can throw off the whole arrangement, so it's worth checking this carefully rather than assuming it will work the same way as a straight run of units.
What happens to your worktop depth?
This is where a lot of people get caught out. Choosing a reduced depth cabinet doesn't automatically mean you need a reduced depth worktop, but it does mean you need to think about the overhang. A standard worktop is cut to suit a 570mm carcase with a sensible front overhang. If you put a 470mm unit under a standard depth worktop, you'll get a bigger overhang at the front, which can look unbalanced and may not be structurally ideal if there's any weight or pressure on the front edge.
For a 300mm unit, the difference is large enough that a standard worktop depth will usually look wrong and waste material unnecessarily. In most cases, if you're running a whole section of your kitchen at reduced depth, it makes sense to specify a worktop depth to match, rather than keeping the standard worktop and accepting an oversized overhang.
Where reduced depth units are mixed with standard units in the same run, which is common in utility rooms or hallway storage, you may need to plan a step in the worktop or run two different worktop depths. This is a detail that's easy to miss when ordering, so it's worth working out the worktop plan before committing to the cabinet depths.
Fitting a sink into a reduced depth run
As mentioned above, sink units are generally not suitable for reduced depth, and this is worth repeating because it's one of the most common mistakes when planning a shallow run of units. A kitchen sink, particularly anything with a decent bowl size, needs the space that a standard 570mm cabinet provides to accommodate the bowl, the waste, and the plumbing connections without everything being cramped against the back panel.
If your kitchen layout requires reduced depth units because of space constraints, the usual approach is to keep the sink on a standard depth unit and run the reduced depth cabinets either side of it, or on a separate wall. This does mean your worktop will need to accommodate the change in depth at that point, but it's a far more workable solution than trying to force a sink into a shallow cabinet.
Do reduced depth units affect appliance choice?
Yes, and this needs checking before you order rather than after. Integrated appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and ovens are manufactured to standard depths that match standard depth cabinetry. A 470mm or 300mm unit won't accommodate these appliances properly, and trying to fit one will usually mean the appliance either doesn't sit flush or the cabinet door won't close over it correctly.
If you're fitting out a utility room with reduced depth units specifically to save space, it's common to end up with a mix of depths: standard depth units for the washing machine and dryer, and reduced depth units for general storage either side. This is a perfectly normal approach and often the only practical one, but it does mean the room needs planning as a mixed-depth layout rather than assuming everything can be the same depth throughout.
What about 400mm, 450mm or 500mm deep kitchen units?
This search comes up a lot, and it's worth addressing directly because there's often some confusion behind it. There isn't a standard 400mm, 450mm or 500mm depth option as such; the choices are 570mm standard, 470mm reduced, or 300mm reduced. People searching for 500mm deep units are usually trying to solve the same problem as everyone else looking at reduced depth cabinets: they've got a space that's too narrow for a full depth run and they're looking for something that splits the difference.
In practice, 470mm is the closest available option and works for the vast majority of situations where someone initially thinks they need "around 500mm". The difference between 470mm and a notional 500mm is small enough that it rarely changes whether a cabinet will fit or function, so there's no need to hold out for a depth that isn't offered. If the room is genuinely tighter than that, the 300mm option is there for storage-focused runs rather than full working cabinets.
How to order reduced depth units without confusion
Because depth is selected on the product page rather than being a separate range, it's straightforward to order the exact mix you need, but it does mean the ordering process relies on you choosing correctly for each unit. A mistake here is easy to make if you're ordering a large kitchen with several different unit types.
A sensible approach before placing an order:
- Measure the room and mark where standard depth units will fit and where they won't.
- Decide which units in the shallow area need to be full storage cabinets (470mm) versus slimline storage (300mm).
- Check which units in that run house a sink or an integrated appliance, and keep those at standard depth.
- Plan your worktop depth and any step or join where depths change.
- Go through the order unit by unit, confirming the depth selected on each product page matches your plan.
Taking the time to do this properly avoids the common problem of ordering a full run of reduced depth units only to find the sink or dishwasher doesn't fit, or the worktop overhang looks wrong once everything is installed.
Summary
- Standard carcase depth is 570mm; reduced depths of 470mm and 300mm are available as an option on the product page, not a separate range.
- Reduced depth units suit narrow kitchens, utility rooms, boot rooms, and other tight spaces.
- 470mm keeps most of the practical storage of a standard unit; 300mm is better suited to slimline storage rather than everyday cabinet use.
- Sink units and units for integrated appliances generally need to stay at standard depth.
- Corner units need extra care when reducing depth, as it can affect the whole corner configuration.
- Worktop depth often needs to match or step down where reduced depth units are used, to avoid an oversized overhang.
- There's no standard 500mm depth option; 470mm is the closest and suitable alternative for most spaces people describe as "500mm deep".
- Plan the whole run before ordering, checking depth unit by unit rather than assuming one depth applies throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the shallowest kitchen base units?
Our shallowest depth is 300mm, which is close to half depth. It is available on most base units, and is best for slimline storage rather than everyday cabinet use.
Are narrow kitchen units the same as reduced depth units?
Often, yes. People usually mean units that are narrow from front to back, which are our 470mm and 300mm depths. If you need a unit that is narrow from side to side, check the width options on the product page.
What is the standard depth of a kitchen base unit?
The standard base unit depth is 570mm. This is the depth most kitchens are designed around and gives the usual worktop overhang at the front.
Can I mix reduced depth and standard depth units in the same kitchen?
Yes, this is common practice, particularly in utility rooms where a sink or appliance needs standard depth but the surrounding storage can be shallower. You'll need to plan the worktop to handle any change in depth between the two.
Will a reduced depth unit fit a standard sink?
Generally no. A standard sink bowl and its plumbing need the space a 570mm cabinet provides. It's usually better to keep the sink on a standard depth unit and reduce the depth of the units around it instead.
Is there a 400mm, 450mm or 500mm deep kitchen unit option?
Not as a standard option. Depths available are 570mm standard, 470mm reduced, or 300mm reduced. For most people asking about 450mm or 500mm, the 470mm option is the closest match and works just as well in practice. If 470mm is too deep, the next option is 300mm.
Do reduced depth units cost less than standard depth units?
Depth is selected as an option on the product page for each unit, so pricing depends on the specific product and the depth chosen rather than there being a fixed separate price list for reduced depth cabinets.
Can integrated appliances go into reduced depth units?
No. Integrated dishwashers, ovens, and similar appliances are built to standard depths and need a standard depth cabinet to sit correctly and allow the door to close properly.
What's the difference between 470mm and 300mm depth units?
A 470mm unit still functions as a reasonably practical storage cabinet, holding plates, pans, and everyday items. A 300mm unit is much shallower and better suited to slimline storage, such as trays or narrow pantry items, rather than general kitchen storage.
Do I need a different worktop for reduced depth units?
Often yes. A standard worktop over a reduced depth unit will have a larger front overhang, which can look unbalanced, particularly with a 300mm unit. Matching the worktop depth to the cabinet depth, or planning a step where depths change, usually gives a better result.
Are corner units available in reduced depth?
Depth can often be selected on corner unit product pages too, but it needs careful checking, since corner units are designed around specific proportions to make the corner usable. Reducing depth on one side can affect how well the whole corner configuration works.
What rooms typically use reduced depth kitchen units?
Utility rooms, boot rooms, narrow galley kitchens, and converted spaces such as garden rooms are the most common uses, where a full 570mm depth run either won't fit or would make the room too tight to move around in comfortably.
If you're planning a kitchen or utility room where space is tight, Better Kitchens supplies units in standard 570mm depth as well as 470mm and 300mm reduced depth options, selected directly on the product page for each unit. Get in touch with our team if you'd like help working out which depths suit your layout before you order.
Related guides: Can you get shallow kitchen units? | Walk-in corner larder units | Boiler housing wall units | Belfast sink base units
