IKEA front measurement step-by-step - FAKTUM and METOD without errors

The most common reason for complaints at ogony.pl is an incorrectly provided dimension. The customer measures the visible gap between the fronts instead of the front itself, takes the dimension from the outside of the cabinet instead of the opening, or rounds 73.8 cm to 74 cm. The front comes out too small or too large by 4 mm and doesn't fit the hinge.

In this article, you will find a precise procedure for measuring IKEA fronts – separate for FAKTUM and separate for METOD – plus a list of 5 typical mistakes that cost customers the most time and money. All verified on 200+ kitchens that have passed through ogony.pl since 2018.

What you need for measurement

Four things. If you have everything at home, measuring an 18-front kitchen takes 30-45 minutes.

• Steel tape measure (preferably 3-5 meters). A folding plastic tape measure bends and can cause errors of 2-4 mm. Steel is rigid and precise.
• Notebook or phone. Write down dimensions immediately, don't try to memorize them. A kitchen has 12-25 fronts - without notes, it's easy to get confused.
• Flashlight or phone light. You'll be looking under the fronts at the hinges - dark areas are better seen with light.
• Phone camera. Take photos of the kitchen layout and each front - this will be useful for later verification of dimensions or clarifying any ambiguities with the manufacturer.

Measuring the front - METHOD (from 2014)

Step-by-step procedure for an existing front in a METOD kitchen. If you are ordering fronts for new IKEA cabinets, the measurement concerns the cabinet, not the front.

1. Open the cabinet door, remove it from its hinges (usually just lift it gently upwards and pull - the UTRUSTA clip releases). This is crucial - you are measuring the physical front, not the gap.
2. Place the front on a flat surface (table, countertop, floor with a rug). The front should not bend.
3. Measure the width from edge to edge with a steel tape measure, in three places: top, middle, bottom. If the dimension differs by more than 1 mm between measurements - note the largest one.
4. Measure the height from edge to edge, in three places: left side, middle, right side. Write down the values in your notebook.
5. Check the hinge drilling - there should be 2 drillings on the left (or right) side, ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, 96 mm from the edge (center of drilling).
6. Photograph the front from the hinge side - the photo will help the manufacturer verify the correctness of the drillings.

Standard METOD dimensions: 40, 60, 80 cm width × 80, 100, 140 cm height. If your front does not fall within these numbers (e.g., 47×72 cm), it is custom-sized - you can order custom IKEA fronts.

Measuring the front - FAKTUM (until 2014)

The procedure is similar to METOD, but there are two differences in details.

1. Open the cabinet door, remove it from its hinges. The FAKTUM hinge (metal plate) is unscrewed with two screws - a Phillips screwdriver. The front will fall after unscrewing - be prepared.
2. Measure the front as in METOD (width and height at 3 points each).
3. Check the drillings - 2 drillings for the hinge, the same standard ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, 96 mm spacing. The standard is universal.
4. Photograph the front and the hinge itself - a photo of the FAKTUM hinge will help the manufacturer prepare the correct mounting.

Standard FAKTUM dimensions: 40, 60, 80 cm width × 70, 92, 125 cm height. If the kitchen has non-standard dimensions (e.g., a 60×88 cm front), it means the cabinet was custom-made from the start - typical in old apartments.

A full catalog of FAKTUM models (ADEL, ABSTRAKT, RUBRIK, STÅT) plus ways to find replacements is described in the article IKEA FAKTUM front replacements.

Measuring other elements - plinths, panels, dishwasher fronts

The front is not everything. A comprehensive replacement order also includes:

• Plinth - length measured with a flat tape measure along the entire plinth line. Usually 160 cm for FAKTUM, 220 cm for METOD. Standard height 8 cm. The plinth often runs the entire length of the cabinetry - measure the whole thing and then cut it if necessary.
• Side panels - width = cabinet depth (60 cm), height = cabinet height. Island panels are taller (88-92 cm) and often require gluing two standard fronts together.
• Dishwasher front - measure the opening in the cabinet into which the front fits, not the existing dishwasher front (if you have one). Dishwashers are standardly 45 or 60 cm wide and 57 or 70 cm high in FAKTUM, or any dimension in METOD.
• Corner fronts - measure each corner door separately. Standard FAKTUM is 30×70 cm in a set of 2 pieces, METOD is 60×80 cm single-piece or 2× 25×80 cm.

Five common measurement errors

From our practice - these are the errors that cost customers the most time and money.

1. Measuring the gap instead of the front. The customer measures the visible gap between two fronts and records a 4 mm gap in the dimension. Result: front is 4 mm too narrow. Solution: remove the front and measure the physical element from edge to edge.

2. Measuring from the outside of the cabinet. The customer measures the cabinet from the side (from cabinet edge to cabinet edge) and records this dimension as the front width. Result: front is 4-6 mm wider than the opening. Solution: measure the front, not the cabinet. If you are measuring the cabinet (e.g., ordering new fronts for new cabinets), account for a 3-4 mm gap between fronts in your calculations.

3. Rounding the dimension. The customer measures 73.8 cm and records 74. Result: front is 2 mm too large, does not fit into the opening. Solution: write the dimension accurate to the millimeter. CNC produces with a tolerance of ±1 mm - 738 mm is better than 740 mm.

4. Measuring only in one place. The customer measures the front width in the middle, gets 600 mm, and orders. Result: the front fits 600 mm perfectly, but the IKEA cabinet turned out to be crooked and measures 596 mm at the top. Solution: measure at 3 points (top-middle-bottom, left-middle-right). Note the largest dimension.

5. Lack of hinge drilling verification. The customer orders a front without drillings, tries to drill the hinge holes themselves - and makes them in the wrong places (3 mm off standard). Result: the hinge sits crookedly, the door is misaligned. Solution: order the front with drillings, specify the distance from the edge (standard 96 mm).

Full guide to IKEA systems and standard dimensions in the hub: IKEA kitchen fronts - FAKTUM and METOD. Order a front sample to check the material and color before a large order.

FAQ - frequently asked questions

Can I order fronts without removing the existing ones? Yes, but you need to be careful with the measurement. Removing the front ensures dimension accuracy. Without removal, you measure the front in existing hinges - then take into account the hinge thickness (usually 3-4 mm on one side) and measure the physical outline of the front.

What dimensional tolerance do custom fronts have? ±1 mm from the given dimension. This is the CNC standard. If you order a 600 mm front, you will receive 599-601 mm.

Do IKEA cabinets have dimensional deviations? Yes, especially after 10+ years of use. That's why you measure at 3 points. If the differences are greater than 4 mm - the cabinet may be incorrectly assembled or damaged, check if the cabinet is standing vertically.

How to measure the plinth if the cabinetry runs along two walls? Plinths for each wall separately - usually 220 cm for each side for METOD. Order two elements. At the corner, plinths are cut at 45° or 90° - you choose the joint during assembly.

What to do if I have doubts about the measurement? Send photos of the kitchen and measurements to kontakt@ogony.pl - we will check for consistency. Often, a photo verification is enough to catch a typical error.

Can I commission the measurement to you? In Tricity, yes (additional fee to be determined). Outside Tricity, we recommend self-measurement - the article above shows that it is not complicated, and you avoid the additional cost for a specialist's visit.

Does a dishwasher front need drillings? Not standardly - mounting depends on the dishwasher model, each manufacturer has different holes. We supply the dishwasher front smooth; drillings are done by the installation team or by you independently according to the dishwasher instructions.