Cabinet Legs

Heights and what they suit

On a cabinet the leg height is mostly a matter of looks and proportion rather than function, so choose the height that sits right under the piece. A shorter leg keeps it low and grounded; a taller one gives a lighter, more raised, mid-century stance. The one practical difference is underneath: a slightly taller leg, around 20cm or more, leaves a bit more room to clean under the cabinet. Finished height is the cabinet plus the leg, so measure from the underside before choosing.

Choosing hairpin or oak

Steel hairpins come in five heights (10cm, 20cm, 25cm, 30cm and 35cm) and look light and open, which suits painted, dark or heavier-looking cases. Tapered oak comes in 20cm and 35cm and sits naturally with wood-fronted sideboards and softer Scandinavian looks. Both fix the same way, so the choice is about the furniture rather than the fitting. On an appropriate base, the steel hairpins hold cabinets and sideboards securely.

How they fix

Every leg has a top plate that screws to the underside of the cabinet. Sets of 4 come with the screws and a build guide. The base needs to be solid wood or ply so the screws have material to hold in; if the underside is thin hardboard, fit a piece of ply inside or beneath it first and screw into that. Space the legs towards the corners, mark through the plate holes, drill pilot holes and drive the screws home.

What you'll need

The cabinet, a drill for pilot holes and a screwdriver or driver bit. Screws are in the box, so there is nothing else to buy. If you are raising a bed or a coffee table rather than cased furniture, the same short legs appear in our bed legs and coffee table legs collections, and the full furniture legs range covers every height we make.