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Graduated drawer front layout

Divide an opening into equal or progressively taller drawer fronts while retaining explicit perimeter and intermediate gaps.

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Example inputs · U.S. customary units

Three graduated fronts in a 30 in opening. A ratio of two and the shown gaps illustrate one layout. Enter the design you intend to build.

Example: 30 in.

Example: 3 fronts.

Example: 0.125 in. One gap at the top, one at the bottom and one between each adjacent pair.

Example: 2 ratio. 1 gives equal fronts. A ratio above 1 increases heights from the first front onward.

Results

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Enter your values, then choose Calculate. Your results will appear here.

How to use graduated drawer front layout

What this calculation does

A drawer-front layout divides the height left after equal boundary gaps into a chosen geometric progression of front faces.

Measure the opening height, choose the number of fronts, enter the gap at every boundary, and set the next-to-previous height ratio.

Enter the measurements

  1. Opening height: Measure the full vertical opening.
  2. Number of drawer fronts: Choose the number of visible fronts.
  3. Gap at every boundary: Use the same gap at top, bottom and between fronts.
  4. Next-front height divided by previous height: Set the next front height divided by the previous height.

Formula and variables

Available front height = opening height − (front count + 1) × gap. Weight each successive front by ratio^i, starting at i = 0; each height = available height × its weight ÷ sum of weights.

Available height subtracts (front count+1) gaps. Each face receives its ratio weight divided by the sum of all weights.

Read the result

With three fronts and ratio 2, the opening divides into approximately 4.214, 8.429 and 16.857 in from top to bottom.

Worked example

Inputs: 30 in opening, three fronts, 0.125 in at all four boundaries, successive ratio 2

  1. Available height = 30−(3+1)×0.125 = 29.5 in; weights are 1, 2 and 4.
  2. Heights are 29.5×(1,2,4)÷7 = about 4.214, 8.429 and 16.857 in.

Expected result: front heights about 4.2143, 8.4286 and 16.8571 in

Frequently asked questions

Does ratio 1 make equal fronts?

Yes. Equal weights divide the available height evenly after gaps are removed.

Does this size the drawer boxes and slides?

No. The result describes front faces only; box and runner clearances are separate.

Conditions, presets and technical notes

The perimeter and every intermediate gap have the same user-entered size. The ratio is a design choice, not a standard aesthetic or structural rule. This sizes front faces only; drawer-box clearances, runners, bottoms, internal height and front attachment remain separate.