Understanding the difference in cabinet construction

Installing cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom comes with a number of important decisions, from woods and materials to colors and finishes. There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to customization, but one that may not come to mind immediately is the construction of your cabinet. Specifically, whether your cabinet is framed or frameless.

What exactly does it mean for a cabinet to be framed or frameless, and what distinguishes one from the other? Exploring the unique differences between the two will help you determine which one is best suited to the needs of your kitchen or bathroom.

What are framed cabinets?

Framed cabinets are the more traditional option. They have been a staple of American cabinetry for years, and they continue to be popular even among today’s modern homeowners. As their name suggests, framed cabinets include a face frame that covers the front of the cabinet box. The 1-½ inch face frame is comprised of rails and stiles and resembles a flat picture frame.

The additional structure with a front face frame in a framed cabinet makes the actual case of the cabinet more rigid and sturdy. The doors to the cabinet are secured to the frame, adding dimension to the door front. The face frame also helps keep the cabinet square.

Framed cabinets are appealing to designers and installers because of their flexibility. Designers can mount the doors inside of the frame for an inset or standard overlay or expose part of the frame by mounting the doors to the front of the frame for a partial overlay. Framed cabinets with full overlay doors can even create an appearance that is very similar to frameless cabinetry.