Most shaving cabinets, which Australians also call medicine cabinets or mirror cabinets, are made in the same widths as vanities: 450, 600, 750, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800mm. They are usually 700 - 800mm tall and 130 - 190mm deep. Match the cabinet to the vanity width, or go up to 50mm narrower, and hang it with the bottom 150 - 250mm above the vanity top.
A good shaving cabinet does two jobs, mirror and cupboard, and it has to do both without getting in the way of the tap, the wall lights or your head when you lean over the basin. The sizes below cover how wide, tall and deep to go, how high to hang it, and when it can be recessed into the wall.
Medicine Cabinet Sizes at a Glance
| Vanity Width | Cabinet Width | Doors | Typical Height | Typical Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 450 - 600mm | 450 - 600mm | 1 | 700 - 900mm | 130 - 190mm |
| 750mm | 700 - 750mm | 1 or 2 | 700 - 800mm | 130 - 190mm |
| 900mm | 850 - 900mm | 2 | 700 - 800mm | 130 - 190mm |
| 1200mm | 1150 - 1200mm | 2 or 3 | 700 - 800mm | 130 - 190mm |
| 1500mm | 1450 - 1500mm | 3 | 700 - 800mm | 130 - 190mm |
| 1800mm | 1750 - 1800mm | 3 or 4 | 700 - 800mm | 130 - 190mm |
Widths Are Matched to the Vanity
Australian makers build shaving cabinets to suit standard vanities, from narrow 300mm and 450mm cabinets for a powder room up to 1800mm for a double vanity. A cabinet the same width as the vanity looks like part of the joinery, and at least one Australian range is made 10mm narrower than its vanity so the cabinet sits neatly inside the vanity's line.
Go narrower when you want wall lights either side. Our Wall Light Height Guide places vanity lights 100 - 150mm out from the edge of the mirror, so a 900mm vanity with lights either side suits a 600 - 750mm cabinet. Otherwise avoid going wider than the vanity, because a cabinet overhanging the bench catches heads and shoulders. Matched sets are the one exception: traditional cabinets with a moulded cornice are often made a little wider than their vanity, and our OC Classique cabinets finish within 30mm of the matching OC Classique vanity.
Shaker 90cm Timber Mirror Cabinet, White: 930mm wide, 770mm tall and 190mm deep
Standard Cabinet Height
Most shaving cabinets stand 700 - 800mm tall, with 720mm the most common size among Australian makers. Narrow single-door cabinets often run taller, around 900mm, so the mirror is still a useful size. Taller cabinets of about 1000mm suit a bathroom with a high ceiling or tiles to the ceiling, where a standard cabinet would leave a gap of bare wall above it.
Arch Mirror Cabinet 450 x 900mm Frameless: 450mm wide and 900mm tall
Depth: Surface Mounted or Recessed
A surface-mounted cabinet hangs on the face of the wall and projects 130 - 190mm, with 150mm the most common depth. That is enough for toothpaste, medicine and a can of shaving cream, but check that the cabinet's side will clear the basin mixer and that it won't catch your forehead when you lean in to rinse.
A recessed cabinet sits partly or fully inside the wall, so only the doors and frame stand proud. It looks cleaner and saves up to about 90mm of room, but it needs planning. Australian timber-framed walls have studs at 450mm or 600mm centres, which leaves about 415mm or 565mm clear between them, and the stud cavity is usually only 70 - 90mm deep. Most cabinets are deeper and wider than that, so your builder will need to frame an opening or build the wall out, and the cavity must be clear of pipes, cables and insulation. Recessing is a job for the framing stage, before plasterboard and tiles go on.
Semi-recessed cabinets sit part way into the wall and are the usual compromise in a renovation. Some cabinets have a lip so they can be fitted after the wall is tiled. Ask our team which cabinets in our range can be recessed before you finalise the wall.
How High to Hang a Medicine Cabinet
Hang the cabinet with its bottom edge 150 - 250mm above the vanity top. On an 850 - 900mm vanity that puts the bottom about 1000 - 1150mm from the floor and, with a 760mm cabinet, the top about 1760 - 1910mm. The mirror then covers eye level for most adults, which, based on average Australian heights, falls roughly 1500 - 1650mm above the floor.
Raise the cabinet when you have a tall basin mixer, a wall spout or a vessel basin that sits on top of the vanity, so the doors clear the tapware with room to spare. And check the door swing: each door should open to about 90 degrees without hitting a wall light, a side wall or the bathroom door.
Shaving Cabinet Above a 1200mm Vanity
Corner and Narrow Cabinets
In a small ensuite or a powder room with a pedestal basin, a narrow cabinet 450 - 600mm wide gives storage without crowding the wall. A corner cabinet fits into the angle between two walls, which suits a basin tucked into a corner; the Fienza Corner Mirror Cabinet is 608mm across the front and 800mm tall.
Fienza Corner Mirror Cabinet: 608mm across the front and 800mm tall
Medicine Cabinets in Our Range
| Cabinet | Width x Height | Depth | Suits a Vanity Of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Mirror Cabinet 450 x 900mm Frameless | 450 x 900mm | 150mm | 450 - 600mm |
| Coventry 60x81cm Mirror Shaving Cabinet, White Satin | 600 x 810mm | Check the product page | 600mm |
| Shaker Mirror Timber Cabinet, White | 630 x 770mm | 190mm | 750mm |
| Shaker 90cm Timber Mirror Cabinet, White | 930 x 770mm | 190mm | 1000mm |
| OC Classique 1000mm White Mirror Cabinet | 1020 x 760mm | 180mm | 1000mm |
| OC Classique 1250mm Black Mirror Cabinet | 1280 x 760mm | 180mm | 1250mm |
| OC Classique 1500mm White Mirror Cabinet | 1500 x 760mm | 180mm | 1500mm |
| OC Classique 1800mm Black Mirror Cabinet | 1830 x 760mm | 180mm | 1800mm |
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicine Cabinet Sizes
Are Medicine Cabinets a Standard Size?
Mostly. Australian shaving cabinets follow vanity widths of 450, 600, 750, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800mm, but heights and depths vary by maker, from about 670 - 1000mm tall and 130 - 190mm deep.
What Height Should You Hang a Shaving Cabinet?
With the bottom 150 - 250mm above the vanity top, which puts it about 1000 - 1150mm from the floor on a standard vanity.
How Deep Is a Medicine Cabinet?
Surface-mounted cabinets are usually 130 - 190mm deep, most often 150mm. A recessed cabinet projects less because part of its depth sits inside the wall.
Can You Recess a Shaving Cabinet Into the Wall?
Yes, in a stud wall with no pipes or cables in the way. Australian stud cavities are usually only 70 - 90mm deep, so most cabinets are semi-recessed or need the wall framed out. Plan it before the plasterboard goes on.
What Sizes Do Recessed Medicine Cabinets Come In?
The same widths as surface cabinets, mostly 450 - 1800mm. Wider cabinets need a framed opening, because studs at 450mm or 600mm centres leave only about 415mm or 565mm clear.
Should a Shaving Cabinet Be the Same Width as the Vanity?
The same width or up to 50mm narrower, and narrower again if you want wall lights either side. Avoid going wider, except with a matched vanity and cabinet set.
How Do I Measure for a Replacement Medicine Cabinet?
Measure the vanity width, the height from the vanity top to the underside of any light or tiles above, and, for a recessed cabinet, the width, height and depth of the opening in the wall.
Related Guides
More from our bathroom guides:
- Bathroom Mirror Size Guide - mirror sizes and heights by vanity width
- Bathroom Vanity Size Guide - the six standard vanity widths
- Pedestal Basin Size Guide - basins that need storage above them
- Mirror Sizes Guide - mirror sizes for the rest of the house
- Wall Light Height Guide - lights either side of the cabinet
- Bathroom Lighting Ideas - wet area zones and IP ratings
- Bathroom Basin Size Guide - the four most common basin widths
- Luxury Bathroom Design Trends - ideas for the room around the vanity
Shop Medicine Cabinets
Browse the full range or jump straight to a category below.
- Bathroom Supplies and Fittings - browse every bathroom category in one place.
- Medicine Cabinets - mirrored shaving cabinets in every vanity width.
- Bathroom Mirrors - flat, pivot and LED mirrors.
- Bathroom Vanities and Cabinets - vanities to pair with your cabinet.
- Bathroom Storage Units - tallboys and storage beyond the vanity.
- Bathroom Accessories - hooks, rails and shelves.
- Bathroom Lighting - wall lights for either side of the cabinet.
