How to Measure Under a Sink for Organizers (Around the Pipes)

Under-sink organizers usually fail for one of three reasons: they don’t fit through the cabinet opening, they hit the drain trap, or they block the shut-off valves. Five minutes with a tape measure avoids all three.

What you’re working around

• The drain trap: the U-shaped pipe under the sink. Its bottom sets the height limit for anything placed beneath it.
• Supply lines and shut-off valves: usually at the back. Leave them reachable, because you may need to turn off the water in a hurry.
• A garbage disposal, in many kitchens, which takes up much of the middle and has an electrical connection.
• The face frame: many cabinets have a frame around the door opening that makes the opening narrower than the inside.

The five measurements

1. Door opening width, between the face frame or the door hinges. Everything you buy must fit through this.
2. Interior width and interior depth, wall to wall inside the cabinet.
3. Pipe zone width: how much width the drain, supply lines, and disposal take together, and whether they’re in the middle or off to one side.
4. Clear height beside the pipes: from the cabinet floor to the sink bowl or the lowest obstruction on each side.
5. Height under the trap: from the cabinet floor to the bottom of the trap.

Under-sink clearance calculator

Door opening width

in

Between the cabinet’s face frame or door hinges.

Interior width

in

Interior depth

in

Clear height beside the pipes

in

Cabinet floor to the sink bowl or lowest obstruction.

Height under the drain trap

in

Cabinet floor to the bottom of the U-shaped trap.

Width of the pipe zone

in

Drain, supply lines, and disposal together.

Where are the pipes?In the middleOn the leftOn the right

Enter all six measurements to see what fits where.

Choosing organizers for each zone

Zone	Good fits
Side zones about 9 in wide or more, 12 in tall or more	Two-tier sliding organizers, one per side
Narrow side zones	Single-tier bins, or tall narrow caddies
Too narrow on both sides	U-shaped organizers that wrap around the pipes, or door-mounted racks
Under the trap	Low bins or a drip tray, if there’s at least a few inches of height
Inside of the door	Slim door racks, if the door clears the pipes and frame when closed

Before buying a door-mounted rack, close the door slowly with a ruler held where the rack would sit, so you know how much depth you really have.

Keep it safe and dry

• Leave the shut-off valves reachable. Don’t stack things in front of them.
• Use a drip tray or mat under everything. It catches spills and shows you a slow leak early.
• Keep cleaning products in their original containers, and never mix them. Bleach combined with ammonia or acids releases toxic gas.
• With young children at home, add a cabinet latch. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises keeping cleaning products locked away, out of children’s sight and reach. Adhesive and magnetic latches work without drilling.
• Keep the disposal’s electrical connection clear of bins and bottles.

Buying criteria

Choosing under-sink organizers

• Adjustable width or height around pipes
• Easy-to-clean, water-resistant material

• Units that block shut-off valves

We haven’t verified specific products here yet, so we list criteria instead of guessing.

Search Amazon for “under sink organizer adjustable” (opens in a new tab; affiliate link)

Search results aren’t vetted by us, so check each listing against the criteria above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

No sink cabinet space at all?

If the sink cabinet is mostly plumbing, move cleaning supplies elsewhere: a slim cart beside the fridge, the top pockets of an over-door organizer, or a caddy on a high shelf. Our guide to storing cleaning tools without a utility closet covers each option. For a plan tailored to your space, use the Fix Finder for under-sink organizing.