Microwave Drawer Dimensions (Standard Sizes)

See the different microwave drawer dimensions, including standard sizes, cabinet measurements, and installation tips.

A microwave drawer may seem unnecessary to some. Still, for homeowners lacking space or in need of an added panache to keep their appliances stowed in the kitchen, it is frequently a necessity. 

A microwave is seen in almost every home, from high-rise apartments to homes with children and college dorms. It provides the function and efficiency people need, allowing homeowners to do more since cooking time can be cut short.

There are times when some small appliances can be too bulky for homes and will cost them essential countertop space, and using a drawer can solve that problem. A microwave drawer can be put under the kitchen island or even at eye level under the cabinets.

Standard Microwave Drawer Sizes 

Microwave drawers can be installed in many places within the kitchen plan. They can sit under any kitchen countertop, just like a drawer, or they can protrude slightly under the kitchen island. Microwaves can also be installed in the corner flushed to a wall like a kitchen cabinet. This is what makes them perfect in terms of saving spacing. 

Other than that, they are also available in modern designs, making them ideal no matter the style of the kitchen interior. Microwave drawers are available in two sizes, regardless of the brand. These two sizes will only be concerned with the width of the drawer but not the interior measurement. 

Microwave drawers are available in two outside widths of 24 inches or 61 centimeters and 30 inches or 76 centimeters. The most popular size is 24 inches or 61 centimeters with these two. 

When it comes to interior dimensions, this is where it is essentially fixed across any brand. The interior will have a width of 17 5/16 inches or around 44 centimeters, it will have a height of 7 1/8 inches or 18 centimeters, and a depth of 16 9/16 inches or 42 centimeters. 

Sharp 24” Drawer Dimensions 

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One of the most popular brands when it comes to kitchen appliances is Sharp, and luckily they also have built-in microwaves available for homeowners. Sharp’s microwave drawer has a hands-free mechanism that allows homeowners to multitask while using the cabinet.

It is also available in a sleek silver finish with a concealed control panel for a thoroughly modern look— a total overhaul of the bulky-looking microwaves. 

The Sharp microwave drawer is available in two standard widths of 24 inches or 61 centimeters and 30 inches or 76 centimeters. This appliance can be placed whether on the kitchen islands, as a regular cabinetry unit or under the kitchen countertops.

What Size Cabinet Do You Need For A 24″ Drawer?

One of the standard sizes for a microwave oven is the 24 inches or 61 centimeters measurement. This makes it one of the standard sizes to which many manufacturers cater.

Suppose this is appliance a homeowner has for their home, and they are looking for the perfect cabinet for it. In that case, it’s easy to determine the drawer size by following the installation instructions. 

For most microwaves with a size of 24 inches or 61 centimeters, the installation instructions are as follows: the drawer should at least be 22 and 1/8 inches or 56 centimeters wide, inside the cabinet should have a depth of 23 and a half inches or 60 centimeters of space, and a drawer height of 14 13/16 inches or around 38 centimeters. 

At the same time, the front of the drawer should be 15 inches or 38 centimeters high with a width of 23 and 7/8 inches or about 61 centimeters.

Will A 24 inch Microwave Fit In A 24 inch Cabinet?

It is possible to fit a 24 inches or 61 centimeters microwave inside a drawer with a dimension of 24 inches or 61 centimeters for the width. The only downside to this option is that the cabinet should be a frameless cabinet, and the fit will be edge to edge with little to no free space for the appliance.

The best option for this solution is to go for a bigger drawer, one slightly bigger than the appliance itself. This will ensure that the possibility of swapping the microwave or quickly taking it out of the drawer will be possible in the near future. Any homeowner should have that option instead of fitting the appliance to a too-tight cabinet. 

Sharp 30” Drawer Sizes

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Aside from the 24 inches or 61-centimeter microwaves available from the leading appliance manufacturer Sharp, there is also a bigger one available for much bigger ovens. A drawer that is 30 inches with 1.2 cubic feet from Sharp is the solution any homeowner needs for larger microwave sizes. 

Like the 24-inches drawer variant, this appliance features a low-profile design with hidden controls to utilize less space as possible. Its steel finish will add a touch of modernism to any kitchen interior for added flexibility when it comes to design.

There is also flexibility in the many places this drawer can be installed so that there is more countertop space for the homeowners to utilize not used by the appliance.

What Size Cabinet Do You Need For A 30″ Drawer?

Like the 24 inches or 61 centimeters microwaves, a 30 inches or 76 centimeters appliance will fit flush on a drawer with the exact dimensions. There will be no need for any more space since all the clearances will be observed with a drawer of 30 inches or 76 inches.

Clearance space will include the 21 7/8 inches or around 56 centimeters depth, the height of 16 5/16 inches or 41 centimeters, and of course, the width of 30 inches or 76 centimeters.

Before the installation process, every homeowner should observe a 1/4-inch gap from the countertop to the drawer. A half inch of space should also be observed in the middle of the drawer and the lower cabinet. 

24 Inch & 30 Inch Microwave Measurements

Microwave Oven Drawer Installation Tips

The first step to install the perfect drawer in any kitchen is selecting the right microwave oven size. For all brands, the most common choices will come in sizes of 24 inches or 61 centimeters and 30 inches or 76 centimeters.

However, sometimes, brands will also carry microwaves with a size of 27 inches or 69 centimeters.

Although there will already be manufacturer’s specs and recommendations for the perfect size, they can often be confusing, requiring the owner to measure the inside of any cabinet to be accurate.

For people looking for specific dimensions to ensure that the drawer will blend in with the cabinetry, be sure to measure the exact width and height of the drawer. This will guarantee no rails or stiles overlap to achieve symmetry across the boards. 

Overall, the dimensions needed to be measured beforehand are the drawer’s all-around width on the outside and the inside width and depth. Once this is determined, the appliance will slide in seamlessly with a perfect fit.

How Much Clearance Is Needed For A Drawer Microwave? 

Clearance spaces are there to ensure that the mechanism itself will function seamlessly. For a 24 inches or 61 centimeters microwaves, it is crucial to leave these clearance spaces. 

The first is a space of 7/8 inch or 2 centimeters on both sides of the opening of the drawer. Allow around 3/16 inches or .47 centimeters at the top and a space of 7/16 inches or 1 centimeter on the bottom of the cabinet.

The opening height for the cabinet should be around 14 13/16 inches or 38 centimeters, while the depth is 22 1/2 inches or 57 centimeters. The last clearance space is the width of 22 1/8 inches or 56 centimeters. 

A 30 inches or 76 centimeters microwave oven is essentially the same as installing a 24-inch drawer with a few differences. Before installation, every homeowner should keep a 1/4-inch gap from the countertop to the drawer. A half inch of space should also be followed in the middle of the drawer and the lower cabinet. 

Does A Microwave Oven Drawer Need To Be Vented?

There are many benefits to having built-in microwaves in a kitchen other than keeping the large box out of sight when a homeowner enters their kitchen. There is added counter space it will give the homeowners, plus some drawers have lock features on their control panel to ensure that kids won’t accidentally cause any incidents  while cooking. 

Aesthetic-wise, a microwave drawer gives the kitchen a cleaner, sleeker, and more modern look since it takes away the bulky look of the countertop device. To add to the benefits, the unit is self-contained, meaning that there will be no ventilation systems needed to be built for it. 

How Deep Does A Cabinet Need To Be For A Microwave? 

Depending on the specific type and size of microwave oven a homeowner is looking to acquire, cabinet depth for different sizes will vary.

A surefire way to ensure that an appliance will fit in a cabinet is to measure if the microwave’s outside depth is the same or more than a cabinet’s depth. If that is the case, it will fit in the cabinet, depending on whether the width and height are compatible with the unit. 

For a 24 inches or 61 centimeters microwave, the space needed for the depth is around 22 1/2 inches or 57 centimeters.

Where Should I Put My Drawer Style Microwave? 

There are many places where microwaves can be installed and many factors to aid that decision, like visual appeal and safety, but probably the ease of access will affect the decision the most.

In a kitchen, the triquetra of the countertop, the refrigerator, and the stovetop are essential for the total ergonomics of the place, so placing the appliance close to one of these units will ensure ease of access to the unit. 

Do Microwave Cooking Drawers Have Turntables?

Although there are many benefits to microwave drawers, there are also some cons, one of which is the lack of a turntable function in the drawers. This is because, unlike countertops or over-the-range types, these cooking drawers have magnetrons on top of the appliance and not on the sides. This magnetron is what heats the food inside the machine.

At the same time, this is also a benefit because this is a newer technology that does not require a turntable in order to heat the food or dish all the way through. 

Are All Microwave Appliance Drawers Made By Sharp?

SHARP is one of the leading residential appliance makers in the industry, so it is not a surprise to know that they make all of these drawers. This is because of all the company’s patents on the overall design and function of drawers since they are the first to make and sell the machine for many residential kitchens.

Although the controls and looks may vary from brand to brand, all drawers available in the market are only made by SHARP. 

What’s The Difference Between A Drawer And A Built-in Microwave?

To put it simply, a microwave drawer is one type of built-in oven. Built-in microwaves are usually installed at a homeowner’s eye or chest level.

In contrast, drawers can be installed on the bottom of some kitchens, like inside the island, to save space inside the kitchen. At the same time, it could also be installed as part of the cabinet unit, like built-in microwaves. 

Visit our microwave in kitchen island article for more related content.