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Box Material for Kitchen Cabinets

The box is the foundation of a cabinet. Hidden behind doors and side panels, the box is often unseen but the cabinet's structural integrity depends on it. There are significant differences in the materials used in cabinet boxes.

Particle board

Particle board is widely used to make cabinet boxes and other components. It is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings or even saw dust and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded. It's covered with a melamine, wood veneer or vinyl laminate layer. It has drawbacks however in that it's susceptible to damage from liquids and it doesn't hold screws as well as plywood. Some particle board also gives off formaldehyde vapors based on the constituents of the adhesives used to bond the wood particles.

MDF (Medium - density fiberboard)

MDF is another engineered wood product made from wood fibers that are pressed and bonded together. Like particleboard, it's susceptible to water damage and it's also very heavy, adding to the overall weight that's suspended from the hanging rails on the back of the cabinet.

Plywood

Plywood is considered the premium option for cabinet boxes. It's a strong material and solid-core plywood employs several layers of wood plies or veneers at varying angles for stability and rigidity. Many cabinet makers offer plywood as an upgrade or top-of-the-line cabinet box material.

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