Yes, they can, but most of the time they don’t need to be.
German kitchens come in so many standard sizes that a kitchen can usually be planned without altering a single unit, and when your room does need something different, units can be reduced and panels, fillers and plinths are made to the exact size needed.
Either way, every Schüller and Nobilia kitchen we supply is made from scratch to order in Germany for that customer. Nothing is held in stock.
So when an AI tool told one of our customers that German kitchens have “fixed modular sizes” that “limit non-standard architectural spaces”, it was simply wrong.
Here’s how sizing really works, including the few limits that do exist. You deserve to know those too.
1. Why do people think German kitchens come in fixed sizes?
It’s an easy mistake to make, because a German kitchen is planned using a range of standard unit sizes. Look at a kitchen plan and you’ll see a neat row of boxes, so it’s natural to assume they came off a shelf somewhere.
But there’s no shelf. Your kitchen doesn’t exist until you order it, and it’s then made from scratch in Germany just for you.
That’s the difference between made to order and made to measure. Every kitchen we supply is made to order. Most don’t need made-to-measure units, because the standard range is so wide that there’s usually a size that fits.
And when there isn’t, the size can be changed. Fixed, it isn’t.
2. How much choice do you get on heights and depths?
Far more than “fixed sizes” would suggest. Here’s what Schüller gives you to work with:
- Three heights for each unit type: base units come in 71.5, 78 and 84.5 cm on a 13 cm drawer grid, and there are three midi unit heights and three tall unit heights to match the base units too
- Seven plinth heights
- Three worktop thicknesses – 16mm, 25mm and 38mm
- Base unit depths – choose from 35, 46 or 56 cm: 66 cm is possible at 78 cm height as well.
- Wall units: 35 cm deep as standard, and 56 cm in some sizes
Put those heights, plinths and worktops together and the worktop height can be set for you. If you’re tall, that could mean no more stooping over the chopping board.
If you’re not, you won’t be reaching up to it either.
3. Can units be made narrower, shorter or shallower?
Yes, with one rule worth knowing about.
Shallower: any unit can have its depth reduced.
Narrower or shorter: units with slab (flat) doors can be made narrower or shorter.
Traditional and Shaker styles: the height of these can be made to measure too, as long as it sticks to the full or half grid. That means it has to divide by 130mm or 65mm. Their width can’t be reduced, but their units can still be made shallower.
All size reductions carry an extra charge, so it’s worth talking through which ones really earn their keep. You can get a feel for overall budgets in our guide to how much a German kitchen costs.
4. Are panels and fillers made to fit?
Yes. End panels, filler panels and plinths are made to the exact size needed.
They’re only ordered oversized when they have to be templated on site. Our fitters then cut panels and plinths to fit on site, so the finished kitchen fits your room rather than the other way round.
5. How do we plan a kitchen around an awkward room?
Before anything is ordered, your designer measures the room and plans around whatever it throws at you, including:
- Sloping ceilings
- Chimney breasts
- Alcoves
- Bay windows
- Boxed-in pipes
- Uneven walls in older homes
That last one will sound familiar if you own an older home. Those walls have had a long time to stop being straight…
6. Can a German kitchen look traditional?
Absolutely. German doesn’t have to mean sleek and handleless.
From Schüller, you can choose Finca (a solid ash framed door), Casa and Newport (both framed Shaker-style) or Cameo (a country look), all in 29 colours.
From Nobilia, there’s cottage-style and modern classic. Our country-style kitchens page is a good place to browse.
Just remember the grid rule from section 3 if you’re choosing a framed door for a tight space.
7. The Takeaway
If you’ve been told German kitchens only come in fixed sizes, you can safely ignore it. The standard range is wide enough that most kitchens don’t need altering, and when yours does, units can be reduced within the limits above and panels and plinths are made to fit.
Got a chimney breast, a sloping ceiling or a wall with a mind of its own? Bring your measurements or photos along to a free design consultation at our Cardiff showroom in Llandaff, and we’ll show you what’s possible.
If you’re still working out how your room might go together, we go deeper on that in our guide to Which Kitchen Layout Will Work For Me?.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can German Kitchens be Made to Measure?
Are German kitchens made to measure?
Usually they don’t need to be, because German kitchens come in so many standard sizes. When a room needs something different, units can be reduced, and end panels, filler panels and plinths are made to the exact size needed.
Are German kitchens off the shelf or made to order?
The Schüller and Nobilia kitchens we supply are made to order. Nothing is held in stock, and each kitchen is made from scratch in Germany for that customer.
Can kitchen units be made narrower or shallower?
Any unit can have its depth reduced. Units with slab (flat) doors can also be made narrower or shorter. Traditional and Shaker styles can’t be reduced in width, but their height can be made to measure as long as it divides by 130 mm or 65 mm, and their units can still be made shallower.
Does it cost extra to change the size of a kitchen unit?
Yes. All size reductions carry an extra charge.
Can a German kitchen fit a room with sloping ceilings or uneven walls?
Yes. The designer measures the room and plans around sloping ceilings, chimney breasts, alcoves, bay windows, boxed-in pipes and uneven walls in older homes before anything is ordered.
Can you get a traditional German kitchen?
Yes. Schüller offers Finca, Casa, Newport and Cameo, all in 29 colours, and Nobilia offers cottage-style and modern classic kitchens.
