RAIL GUIDE – IMPERIAL

Rail guide · Imperial (SEKTION)

Where Do the Suspension Rails Go?

Pick your ceiling height and cabinet setup, and I’ll show you exactly where to mount the rails.

Watch the full video first

Available ceiling height – what’s that?

Before moving on to where and how to mount the suspension rails, let me take a moment to explain what I mean by “available ceiling height.”

If our kitchens were perfect, with horizontal, flat ceilings and floors and perfectly vertical, flat walls, I wouldn’t need the term at all. We would only have to measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling or bulkhead in one spot, since it would be the same everywhere. With that single measurement, we would know the exact ceiling height and could plan which cabinets to install.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. As you have seen in the video, the ceiling often sags, and the floors aren’t horizontal or perfectly flat, so one measurement isn’t enough. The only way to know the available ceiling height is to check whether your floor is horizontal and whether your ceiling is sagging.

The good news is that this mostly matters when the distance you measure (from floor to ceiling or bulkhead, in several places) is close to the height of the IKEA SEKTION pantry cabinets, legs included: 84 ½″ or 94 ½″. Being close to these numbers sometimes works with one group of cabinets, and sometimes not.

So if your ceiling height is 96″ or more, your ceiling would have to sag a lot more than usual before you can’t use the higher cabinets, i.e. 40″ wall cabinets and 90″ pantry cabinets. The same goes for 86″ or a bit more with the shorter options, i.e. 30″ wall cabinets and 80″ pantry cabinets. In those situations, the location of the rail won’t cause you any issues.

Before you start: measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling or bulkhead in a few places where your cabinets will go, and go with the lowest measurement.

Let’s get started

1What is your ceiling height?

When the ceiling height is less than 84″

If your ceiling height, or the height from the floor to a bulkhead, is less than 84 inches, there are some restraints you must consider.

If you have 30″ wall cabinets, they will not sit at the standard IKEA height, so the distance from the countertop to the upper cabinets will be less than normal. The reduced clearance can be acceptable if it is only an inch or two and if you decide not to have a valance under the wall cabinets.

Also, if you plan to have a pantry cabinet, it will not be installed at the correct height, reducing the distance from the floor to the bottom of the pantry. This can be acceptable if the pantry cabinet sits alone, but if it is adjacent to a base cabinet, the pantry cannot line up with the base cabinet at the bottom.

Your choice of cabinets very much depends on the actual height available.

2Which of these setups are you installing?

When the ceiling height is between 84 ½″ and 94″

If your ceiling height, or the height from the floor to a bulkhead, is more than 84 ½″ but less than 94″, there are no restrictions if you use 30″ wall cabinets and 80″ high pantry cabinets. These cabinets can be mounted at IKEA standard height without any restrictions. As you can see below, setups with these cabinets are the only options, apart from “Something else.”

If you only lack an inch or two to have an available ceiling height of 94 ½″, installing 40″ high wall cabinets or 90″ pantry cabinets could still be possible if you take a few things into consideration.

Those cabinets will not sit at the standard IKEA height, and the distance from the countertop to the wall cabinets will be less than IKEA recommends. The reduced clearance can be acceptable if it is only an inch or two and if you decide not to have a valance under the wall cabinets.

Also, if you plan to have a 90″ pantry cabinet, which in this case isn’t installed at the IKEA standard height, the distance from the floor to the bottom of the pantry will be reduced. This can be acceptable if the pantry cabinet sits alone, but if it is adjacent to a base cabinet, the pantry will not line up with the base at the bottom.

If you decide to squeeze in the higher cabinets, i.e. 40″ wall cabinets or 90″ pantry cabinets, go back up, pick Less than 84″ and follow the instructions for mounting the rail close to the ceiling.

2Which of these setups are you installing?

When the ceiling height is between 94 ½″ and 104″

If your ceiling height, or the height from the floor to a bulkhead, is more than 94 ½″ but less than 104″, there are no restrictions if you use 30″ or 40″ wall cabinets and 80″ or 90″ high pantry cabinets. These cabinets can be mounted at IKEA standard height without any restrictions.

If you only lack an inch or two to have an available ceiling height of 104 ½″, installing a 50″ combination of stacked wall cabinets or a total of 100″ of pantry cabinets could still be possible if you consider a few things.

Those cabinets will not sit at the standard IKEA height, and the distance from the countertop to the wall cabinets will be less than IKEA recommends. The reduced clearance can be acceptable if it is only an inch or two and if you decide not to have a valance under the wall cabinets.

Also, if you plan to have a 100″ pantry combination (80″ + 20″), which in this case isn’t installed at the IKEA standard height, the distance from the floor to the bottom of the pantry will be reduced. This can be acceptable if the pantry cabinet sits alone, but if it is adjacent to a base cabinet, the pantry will not line up with the base at the bottom.

If you decide to squeeze in the higher cabinets, go back up and pick Less than 84″ and follow the instructions for mounting the rail close to the ceiling before you pick More than 104 ½″ to learn about the distance between the rails for the stacked cabinets.

Confused? Yes, I know it can be, but when you get the hang of it, no pun intended, you will see that it isn’t that difficult.

2Which of these setups are you installing?

When the ceiling height is more than 104 ½″

If your ceiling height, or the height from the floor to a bulkhead, is more than 104 ½ inches, you can almost do whatever you want regarding installing cabinets – stacked or not.

The options below cover any cabinet combination up to a total height of 100″ (plus legs), and if you want even more height, follow the exact instructions described in the various scenarios on this page.

2Which of these setups are you installing?
Your rail positions

Base cabinet only

Putting up the suspension rail at the right height is fairly easy if you only have one or more base cabinets.

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Rail positions: Base cabinet only
Your rail positions

Base cabinet & wall cabinet

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have restricted ceiling height, the wall cabinet cannot be mounted at the standard IKEA height. To get it as close as possible to the ceiling or bulkhead, follow the instructions in this part of the video.

I do not recommend lowering the height of the base cabinet to gain more clearance between the countertop and the upper cabinets. The solution to the lower ceiling height should be found in the choice of upper cabinets.

Rail positions: Base cabinet & wall cabinet
Your rail positions

Base cabinet, wall cabinet & pantry

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have restricted ceiling height, the wall cabinet and the pantry cannot be mounted at the standard IKEA height. To get them as close as possible to the ceiling or bulkhead, follow the instructions in this part of the video.

If the pantry is next to the base cabinet and the wall cabinet, which will be sitting lower than usual, the pantry cannot line up with the base and the wall cabinet at the top and bottom at the same time. If you want a pantry when the ceiling height is reduced, it should sit alone or next to the fridge with no cabinets on the other side.

I do not recommend lowering the height of the base cabinet to gain more clearance between the countertop and the upper cabinets. The solution to the lower ceiling height should be found in the choice of upper cabinets.

Rail positions: Base cabinet, wall cabinet & pantry
Your rail positions

Base cabinet & 30″ wall cabinet

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinet can be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

However, do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 50″ from the lower edge of the base rail. This is where you want the upper rail to be positioned.

Rail positions: Base cabinet & 30″ wall cabinet
Your rail positions

Base cabinet, 30″ wall cabinet & 80″ pantry

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinet can and must be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

Do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 50″ from the lower edge of the base rail. This is where you want the upper rail to be positioned.

As seen in the picture, keeping the correct distance between the two bottom edges of the rails is vital if the pantry cabinet is sitting next to a base and a wall cabinet. If you don’t, the pantry will not be flush with the adjacent cabinets at the top and bottom.

Also, make sure the two rails are vertically aligned where the pantry is located. If not, the pantry cannot be vertically level and flush with the base cabinet at the same time.

Rail positions: Base cabinet, 30″ wall cabinet & 80″ pantry
Your rail positions

Base cabinet & 40″ wall cabinet

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinet can be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

However, do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 60″ from the lower edge of the base rail. This is where you want the upper rail to be positioned.

Rail positions: Base cabinet & 40″ wall cabinet
Your rail positions

Base cabinet, 40″ wall cabinet & 90″ pantry

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinet can and must be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

Do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 60″ from the lower edge of the base rail. This is where you want the upper rail to be positioned.

As seen in the picture, keeping the correct distance between the two bottom edges of the rails is vital if the pantry cabinet is sitting next to a base and a wall cabinet. If you don’t, the pantry will not be flush with the adjacent cabinets at the top and bottom.

Also, make sure the two rails are vertically aligned where the pantry is located. If not, the pantry cannot be vertically level and flush with the base cabinet at the same time.

Rail positions: Base cabinet, 40″ wall cabinet & 90″ pantry
Your rail positions

Base cabinet & stacked wall cabinets

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinets can be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

However, do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 40″, 50″ or 60″ from the lower edge of the base rail. The right number depends on the height of the lower cabinet in the stacked setup.

In this example, I have stacked 30″ + 20″ high wall cabinets, as you see in the picture, but you can do whatever suits you. Just remember that the distance between the top of the base cabinet (without the countertop) and the lower wall cabinet should be 20″.

The distance from one wall cabinet rail’s bottom edge to the next one’s bottom edge must always be the height of the cabinet hanging on the upper rail, marked Cab H in the picture.

Also, making sure the rails for the stacked wall cabinets are vertically aligned is very important. If not, the cabinets will not be flush at the front.

Rail positions: Base cabinet & stacked wall cabinets
Your rail positions

Base cabinet, stacked wall & pantry cabinets

The lower edge of the suspension rail must be mounted 32 3/16″ from the floor. However, since the floor isn’t always horizontal, make the necessary adjustments to the height, as shown here.

Since you have no restrictions regarding the ceiling height, the wall cabinets can be mounted at the standard IKEA height.

However, do not determine the position of the upper suspension rail as per the IKEA instructions. Instead, measure and mark 40″, 50″ or 60″ from the lower edge of the base rail. The right number depends on the height of the lower cabinet in the stacked setup.

In this example, I have stacked 30″ + 20″ high wall cabinets, as you see in the picture, but you can do whatever suits you. Just remember that the distance between the top of the base cabinet (without the countertop) and the lower wall cabinet should be 20″.

The distance from one wall cabinet rail’s bottom edge to the next one’s bottom edge must always be the height of the cabinet hanging on the upper rail, marked Cab H in the picture.

Adding a pantry to the mix makes it more complicated, as you need to make sure that all the rails are vertically aligned. If they are not, the stacked wall cabinets will not be flush at the front, and the pantry will not be flush with the base cabinet either.

It isn’t difficult, but you must pay attention to these details to avoid trouble when you start to hang the cabinets. Every minute spent on the rails will save you tenfold later.

Rail positions: Base cabinet, stacked wall & pantry cabinets
Your rail positions

Something else

Please note: with a limited ceiling height, i.e. less than 84″, you don’t have as many options as usual.

  1. Base cabinet rail: find the best height, as explained in this part of the video.
  2. Wall cabinets less than 30″ high: measure from the bottom of the base rail and mark where the upper rails go. The distance should be 20″ plus the wall cabinet height. Example: for a 20″ wall cabinet, the upper rail goes 20 + 20 = 40″ above the base rail (measured from bottom edge to bottom edge).
  3. Pantry cabinets: pick the previous option, Base, wall & pantry.
  4. Stacked cabinets: install the rail for the lower wall or pantry cabinet as described above. Then mount the upper rail at a distance (again bottom edge to bottom edge) equal to the height of the upper cabinet in the stack.
Your rail positions

Something else

Since none of the predefined setups matches what you want to install, it’s time for some “Rails – One on One”.

Please note: the steps below don’t take a reduced ceiling height (less than 84″) into account, so pick that option too, so you know which restrictions you’re facing.

  1. Base cabinet rail: find the best height, as explained in this part of the video.
  2. Wall cabinets: measure from the bottom of the base rail and mark where the upper rails go. The distance should be 20″ plus the wall cabinet height. Example: for a 20″ wall cabinet, the upper rail goes 20 + 20 = 40″ above the base rail (bottom edge to bottom edge).
  3. Pantry cabinets: the distance should be the pantry cabinet height minus 30″. Example: for a 90″ pantry, the upper rail goes 90 − 30 = 60″ above the base rail (bottom edge to bottom edge).
  4. Stacked cabinets: install the rail for the lower wall or pantry cabinet as described above. Then mount the upper rail at a distance (again bottom edge to bottom edge) equal to the height of the upper cabinet in the stack. This applies to wall and pantry cabinets alike.
  5. Remember: with a pantry next to a base cabinet, and with stacked cabinets, all the rails must be vertically aligned. If they are not, the stacked wall cabinets will not be flush at the front, and the pantry will not be flush with the base cabinet either.
  6. Important: every minute spent on the rails will save you tenfold later. I promise.
Rail positions: Something else
Rails up? Here’s what comes next
Hanging and levelling the cabinets is where most DIY kitchens go wrong.

My DIY IKEA Kitchen Installation Guide takes you through the whole installation, step by step, in the right order – including the tricky setups this tool can’t cover.

Join the waitlist →
Important Choose the right screws for your suspension rails The rail carries every wall cabinet in your kitchen. Here’s how to pick screws that will hold them for good. Read the article →

The tools I use for the rails

Go green and save batteries
Go green and save batteries

This is the third laser level I’ve bought since I started installing kitchens, and hopefully the last. It uses the same battery as my power tools and runs for a long time on a full charge.

The green laser line is much easier to see in broad daylight. It isn’t cheap, but buying it first would have saved me the cost of two cheaper ones.

See it on Amazon →
Put it up and forget about it
Put it up and forget about it

Before this pole, I clipped my laser to suspension rails resting on something high in the corner of the room. Time-consuming and complicated.

Now I put the pole up in a good spot and it stays there for the whole installation, so I can move the laser up or down easily.

See it on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve tried and tested myself – no exceptions.

Portrait of Lars Rannes

Questions about your rails? Find more tips and videos on my YouTube channel.

– Lars Rannes

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