Reference
Wardrobe & carpentry glossary
The terms you'll meet when buying a custom wardrobe in Singapore, explained simply — so you can read a quote, compare makers, and plan your build with confidence.
Pricing & measuring
- Foot run (per foot run)
- The linear width of a wardrobe measured in feet. Built-in wardrobes in Singapore are priced per foot run, not per square foot, because the floor-to-ceiling height is largely fixed by your ceiling. Learn more.
- Minimum build
- The smallest width a maker will fabricate a custom wardrobe for. A 5ft minimum is common in Singapore, so very narrow wardrobes are still charged as if they were 5ft wide. Learn more.
- On-site measurement
- A precise measurement taken in your actual home before fabrication, rather than a showroom estimate. It locks in exact dimensions so the wardrobe fits wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling.
- Turnkey quote
- An all-in price that covers design, measurement, materials, delivery and installation — with no separate charges added later. Always confirm a quote is turnkey before comparing it against another. Learn more.
Structure & dimensions
- Carcass
- The main body or box of the wardrobe — the sides, top, bottom and back panels that everything else mounts to. The doors and internal fittings attach to the carcass.
- Plinth
- The recessed base the wardrobe sits on, typically 100mm high in Singapore builds. It creates a toe-kick, lifts the carcass off the floor to protect it from mopping, and helps level the unit on uneven floors. Learn more.
- Top compartment
- The storage section above the main body of a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe, usually a fixed 450mm-high, full-width section. It is ideal for bulky and seasonal items like luggage and bedding. Learn more.
- Main body
- The everyday-use zone of the wardrobe between the plinth and the top compartment — around 2,050mm in a standard 2,600mm BTO build. It holds hanging space, shelves and drawers. Learn more.
- Floor-to-ceiling (full-height)
- A wardrobe built all the way up to the ceiling with no gap on top. It maximises storage, avoids a dust-collecting gap, and gives the clean built-in look.
Doors & mechanisms
- Hinged (casement) door
- A wardrobe door on hinges that swings open, typically around 450mm wide per panel. It gives full access to the interior and needs clearance in front to open. Learn more.
- Sliding door
- A door that slides along a track instead of swinging out, typically 850–950mm wide per panel (900mm is a common sweet spot). It saves floor space but only exposes part of the wardrobe at a time. Learn more.
- Handleless (J-pull) door
- A door with a routed grip or profile instead of a protruding handle, for a clean, minimalist face. Common in modern and Japandi wardrobes.
- Pocket door
- A hinged door that opens and then slides back into the side of the cabinet, so it does not stay in the way. Systems like Blum Revego give a handle-free, flush look with full interior access.
Materials & finishes
- Plywood
- A board made of thin wood layers (plies) cross-laminated for strength and moisture resistance. It holds screws and hinges better than fibreboard, which matters in Singapore's humidity. Learn more.
- MDF (medium-density fibreboard)
- An engineered board made from compressed wood fibres. It is cheaper and smooth to finish, but heavier and more vulnerable to swelling if moisture reaches the core — a real risk in humid, wet-climate homes. Learn more.
- Laminate
- A thin decorative surface bonded to the board that provides the colour, pattern and texture you see. Available in solid colours, wood-grains and specialty textures like fluted, marble-look and metallic.
- Edge banding
- A protective strip applied to the exposed edges of a panel to seal them. Durable ABS edge banding resists chipping and peeling and keeps moisture out of the board core. Learn more.
Hardware & fittings
- Soft-close
- A damping mechanism in hinges and runners that stops doors and drawers from slamming, easing them shut quietly. It reduces wear and is standard on quality wardrobes.
- Full-extension runner
- A drawer slide that lets the drawer pull all the way out, so you can reach items at the very back. Better than partial-extension runners for deep wardrobe drawers.
- Internal fittings
- The accessories inside the wardrobe — hanging rails, adjustable shelves, drawers, pull-out trouser and accessory racks, and LED lighting. They determine how usable the storage actually is day to day.
- Integrated LED lighting
- Lighting built into the wardrobe, either rechargeable and motion-sensing (no wiring needed) or hardwired to the mains. It makes contents visible in dim rooms and lifts the overall finish.
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