A medicine cabinet is the most storage you can add to a bathroom without giving up a square inch of floor. The question is whether it sits inside the wall (recessed) or on the wall (surface-mount). Recessed looks built-in and barely projects; surface-mount installs in twenty minutes on any wall. This guide compares the two honestly, explains how to find out whether your wall can take a recessed cabinet before you buy, lists the standard sizes and the LED and outlet features worth having, and walks through cutting the opening and installing a recessed cabinet yourself.
Key takeaways
- Recessed: projects 1"–2" from the wall, looks like a mirror, needs an interior 2x4 wall with no plumbing, wiring or studs in the opening (or a willingness to reframe).
- Surface-mount: projects 4"–6", installs on any wall in 20 minutes, holds the same or more, costs the same.
- Standard recessed openings are 14" wide (fits between studs on 16" centres) or wider with a header cut in.
- LED medicine cabinets replace the vanity light and mirror; look for a defogger, adjustable colour temperature and an internal outlet.
- Cutting a recessed opening is a 2–3 hour DIY job on a plain drywall wall; hire out if the wall is tiled, exterior or has plumbing.
Recessed vs surface-mount: side by side
| Recessed | Surface-mount | |
|---|---|---|
| Projection from wall | 1"–2" (just the door and frame) | 4"–6" |
| Look | Flush, built-in, reads as a mirror | A box on the wall; modern slim models look fine, cheap ones look like a box |
| Storage depth | 3.5" (wall cavity) + door depth; fits standard bottles, not tall pump bottles | 4"–6"; holds more per shelf |
| Wall requirements | Interior wall, no plumbing, vent or wiring in the bay, non-load-bearing or a header added | Any wall, including tile, exterior and concrete |
| Installation | Cut the drywall, sometimes reframe; 2–3 hours DIY or $200–$500 hired | Four screws into studs or anchors; 20 minutes |
| Head clearance | Better; nothing to bump leaning over the sink | Watch the bottom edge height over a small sink |
| Renters | No | Yes; four holes to patch |
| Cost of cabinet | $150–$450 basic; $300–$450 LED | Same range; most cabinets can be installed either way |
Most medicine cabinets sold today are dual-mount: the same unit can be recessed or surface-mounted with a side kit or trim collar. Buy the cabinet you like, then let the wall decide how it goes in.
Can your wall take a recessed cabinet?
Check these before ordering a recessed unit. Any one of them can turn a 20-minute job into a plumber's visit.
- Is it an interior wall? Exterior walls are full of insulation and a vapour barrier. Recessing a cabinet into one creates a cold spot, condensation and a code issue. Surface-mount on exterior walls.
- Is there plumbing behind it? The wall above the vanity often carries the sink supply lines and the vent stack, especially if the plumbing comes up from below on the same wall. Look under the sink: if the pipes go into the wall, the bay above the vanity is probably occupied. A wall on the other side of a bathroom is safer.
- Is there wiring? A vanity light box above the mirror means a cable running down or across that bay. Cables can be rerouted, but it is an electrician's job.
- Where are the studs? Use a stud finder. Standard framing is 16" on centre, which leaves a 14.5" gap. A 14" recessed cabinet drops in without touching a stud. Anything wider means cutting a stud and adding a header and sill, which is fine on a non-load-bearing wall and needs a contractor on a load-bearing one.
- How deep is the wall? 2x4 framing gives 3.5". Most recessed cabinets are 3.5"–4" deep. 2x6 walls take deeper cabinets.
- Is the other side of the wall a closet or another bathroom? A recessed cabinet takes the whole cavity, so nothing else can be recessed opposite it.
Standard sizes
| Cabinet width | Typical height | Recessed opening | Fits over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14"–16" (single door) | 24"–26" | 14" x 24", fits between studs | Powder room, 18"–24" vanity |
| 20"–24" (single door) | 26"–32" | One stud cut, header needed | 24"–30" vanity |
| 30" (double door) | 26"–32" | One or two studs cut | 30"–36" vanity |
| 36" (double door) | 30"–32" | Two studs cut; usually surface-mounted instead | 36"–42" vanity |
| 40"–48" (double or triple door) | 30"–36" | Surface-mount, or recessed only in new framing | 48" vanity |
| Two cabinets, 20"–30" each | 26"–32" | One per sink | 60"–72" double vanity |
Width rule of thumb: the cabinet should be 2"–6" narrower than the vanity. Mount it so the bottom edge sits 4"–8" above the faucet and the centre is around 60"–65" from the floor.
Features that matter
- Mirror inside the door as well as outside, so you can see the back of your head with the door open.
- Adjustable glass shelves. Fixed shelves never match your bottles. Glass is easier to clean than plastic or aluminum.
- Soft-close hinges and doors that open 110° or more.
- Internal outlet or USB port for an electric toothbrush or razor. Requires a hardwired cabinet with a junction box behind it; the electrician sets it up during installation.
- LED lighting on the door face or the frame, with the same considerations as an LED mirror: 4000K or adjustable, CRI 90+, defogger, touch dimmer. Our LED mirror guide explains those specs.
- Stainless steel or aluminum body. Particleboard cabinets swell in bathroom humidity within a few years.
- Bevelled or frameless mirror edge. Frameless looks like a plain mirror when closed; a thin black or gold frame ties in with fixtures.
How to install a surface-mount medicine cabinet
- Mark the centre line of the sink on the wall and the height of the cabinet's bottom edge.
- Find the studs. Ideally at least one mounting screw on each side goes into a stud. Otherwise use toggle bolts or heavy-duty drywall anchors rated for 50 lb each; on tile, drill with a carbide or diamond bit and use anchors.
- Remove the doors and shelves so the cabinet is light and you can reach the mounting holes inside the back.
- Hold the cabinet in place with a helper, check level, mark the holes, drill, and screw it on. Four screws minimum; six on a wide cabinet.
- Refit the doors and shelves, and adjust the hinges so the doors align.
- For a hardwired LED cabinet, connect the leads in the junction box first (power off), then hang the cabinet over it.
How to install a recessed medicine cabinet
This assumes a plain drywall interior wall, a 14"-wide cabinet fitting between studs, and no obstructions found in the inspection hole. Allow 2–3 hours.
Tools and materials
- Stud finder, tape measure, level, pencil
- Drywall saw or oscillating multi-tool
- Drill, screws (supplied with the cabinet, plus 3" wood screws for blocking)
- 2x4 offcuts for the top and bottom blocking
- Shims, utility knife, drop cloth
Steps
- Mark the opening. Use the template in the box, or the rough-opening dimension in the instructions (usually the cabinet body plus 1/4"). Centre it on the sink, at the planned height, and check it is level and plumb.
- Locate the studs on each side and confirm the opening falls entirely between them.
- Turn off the bathroom breaker in case a cable is closer than you think.
- Cut the inspection hole and check the cavity with a flashlight.
- Cut the opening. Score the outline with a utility knife first for clean edges, then cut with the drywall saw, keeping the blade shallow. Remove the drywall panel.
- Add blocking. Cut two 2x4 pieces to fit snugly between the studs at the top and bottom of the opening. Toe-screw them to the studs, flush with the opening edges. The cabinet screws into this blocking and the studs.
- Test-fit the cabinet. Slide it in. It should sit with its front flange flat against the wall. Shim any gaps between the cabinet sides and the framing so the screws do not pull the box out of square.
- Screw it in through the pre-drilled holes in the cabinet sides into the studs and blocking, checking level as you go. Do not over-tighten; the box will bow.
- Refit shelves and doors, adjust the hinges, and caulk the flange to the wall if the instructions call for it.
If the cabinet is wider than one stud bay
On a non-load-bearing wall, the stud in the way is cut out of the opening and replaced with a horizontal header above and a sill below, each screwed into the neighbouring studs, plus short "cripple" studs above and below to carry the cut stud's load. It is standard framing but not a first project. If you cannot confirm the wall is non-load-bearing (interior walls parallel to the joists usually are; walls perpendicular to them often are not), have a contractor do it. Cost in Ontario: $200–$500 for cutting and framing the opening.
When to hire it out
- The wall is tiled where the opening goes.
- Plumbing, a vent or wiring is in the bay.
- The wall is load-bearing and the cabinet is wider than a stud bay.
- You want an LED cabinet with an internal outlet and there is no box in the wall (electrician plus ESA permit).
- Older homes with plaster and lath: the cutting is messy and the lath needs its own blocking.
Medicine cabinets at MyBath
Our stainless-steel LED medicine cabinets have adjustable glass shelves, mirrored interiors and LED lighting, and can be recessed or surface-mounted.
Light and storage in one
Stainless-steel LED medicine cabinets from 24" to 40", recessed or surface-mount. Delivered across Ontario, free on orders over $600.
Shop mirrors & medicine cabinets → Read: Organizing the bathroom
Frequently asked questions
Is a recessed medicine cabinet better than surface-mount?
It looks cleaner and projects less, which matters over a small sink. Surface-mount holds slightly more, installs on any wall in minutes, and is the only option on exterior, tiled or plumbing-filled walls. Neither is better; the wall decides.
Can you put a recessed medicine cabinet in any wall?
No. It needs an interior wall with an empty stud bay: no plumbing, vent, wiring or insulation. Exterior walls should not be used. Check with an inspection hole before cutting.
What size is a standard recessed medicine cabinet?
14" wide by 24" tall, sized to drop between studs on 16" centres without cutting framing. Wider cabinets (20"–36") need a stud cut and a header added.
Can a surface-mount cabinet be recessed later?
Usually. Most cabinets are dual-mount; check for a recess flange or a side kit. Cabinets with a deep body (5"+) will not recess into a 2x4 wall.
How much does it cost to install a recessed medicine cabinet?
DIY, $0 beyond the cabinet if it fits between studs. A handyman charges $150–$300 for a between-stud install and $300–$500 if a stud has to be cut and headered. Add an electrician if the cabinet has lighting or an outlet.
How high should a medicine cabinet be mounted?
Bottom edge 4"–8" above the faucet, centre about 60"–65" from the floor, so the average user's eyes fall in the middle of the mirror.
