Should you put flooring under kitchen cabinets? What the experts say

Should you put flooring under kitchen cabinets? It’s a question that raises a lot of discussion between trades, interior designers and DIYers. And there’s no definitive answer, circumstances dictate how you approach the issue.

After you’ve chosen the best flooring for your kitchen, it's all about making a choice of adding flooring under your cabinets or not. Here we get the thoughts of a flooring contractor and interior designer to help you make the decision that will work best for you.

Magda Callery

Madga is an experienced interior designer in the UK who specialises in creating beautiful, functional spaces. She has years of experience designing pubs, restaurants, bars, and homes.

When to put flooring under kitchen cabinets

There’s a lot of debate about whether you should or shouldn’t put flooring under kitchen cabinets and the popular option is to put flooring under kitchen cabinets. But it’s not always necessary as Magda Callery, Interior Designer at Style By Magda shares, “Flooring under kitchen cabinets is like wearing matching socks – it’s not always necessary, but it sure looks polished”

But there will be times when it makes sense as Callery continues, “If you like to “change it up,” flooring under cabinets makes future renovations easier.” Plus, she adds, “Continuous flooring creates a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic, especially in open-plan kitchens.”

Putting flooring under kitchen cabinets also has more practical benefits as Ryan Meagher, Business Development Manager at BVM Contracting explains, “For all types of flooring system (apart from a floating system like a luxury vinyl plank) we prefer installing them underneath the cabinets.” He adds, “ It is much easier to install the kitchen cabinets above if the flooring is consistent throughout the kitchen.”

The reason for this is that everything will be at the same level which means less work as Meagher shares, “You do not have to worry about making the cabinets taller than they need to be to account for the loss in height from a thicker flooring material that is being installed around the cabinets.”

Try these flooring options for your kitchen

Ryan Meagher

Ryan works for his family's residential construction company and has been working as the Business Development Manager for over 5 years. He has a diverse background with everything related to residential construction.

When flooring under kitchen cabinets is a no

While putting flooring under kitchen cabinets is considered the better option, there are scenarios when it's not so a wise choice as Meagher explains, "The only time we do not consider installing flooring under kitchen cabinets is if we are working with a floating system.”

He continues and explains why, “Floating flooring systems require the ability to expand and contract since they are not nailed or set in place (like hardwood and tile floors).”

There are other reasons as Callery shares, “If you’re watching the budget, why pay for flooring no one will ever see?” She suggests, “Use the extra cash for fancy drawer organizers instead.”

Also, if you are retrofitting new flooring and working with an existing subfloor and new cabinets she says, “Leaving out flooring saves time and effort.”

Pros and cons of flooring under cabinets

Here Meagher and Callery share the plus and minus points for putting flooring under kitchen cabinets.

Pros

• Consistency Meagher is a keen exponent of a level floor, “ A consistent level throughout the kitchen makes installing the cabinets and appliances so much easier.”
• Easier to do Meagher says, “Putting down flooring before the kitchen cabinets are installed means way fewer cuts will be required. And, if you ever make changes to the kitchen in the future it will be easier to do with an existing floor underneath.”
• Seamless style Callery suggests it leads to a better aesthetic, “Your kitchen floor will look flawless, even if only you know about the flooring hiding under the cabinets.”
• Moisture defense Callery says, “With flooring in place under cabinets, it can protect the subfloor from sneaky spills or leaks that may find their way under a cabinet.”

Cons

• Budget burner Meagher says, “Installing more flooring material is more expensive.” A point reiterated by Callery, “Those hidden planks aren’t cheap.”

Flooring types to avoid under cabinets

“Luxury vinyl plank or any other type of floating flooring system is not recommended to install under kitchen cabinets” shares Meagher, explaining the reasons earlier in the article.

But, there are other types of flooring, though not as popular as other flooring, best not to put under cabinets as Callery explains, “Soft materials such as cork flooring or rubber might compress over time, leaving your cabinets slightly lopsided.”

FAQS

Is it OK to put kitchen cabinets on bare floors?

The simple answer is yes you can. Meagher says, “There is no issue with installing kitchen cabinets directly on plywood or concrete floors, so it is entirely allowed if you have a tight budget or are using a floating flooring system.” But he does add anote of caution, “Just be very sure about your layout because it is going to be a pain to redo the kitchen if you do it this way.”

Callery says, “Just make sure the surface is level and sealed to avoid future drama with moisture or uneven cabinets.”

Does flooring go under appliances?

Appliances in a kitchen, typically ovens, refrigeration and dishwashers are typically treated in the same way as standard kitchen cabinets as Meagher explains, “Always put flooring under floor appliances like dishwashers and ovens,”

He adds, “It will make it so much easier to install and remove by having the flooring at the same level as the rest of the kitchen.”

Callery adds that it helps create a smooth slide, which, “Makes appliances easier to pull out for repairs or replacement.”

If you are adding or replacing kitchen flooring check out our Best wood flooring for kitchens, Kitchen flooring ideas and 13 kitchen floor tile ideas guides for insight and inspiration.