This is how to Build a Campervan Kitchen Unit (2025)
- Shane Monks O'Byrne
- Jan 16, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 27
One of the most important areas of your van is the campervan kitchen unit. It has many functions, from housing the sink and stove, to the fridge, cutlery drawers, and storage cabinets. Truly, a camper van kitchen unit is essential. In this illustrated guide we will learn how to build a kitchen unit from start to finish.
Shane, the founder of The Van Conversion, is a campervan professional dedicated to helping people transform ordinary vans into homes on wheels. He authored Roaming Home and teaches The Van Conversion Course, guiding many people through their van builds. Shane also writes The Van Conversion Newsletter, where he shares practical tips and insights. After completing two van builds and living on the road full-time since 2020, he is passionate about sharing his expertise with others.
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Design the Campervan Kitchen Unit First
Before hopping into building campervan storage, it's essential that you mock it up on paper or with CAD software first. Our full guide on campervan design will help you get started.
I highly recommend Vanspace3D for designing your campervan interior - it's a brilliant drag 'n' drop CAD tool specifically for van conversions. We'll take a look at what using Vanspace3D to design a campervan kitchen unit is like later in the article.
Camper Van Kitchen Unit Dimensions
Some furniture is very simple to build, and some is more complex. But no matter what you build, it's important to consider ergonomics. Poorly built furniture and storage will look funky, function poorly, and quickly give you a very sore back trying to get to it.
Storage Dimensions
Maximum shelf height: 1.8m
High shelf - This is too high for most vans
Book shelf height: 1.6m
Standard eye height
Lowest shelf above kitchen unit: 45cm above kitchen unit
Any lower than this and you start to obscure the view of the back of the worktop
Kitchen Unit Dimensions
Standard Kitchen unit height: 90cm
Standard Kitchen unit Depth: 60cm
Shelf above a kitchen unit: 1m above the kitchen unit
You can just reach a shelf of this height when leaning across a standard kitchen unit. This is usually the bulkhead storage which happily coincides with these dimensions
Campervan overhead lockers depth: 30cm
You can just reach the back of a shelf of this depth when leaning across a standard kitchen unit
Depth of a sliding drawer: 50cm
Standard depth of a sliding drawer
Depth of a wardrobe: 60cm
Standard depth of a sliding drawer
Crouching space in front of a low cupboard: 1m
Allow this space in front of a low cupboard
Crouching space in front of a low cupboard with open sliding drawer: 1.25m
Allow this space in front of a low cupboard with a sliding drawer
How to Build a Campervan Kitchen Unit
In this guide we will learn how to build a camper van kitchen unit that looks something like this:
Step 0: Finalise Your Campervan Layout
Make sure you have finalised your campervan design plans. This means mocking up your van on paper, or using CAD software. The kitchen unit is so large and important that you need to know exactly where it will go. I used Vanspace3D to design my whole layout, which was especially helpful for the complex shapes and multiple functions of the kitchen unit.
My kitchen unit houses the following:
Vanspace3D allowed me to incorporate all of these components and shuffle them around until I found the perfect configuration for my campervan kitchen unit. I'm very pleased with the result. Learn how to design your campervan in this article.
Here is a list of items you may want to consider for your kitchen unit:
Fridge
Stove
Oven
Sink
Fresh water tank
Waste water tank
LPG tank
Water heater
Kitchen unit
Countertop
Overhead kitchen cabinets
Drawers and storage compartments
Pull-out pantry
Cutting board
Built-in spice rack
Microwave
Coffee maker
Kettle
Toaster
Blender
Food storage containers
Utensil organizer
Dish rack
Rubbish bin
Recycling bin
Step 1: Build the Carcassing Frame
The first step is to build the carcass of the kitchen unit. I used 2x2 timber for this, though I recommend 2x1 as it is lighter overall.
It is important to know exactly which compartments you want in your camper van kitchen unit. I needed compartments for the LPG heater, gas bottle, cutlery, pots & pans, water containers, fridge, and rubbish bins. I also needed to account for the depth and width that my SMEV combined sink and stove would take up on the top.
I built the carcassing frame using simple butt joints that were screwed and glued together. I used a lot of pocket hole joints when building the frame.
To ensure the angles of the cuboid frame are at 90° angles, you should use a carpenter's square.
Step 2: Ply-line the Back of the Camper Van Kitchen Unit
Ply-line the back of the campervan kitchen unit. This is a straightforward job with a jigsaw or circular saw.
A handy way to ensure you are cutting in a straight line is to use a chalk line. You flick and snap the chalk line down on the plywood and it will give you a nice, straight chalk line to cut along.
If you are installing the kitchen unit against one of the walls (rather than across the front like me), you may not want to ply-line the back of the kitchen unit. The back is not in sight, and you will shave quite a bit of weight by not installing it.
Because my camper van kitchen unit separates the cab and the living quarters of the van, I insulated the back with foam board insulation and covered with some more ply.
Next, ply-line the individual compartments of the camper van kitchen unit to partition them off from each other.
Step 3: Install the Kitchen Top
The kitchen top is an essential part of any campervan kitchen unit. It is a very hard surface that can take a lot of wear and tear. We install the sink and stove into the kitchen top.
Measure the required size and cut the kitchen top using a circular saw. Kitchen top wood is very hard wood. So make sure you are using a new, very sharp circular saw. Do not use a blade with a very high tooth count. You should use some tapping and cutting fluid to reduce the heat and increase lubrication while you are cutting. Installing a fence on your circular saw will help you get a super clean, straight cut.
At this point, you will want to make a cut-out to allow for the installation of the sink and stove. The SMEV 9222 comes with a cardboard template which you can trace around with a pencil. You then simply cut around the traced line with a jigsaw.
Here is a guide on how to install the SMEV 9222.
Finally, glue down the kitchen top to the carcass using wood glue. Add some sealant where necessary and clamp it down for a few hours to seal the deal.
Step 4: Build the Doors
The last step is to build the camper van kitchen unit doors. Build these in the same manner as for the wardrobe: lengths of tongue and groove secured together with horizontal cladding slats on the back.
Attach each door to the side furring using two strap hinges. Install a door knob on each door. I also installed magnetic catches to keep the door shut tight when driving.
The final step is to install some decorative stripwood around the edges of each door to frame them and make them pop. I also made similar doors for the smaller compartments in the campervan kitchen unit.
The Alternative: Buy a Pre-built Kitchen Unit
Building a kitchen unit yourself can take a lot of time and is quite complex. Davanco Designs sell beautiful pre-built kitchen units specifically for campervans.
Conclusion
That's all there is to building a campervan kitchen unit. It's probably the most challenging carpentry job you'll do, but it's essential for a complete campervan that feels like home. With this done, you might like to move on to installing your sink and gas hob unit.
Before you get started, make sure you check out the excellent VanSpace3D for experimenting with your furniture layout and design.
If you're still confused, check out our carpentry masterclass for an in-depth, step-by-step course on the whole process.
Don't forget to subscribe to The Van Conversion Newsletter for everything you need to get started with your own van conversion. We'll send you a free wiring diagram when you join.
If you're looking for some guidance with your van conversion, you might be interested in our book, Roaming Home, or in our online course, The Van Conversion Mastery Course. You'll learn directly from our founder Shane how to convert a van into your dream home - no prior experience needed. Shane also offers one-to-one consultations, where he'll help you with any aspect of your build in a face-to-face video call. All consultations come with a free copy of Roaming Home and our Diagram Pack.
Finally, our Van Conversion Ultimate Guide lays out the whole van conversion process in easy-to-follow sections with tools, materials, and step-by-step instructions. It's the perfect companion for your van build.
Until next time.
