How to Measure Your Caravan Shelf

Getting accurate measurements is the most important step. Our shelves are cut to your exact dimensions — there's no trimming on site, so please measure carefully before ordering.

Diagram: width (wall to wall), depth (back to front), and clearance (gap above the shelf)

All shelves are cut to ±2mm tolerance. We recommend ordering 2–3mm smaller than your measured space to allow for easy fitting and any slight variation in your caravan's walls.

Measure the width

Measure the full internal width of the space where the shelf will sit — from wall to wall, or between the uprights of your shelving unit. This is the dimension we cut to. Measure at the front, middle, and back of the space and use the smallest reading.

If your caravan walls bow inward slightly, measure at the narrowest point to ensure the shelf fits without forcing.

Measure the depth

Measure from the back wall to the front edge of where you want the shelf to sit. This is the front-to-back dimension. If the shelf will rest on brackets or runners, measure to the front of those supports.

Leave a small clearance at the back if there are cables, pipes, or a skirting board behind the shelf position.

Check the clearance

Measure the vertical clearance — the gap between the shelf position and the surface above it. Make sure there is enough room to slide the shelf in once it arrives. Our standard board thickness is 18mm.

Add at least 5mm to the board thickness when checking clearance so you can manoeuvre the shelf into position comfortably.

Account for lipping

If you are adding hardwood lipping, it adds approximately 18mm to the lipped edges. If lipping the front edge, your effective depth increases by 18mm — check this does not cause the shelf to protrude further than intended.

Lipping is decorative and structural. It covers the raw board edge and adds rigidity, but it does change the finished dimensions slightly.

Ordering multiple shelves

If you need shelves at different positions — for example, a set of three shelves in a wardrobe — measure each one individually. Even if the spaces look identical, small variations in caravan construction mean each shelf position may differ by a few millimetres. Add each shelf to your basket separately using the configurator.

Ready to order?

Once you have your measurements, head to the shelf configurator to enter your dimensions and get an instant price.

Design your shelf →

Quick tips

✓ Use a steel tape measure, not a fabric one
✓ Measure at least twice before ordering
✓ Round down to the nearest millimetre
✓ Check for obstructions at the back (pipes, cables)
✓ Note whether you need lipping before measuring — it adds ~18mm to lipped edges

Not sure which material to choose?

Read the Materials Guide →