Written by the Timbur workshop team, Lanseria. Updated 3 November 2026.
A chest of drawers for a South African bedroom is usually 900 mm wide for one person or a narrow wall, and 1,600 mm wide (a double chest) for a couple or a main bedroom, at about 900 mm high and 450 to 500 mm deep. Pick the width by the wall and the number of people sharing it, check the drawer count against what you store, and leave 1,000 mm of clear floor in front for the drawers to open. This guide gives the sizes, the drawer maths, placement rules and what to look for in the runners and the timber, using the chests we build in Lanseria as examples.
Chest of drawers sizes
| Type | Width | Depth | Height | Drawers | Suits | Timbur example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single chest | 900 mm | 450 to 500 mm | 900 mm | 3 to 4 wide drawers | One person, guest room, a wall under 1,200 mm | ONE Chest of Drawers (900 x 450 x 900), Drakensberg Chest of Drawers (900 x 500 x 900) |
| Double chest | 1,600 mm | 450 to 500 mm | 900 to 920 mm | 6 to 8 drawers in two columns | A couple, a main bedroom, or a dresser with a mirror above | ONE Double (1,600 x 450 x 900), Drakensberg Double (1,600 x 500 x 900), Tribeca Double (1,600 x 470 x 920) |
| Tallboy | 500 to 800 mm | 450 mm | 1,100 to 1,350 mm | 4 to 6 narrow drawers | Small rooms, where floor space matters more than top space | Custom size on request |
| Sideboard used as a dresser | 1,200 to 2,000 mm | 500 mm | 830 mm | Drawers plus doors | Long walls, dining or bedroom | Drakensberg Midi (1,200 mm), Drakensberg Sideboard (2,000 mm) |
Height matters more than people expect. At 900 mm the top is at the height of a kitchen counter, which is comfortable to fold clothes on and the right height for a mirror above with the centre at eye level. Chests taller than about 1,100 mm stop being a surface and become storage only.
How many drawers do you need?
Count by what goes in them. A wide 450 mm deep drawer takes roughly a week of folded T-shirts in one row and jeans in a second, so three wide drawers cover one person's everyday clothes with a wardrobe for hanging. A couple sharing a double chest gets a column each: three or four drawers per side. Small top drawers (120 to 150 mm high) are for underwear and socks; the bottom drawer should be deepest (200 mm or more) for jerseys and bedding. If the top is going to carry a mirror and a lamp, keep it clear of the drawer line so the mirror does not sit over an open drawer.
Where to put it
- Clearance in front: 1,000 mm, so a drawer can open fully and you can stand at it. 750 mm is the minimum if nobody passes behind you.
- Beside the bed: keep 600 mm between the chest and the side of the bed so you can make the bed and open the drawers.
- Opposite the bed: a 900 mm chest with a TV or mirror above is the classic placement; a 1,600 mm double chest needs a wall of at least 1,800 mm to breathe.
- Under a window: fine at 900 mm high if the sill is above 950 mm; otherwise the chest blocks the window.
- Children's rooms: anchor any chest over 900 mm high to the wall with the supplied strap or bracket; climbing children tip furniture.
What to check before you buy
Runners. Full-extension, all-metal ball-bearing runners let the whole drawer come out so the back is usable and the drawer does not drop when loaded; cheaper roller runners stop two-thirds open and sag. Every Timbur chest uses full-extension ball-bearing runners. Drawer boxes. Look for solid sides and a fitted base, not a stapled hardboard sheet. Fronts and top. Solid timber fronts and a solid top can be sanded and resealed after years of use; veneer and foil cannot. Our chests have solid French Oak or Kiaat drawer fronts (and a solid top on the Drakensberg range) over a cabinet sprayed in Satin White, Satin Light Grey, Satin Dark Grey or Flat Black, with push-to-open fronts or handles depending on the range. Finish. Sealed timber shows the grain and marks can be fixed; painted fronts hide it and chips show.
Matching the rest of the bedroom
A chest ordered with a headboard, pedestals or dressing table from the same range is sprayed in the same batch, so the colour matches exactly across the room. The ONE, Drakensberg and Tribeca chests pair with the combos of the same name on the headboard and pedestal combos page. See the chests of drawers collection for current sizes and prices; the current lead time is on the lead times page, and custom widths are usually possible if you ask before ordering.
Chest of drawers questions, answered
What is the standard size of a chest of drawers?
About 900 mm wide, 450 to 500 mm deep and 900 mm high for a single chest, with three or four drawers. A double chest is about 1,600 mm wide at the same depth and height, with six to eight drawers in two columns.
How much space do you need in front of a chest of drawers?
About 1,000 mm so a full-extension drawer can open completely and you can stand at it; 750 mm is the minimum where nobody walks behind you.
How many drawers does a couple need?
A column of three or four wide drawers each, which is what a 1,600 mm double chest gives: six to eight drawers, with shallow top drawers for small items and a deep bottom drawer for jerseys and bedding.
Chest of drawers or tallboy?
A chest (900 mm high) gives you a usable top for a mirror, lamp or TV and is stable without anchoring. A tallboy (1,100 mm and up) saves floor width but has no useful top and should be anchored to the wall, especially in a child's room.
Are Timbur chests solid wood?
The drawer fronts are solid French Oak or Kiaat, and the Drakensberg range has a solid timber top. The cabinet is sprayed PG Bison MDF, chosen because it stays flat and takes an even colour, with full-extension all-metal ball-bearing runners on every drawer.
Can I get a custom width?
Usually, yes. Each chest is made to order in Lanseria, so the width can often be adjusted to a wall or an alcove. Email the measurements to info@timbur.co.za before ordering.
