Gridfinity Sizes & Dimensions
Gridfinity uses two numbers: grid units for how wide and deep a bin is, and height units for how tall. Once you know these, you can figure out what fits in your drawer and what bins to print.
Grid Units (Width & Depth)
1 grid unit = 42mm. Every Gridfinity bin and baseplate uses this. A "2×3" bin is 2 units wide (84mm) and 3 units deep (126mm).
| Grid Size | Millimeters | Inches (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 unit | 42mm | 1.65″ |
| 2 units | 84mm | 3.31″ |
| 3 units | 126mm | 4.96″ |
| 4 units | 168mm | 6.61″ |
| 5 units | 210mm | 8.27″ |
| 6 units | 252mm | 9.92″ |
| 7 units | 294mm | 11.57″ |
| 8 units | 336mm | 13.23″ |
Half-Bin Mode
For tighter fits, half-bin mode uses 0.5-unit increments (21mm). A 1.5×2.5 bin would be 63mm × 105mm. Enable this in the layout tool by pressing H.
Height Units
1 height unit (1U) = 7mm. This is how much vertical space you get inside the bin. A 3U bin holds items up to about 21mm tall.
| Height | Internal (mm) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 2U | 14mm | SD cards, small screws, paper clips |
| 3U | 21mm | USB drives, AA batteries, bolts |
| 4U | 28mm | Pens, markers, drill bits |
| 5U | 35mm | Scissors, tape rolls, small tools |
| 6U | 42mm | Screwdrivers, pliers (standard depth) |
| 7U | 49mm | Spray cans, larger hand tools |
| 8U | 56mm | Glue bottles, tall containers |
| 10U | 70mm | Deep storage, bulky items |
Clearance check: Your tallest bin plus the baseplate (~5mm) must fit when the drawer is closed. Measure the inside height of your closed drawer before committing to tall bins.
How to Convert Your Drawer Measurements
Grab a tape measure and get your drawer’s inside dimensions in millimeters. Then:
- Measure the inside width and depth in millimeters
- Divide each by 42
- Round down to the nearest whole number (or half, if using half-bin mode)
Example
Drawer width: 380mm ÷ 42 = 9.04 → 9 units
Drawer depth: 520mm ÷ 42 = 12.38 → 12 units
Layout size: 9 × 12 (378mm × 504mm)
Gap at edges: 2mm width, 16mm depth
Small gaps at the edges are normal. Baseplates don't need to fill every millimeter. Most people center the baseplates and ignore the gap.
Common Bin Sizes
These are what most people print. You can create any of these (or any custom size) in the bin generator.
| Bin Size | Dimensions (mm) | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 1×1 | 42 × 42 | Individual screws, nuts, small components |
| 1×2 | 42 × 84 | Pens, USB cables, batteries in a row |
| 1×3 | 42 × 126 | Screwdrivers, rulers, long tools |
| 2×2 | 84 × 84 | Tape, glue sticks, tape measures |
| 2×3 | 84 × 126 | Pliers, wire cutters, medium tools |
| 3×3 | 126 × 126 | Drill bit sets, large accessories |
| 4×2 | 168 × 84 | Socket wrenches, caliper storage |
Will It Fit on Your Print Bed?
Most FDM printers have a 220–256mm bed, which handles bins up to about 5×5 or 6×6 units. Anything larger needs to be split or printed in sections. The layout tool defaults to a 256mm print bed and will flag bins that won’t fit.
Quick Reference
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Grid unit | 42mm × 42mm |
| Half grid unit | 21mm |
| Height unit (1U) | 7mm |
| Baseplate thickness | ~5mm |
| Default print bed | 256mm |
| Max grid size (tool) | 50 × 50 units |
Next Steps
Now that you know the sizes, generate a custom bin or open the layout planner to see how bins fit in your drawer.
New to Gridfinity? Here’s a quick overview of how the system works.