L-Shape Wardrobe - Is the Overlap Charged?
One of the most common questions homeowners ask when designing an L-shaped wardrobe is this:
Do I have to pay for the overlapping portion?
Let’s say you’re building two sides of a wardrobe, each 6 feet long, forming an “L.”
With a 2-foot overlap in the corner, the question becomes:
Should you be charged for 10 feet (6 + 6 - 2), or 12 feet (6 + 6)?
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Here’s the answer - it depends on
Whether the overlap is separate or “connected” (i.e., one continuous L-shaped storage as per photo above).
The carpenter you choose (less important)
If the two sides are built separately (i.e., the overlap isn’t connected or utilised), then it’s clear.
You should only be paying for 10 feet.
It’s as though you are building a separate 6-foot and 4-foot wardrobe next to each other isn’t it?
The overlapping section is wasted space — it’s only accessible from one side.
But if the overlap is “connected” and creates an actual L-shaped storage, then things get a little trickier, and costlier.
We spoke to 4 carpenters, and 3 said they would charge the full 12 feet. Only one said 10 feet.
Three reasons for this higher costing:
Installation is harder: Carpenters prefer to build the “carcass” (a.k.a. the wardrobe frame) in their workshop and install directly at your place. But with an L-shape full-height unit, this carcass can’t fit the lift due to the angle and height. This means that everything has to be assembled from scratch on-site, which takes more time and labour. This is the #1 reason for the extra cost.
Door mechanics is trickier: Everyone wants tight, clean door gaps, but with a 90° angle in the corner, tight gaps cause the doors to block each other when you open them. The fix? Either widen the gaps (which can look ugly), or build a custom L-shape door, which takes even more time and precision.
Material wastage increases: Carpenters prefer rectangular cut-outs. But you’re now connecting two perpendicular cabinets, the plywood has to be cut into L-shapes, no longer rectangular. Meaning there will be more offcuts and wastage, leading to a higher material cost.
If the carpenter charges for this, correspondingly IDs/contractors have to charge this to homeowners.
So here’s the bottom line:
If you want more usable space, go for the connected L-shape. Just be prepared to pay more.
If you don’t need the extra corner storage, then keep both sides separate and make sure that you are quoted without the overlap.
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