Glossary
Carcass vs Shutter: What Is the Difference?
Carcass and shutter explained for interior firms: definition, example, common mistakes and FAQs.
Published · Updated · By DecorFlow
Key points
Carcass
The structural box. Its board type, grade and thickness affect durability.
Shutter
The visible door or drawer front. Its finish drives the look and much of the price.
Hardware
Hinges, channels and handles are usually separate lines from both.
Definition
In modular furniture the carcass is the box: the sides, top, bottom and back panels that form the structure. The shutter is the door or drawer front fixed to it. They are often made from different materials and priced separately.
An example
A kitchen base unit may have an 18 mm plywood carcass and an acrylic shutter. A client who changes the shutter finish changes only the shutter line; the carcass, hardware and installation lines stay the same. Listing them separately keeps that change easy to price.
Common mistakes
- Quoting one rate that does not say what the carcass is made of.
- Naming the shutter finish but not its thickness or edge treatment.
- Leaving hinges and channels out of both lines.
- Letting a supplier swap the carcass board without telling the client.
Common questions
Why price the carcass and shutter separately?
Clients often change shutter finishes but keep the structure. Separate lines let you reprice one without recalculating the other.
What should a specification name?
The board type, grade and thickness for the carcass, and the finish, thickness and edge treatment for the shutter.
Where does this matter most?
In modular kitchens and wardrobes, where the same specification repeats across many units.
See how kitchen work is quoted
Read the estimating guide for modular kitchen installation.
Read the kitchen quoting guide