Lighted Medicine Cabinets: Sizes, Recessed vs Surface Mount

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A lighted medicine cabinet replaces a plain mirror, a light fixture and a pile of countertop clutter in one piece. Here’s how to pick the right one.

Pick the size from your vanity

Vanity widthCabinet width to look at
18–24″20″
24–30″24″
36″ and up, or double vanity36″ double door

Keep the cabinet a little narrower than the vanity, and check the height against your ceiling and any light fixture above it.

Our picks

VEWRA 24 x 30″ Lighted Medicine Cabinet

The size that fits most single vanities. Available left- or right-hinged.

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VEWRA 36 x 30″ Lighted Medicine Cabinet, Double Door

Wide double-door cabinet for a double vanity or a 36″+ single vanity.

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VEWRA 20 x 26″ Lighted Medicine Cabinet

Compact size for powder rooms and small vanities.

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All VEWRA Lighted Medicine Cabinets

Every size and hinge direction, with current sale prices.

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Recessed or surface mount?

  • Surface mount hangs on the wall. Fast and simple, but it sticks out several inches.
  • Recessed sits inside the wall between the studs, so it’s nearly flush. Standard stud bays are about 14½” wide, so a wider cabinet means cutting a stud and framing a header. It also can’t go in a wall with plumbing or ductwork inside.
Power: these cabinets have lights, defog and outlets, so they need power at the wall. Swapping an existing light fixture is usually simple, but new wiring should be done by a licensed electrician.

Choosing the vanity too? See our bathroom vanity buying guide.

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