The 11 Best Medicine Cabinets of 2023

The Kohler Flat Edge Medicine Cabinet is our top pick

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Commerce Photo Composite

The Spruce / Lecia Landis

A medicine cabinet is a bathroom fixture that houses your most frequently used personal care items and medications. It offers an organizational solution for keeping small items accessible and within easy reach while at the same time keeping medicine bottles out of the grasp of small children. 

When it comes to choosing a medicine cabinet, Mallory Micetich, a home care expert for Angi, says that “size, style, and functionality are the most important criteria for picking out a new medicine cabinet for your bathroom.” Functionality is particularly important, Micetich emphasizes so that your medicine cabinet is practical for your needs “rather than becoming the equivalent of another junk drawer.”

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Kohler Flat Edge Medicine Cabinet

Kohler Flat Edge Medicine Cabinet

Homedepot

What We Like
  • Adjustable shelves

  • Reversible door hinge

  • Mirrored door and cabinet interior

  • Soft-close hinges

What We Don't Like
  • Not fog-free

  • Lacks a third shelf

For a medicine cabinet that is simple, practical, and universal for nearly any bathroom decor, we recommend the Kohler Flat Edge Medicine Cabinet. This model has a beveled door with a mirror overlay, which gives you a reflective surface that measures 26 inches from top to bottom and 15 inches across. The inside of the medicine cabinet door is mirrored as well, giving an additional reflective surface and viewing angle when using the medicine cabinet. It can be installed as a wall-mounted or recessed medicine cabinet, making it suitable for a range of bathroom configurations. If you choose to surface-mount this cabinet, it includes a side mirror kit for a finished look.

Inside this Kohler medicine cabinet, you’ll find two adjustable tempered glass shelves. A third shelf would offer even more storage space, but you can adjust the height of each shelf to optimize the storage space for bottles, toothbrushes, or other taller personal care items. The inside of the cabinet features the same reflective surface as the medicine cabinet door, producing a mirrored effect inside and outside. The cabinet is made of anodized aluminum, which is resistant to chipping and rust formation—an important factor in the moist, warm environment of a bathroom.

Price at time of publish: $149-$189, depending on width

Dimensions: Range | Materials: Anodized aluminum, tempered glass | Mount Type: Surface, recessed | Shelves: 2

Best Budget

TANGKULA Mirrored Bathroom Cabinet with Single Door

TANGKULA Mirrored Bathroom Cabinet with Single Door

Amazon

What We Like
  • Shelf can be adjusted to three different positions

  • Mirrored door

  • Pick from multiple finishes

What We Don't Like
  • Constructed of MDF

  • Only includes a single shelf

You can spend several hundred dollars on a medicine cabinet, but if you’re looking for a more basic and affordable option, then the TANGKULA Mirrored Bathroom Cabinet might fit your needs. It’s constructed of engineered wood rather than aluminum, steel, or solid wood, but it’s available in multiple finishes (white, gray, and dark brown) and offers you a convenient spot to store toiletries, personal care items, or medicines. 

Despite being a budget medicine cabinet, this option from TANGKULA has a door with a mirror for checking your appearance or accommodating your morning routine. The mirror is only on the exterior of the door, but that’s to be expected at the affordable price point of under $50. A single shelf doesn’t maximize bathroom storage space like options with three or four interior shelves, but it is adjustable to one of three height positions. 

Price at time of publish: $46-50

Dimensions: 21 x 13.5 x 6 inches | Materials: Engineered wood | Mount Type: Surface | Shelves:

Best Anti-Fog

Home Decorators Collection Fog Free Framed Bathroom Medicine Cabinet

Home Decorators Collection Framed Bathroom Medicine Cabinet

Courtesy of Home Depot

What We Like
  • Mirrored door and interior

  • Adjustable shelves with three storage bins

  • Reversible door hinge

  • Can be surface-mounted or recessed

What We Don't Like
  • Prone to moisture damage

  • Only available in a white finish

A hot shower can leave your bathroom full of steam, making it a challenge to use your medicine cabinet mirror for the rest of your morning routine. To solve that problem, choose a medicine cabinet with a fog-free design, like this option from Home Depot. There are no heating elements or electrical components to the medicine cabinet mirror, but it stays fog-free under most conditions and eliminates the need to wipe the mirror clean after a steamy shower. 

The Home Decorators Collection Fog Free Framed Bathroom Medicine Cabinet can be installed as a surface-mounted or recessed medicine cabinet. The framed door gives the cabinet an attractive, finished look, but the only available finish is white. The mirrored outside surface of the door is ready for tasks like shaving, applying make-up, or styling your hair. Inside the medicine cabinet, you can house the supplies for these personal care tasks. There are three adjustable shelves, plus three repositionable plastic storage bins for keeping items like toothbrushes, cotton swabs, and more organized. 

Price at time of publish: $289

Dimensions: 26 x 21 x 5.5 inches | Materials: Composite wood, glass | Mount Type: Surface or recessed | Shelves: 3

Best Round

Wrought Studio Veedersburg Surface Mount Frameless Round Medicine Cabinet

Veedersburg Medicine Cabinet

Wayfair

What We Like
  • Lightweight

  • Reversible door

  • Stainless steel construction for resistance to water and rust

What We Don't Like
  • Shelves are not adjustable

  • No mirror on inside of the door

A round medicine cabinet is a good choice for small bathrooms or if you want an alternative to the classic, rectangular look of most cabinets. We recommend the Wrought Studio Veedersburg Medicine Cabinet since it offers a frameless mirrored door that combines simplicity and practical storage with an interior cabinet that includes one shelf. 

You’ll have to sacrifice a little space if you pick a round medicine cabinet, but it’s also worth pointing out that this option only weighs 10.72 pounds and is surface-mounted for easy installation. It’s made of stainless steel for water- and rust-resistance, so it’s ideal for use in the moist conditions of the bathroom. There is one shelf inside, which is also made from stainless steel. It’s not adjustable but divides the interior space into two shelves with 5.8 inches of clearance each. 

Price at time of publish: $180

Dimensions: 19.7 x 19.7 x 4.3 inches | Materials: Stainless steel, glass | Mount Type: Surface | Shelves: 2

Best Lighted

ExBrite LED Lighted Bathroom Medicine Cabinet with Mirror

ExBrite LED Lighted Bathroom Medicine Cabinet with Mirror

Amazon

What We Like
  • LED lights with adjustable color temperature

  • Defogging function 

  • Two-way lights illuminate the exterior mirror and interior cabinet


What We Don't Like
  • Illumination isn’t strong enough to be a primary source of lighting

  • Requires hardwire installation 

A lighted medicine cabinet provides extra illumination. It usually involves integrated lights that project from behind the cabinet or from the surface of the medicine cabinet door. In the case of the ExBrite LED Lighted Bathroom Medicine Cabinet, dual LED lights radiate from the mirrored door of the cabinet, providing extra illumination for your morning or evening routine. We like this model because you can adjust the light temperature from 3000 to 6400K at three preset intervals, giving you warmer or cooler light on demand. In addition, it has dimming and defogging features, plus an integrated 120V outlet and a USB charger. For safety and peace of mind, this model is UL certified. 

This lighted medicine cabinet can be wall-mounted or recessed. In either case, hardwire installation to a wall switch is necessary for operating the lighting and defogging features of this model. Soft-touch buttons on the mirrored surface of the medicine cabinet control the functions of this unit. 

It’s worth noting that the light radiates to the inside of the cabinet, as well. This is a plus if you’re using the mirror on the interior of the door or looking for items on one of the two inside shelves. At the same time, don’t count on the illumination from this lighted medicine cabinet to be strong enough to serve as your primary lighting source in the bathroom. 

Price at time of publish: $320-$881, depending on size

Dimensions: Range | Materials: Anodized aluminum | Mount Type: Surface or recessed | Shelves: 2

Best Design

West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet

West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet
What We Like
  • Available in a variety of finishes and sizes

  • Wall-mount or recessed installation

  • Modern design with rounded edges

What We Don't Like
  • No mirror on the inside of the cabinet door

Medicine cabinets are frequently replaced because they look out of place in an updated bathroom. If you’re looking for a stylish option that will suit your space, we recommend the West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet. It has a modern design with rounded corners and is available in five finishes to match your decor, including matte black, antique brass, chrome, dark bronze, and brushed nickel. This modern, single-door medicine cabinet is available in two sizes: 16.5 x 27.5 inches or 21 x 34 inches. A three-door version is available too, but only in an antique brass finish. 

Besides making a style statement, the West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet is functional and easy to install. You can pick between surface-mounted or recessed installation for this cabinet, with the door opening to the left or the right. Once installed, the mirrored door opens to reveal a cabinet with three glass shelves that can easily be adjusted to various positions. A mirrored interior keeps the interior of the cabinet bright and visible, but it should be noted that there is no mirror on the interior of the cabinet door. 

Price at time of publish: $350-$1,299, depending on size and style

Dimensions: 27.5 x 16.5 x 5.1 inches | Materials: Steel, engineered wood | Mount Type: Surface, recessed | Shelves: 3

Best with Shelves

IKEA Hemnes Mirror Cabinet with 2 Doors

IKEA Hemnes Mirror Cabinet with 2 Doors

IKEA

What We Like
  • Doors feature mirrors on the outside and inside

  • Has a total of four shelves

  • Plenty of storage space

What We Don't Like
  • Can be difficult to hang on the wall

  • Only available in white or gray

A medicine cabinet is useful for keeping essential items like medications, toothbrushes, and other personal care items organized and accessible, so it’s no surprise that the number of shelves is a frequent point of comparison. We like the IKEA Hemnes Mirror Cabinet because it features three adjustable interior shelves along with an accessible exterior shelf for your most frequently used items. The interior shelves are made of tempered glass and have a safety film on the bottom to reduce the risk of shattering. 

This medicine cabinet with shelves is designed to be wall-mounted. It’s worth pointing out that the sides and doors are made of solid pine and finished in gray or white. Each door has an exterior and interior mirror, so there are plenty of places to check your appearance. The size of this medicine cabinet and the fact that it’s made of solid wood makes it tricky to hang on the wall, so you may need to have a helping hand and use extra reinforcements to keep it mounted securely.  

Price at time of publish: $209

Dimensions: 38.63 x 32.63 x 6.25 inches | Materials: Pine | Mount Type: Surface | Shelves: 3

Best for Small Bathrooms

Kohler 16" x 20" Aluminum Recessed Medicine Cabinet

Kohler Aluminum Recessed Medicine Cabinet
What We Like
  • Adjustable shelves

  • Mirrored interior

  • Door with beveled edge

What We Don't Like
  • Shelves can be hard to adjust initially

  • Lacks soft-close hinges

When it comes to small bathrooms, "be aware of how much space you truly have," says Fendy Castillo, Interior Designer at Nemai Studio. "For example, do you have room between your walls to add a recessed cabinet to hide the storage box? If you don't, we suggest using a decorative cabinet."

If you do have the space for a proper medicine cabinet, the Kohler Aluminum Recessed Medicine Cabinet is an ideal fit. This option has compact dimensions and is designed for recessed installation, which saves space if you have limited square footage and want to keep your bathroom feeling open and airy. It measures 26 inches high and 15 inches wide but makes the most of the space by offering a mirror finish on the exterior and interior of the cabinet, giving you more reflective surfaces to utilize during your personal care routine. 

Despite being a compact medicine cabinet, this model from Kohler has two adjustable shelves made of tempered glass that can be positioned to house your toiletries or personal items. The door opening can be reversed to suit your bathroom configuration but lacks soft-close hinges that prevent the door from being slammed shut. Small bathrooms can be prone to a build-up of condensation and moisture, so we wish this option had a defogging function. However, since this Kohler medicine cabinet is made of anodized aluminum, it’s durable and rust-resistant. 

Price at time of publish: $116

Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 5 inches | Materials: Anodized aluminum | Mount Type: Recessed | Shelves: 2

Most Secure

Jensen Hampton Locking Medicine Cabinet

Jensen Hampton Locking Medicine Cabinet

Amazon

What We Like
  • Lock with two keys included

  • Mirrored door

  • Interior has three adjustable shelves

What We Don't Like
  • Interior of the cabinet is basic

  • Only available in two finishes

To keep the contents of your medicine cabinet secure, choose one with a lock. An attractive and functional option is the Jensen Hampton Locking Medicine Cabinet. Unlike some industrial-looking options that look out of place in a residential bathroom, this steel medicine cabinet has a mirrored door with a framed finish in oil-rubbed bronze or satin nickel. It includes two brass keys to access the exterior cylinder lock that keeps the cabinet inaccessible to others. 

There is plenty of space inside the locked medicine cabinet for medications, toiletries, or personal items. Three adjustable glass shelves can be moved around to make space for taller bottles or items. It’s worth noting that the interior of the cabinet has no mirrors; only the front of the medicine cabinet door offers a mirrored surface. 

Price at time of publish: $229

Dimensions: 25.5 x 15.75 x 5 inches | Materials: Steel | Mount Type: Recessed | Shelves: 3

Best Recessed

Pottery Barn Kensington Recessed Medicine Cabinet

Pottery Barn Kensington Recessed Medicine Cabinet

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

What We Like
  • Available in a variety of finishes

  • Cast from steel for durability

  • Can be installed for left or right door opening

What We Don't Like
  • Lacks a mirrored interior 

  • No soft close mechanism

A recessed medicine cabinet offers a sleek, built-in look without compromising space for your bathroom essentials. The Pottery Barn Kensington model stands out as the best recessed medicine cabinet for its sturdy construction, variety of attractive finishes, and adjustable, tempered glass shelves. The door lacks reversible hinges, but the medicine cabinet can be flipped to accommodate a left or right door opening. It’s available in two sizes to match the space you have available. 

Cast from steel, this recessed medicine cabinet is designed to be durable. The mirrored door is finished with an aluminum frame in a variety of finishes—take your pick of chrome, polished nickel, satin nickel, antique bronze, or matte black. Inside you’ll find three tempered glass shelves that can be repositioned as needed. There is no mirror finish inside, and the door lacks a soft-closing hinge mechanism, but we still recommend this option as the best recessed medicine cabinet for most homes. 

Price at time of publish: $359-$549

Dimensions: 27 x 17 x 5 inches | Materials: Steel, aluminum | Mount Type: Recessed | Shelves: 3

Best Double Door

Latitude Run Two Doors Medicine Cabinet

Latitude Run Two Doors Medicine Cabinet

Wayfair

What We Like
  • Fully mirrored interior

  • Organize with four adjustable shelves

  • Includes repositionable 5X magnifying mirror

What We Don't Like
  • Installation may be tricky due to size and weight

A bathroom cabinet with two doors gives you more storage space and access to your toiletries, medicines, and personal care items. We recommend the Latitude Run Two Doors Medicine Cabinet because it offers two compartments that are each accessed by a hinged, mirrored door. One compartment is larger and can hold more items, while the other compartment is smaller and can be used to keep your most necessary items readily accessible or to organize a group of similar items, like pill bottles or medications. Two tempered glass shelves line each side of the medicine cabinet, for a total of four shelves. 

This double-door medicine cabinet is equipped for wall-mounting or recessed installation, but in either case, you should carefully check the installation requirements and mounting hardware. With two doors and four shelves, this is a larger and heavier option than many single-door medicine cabinets. 

Price at time of publish: $400

Dimensions: 26 x 30 x 5.2 inches | Materials: Aluminum | Mount Type: Surface, recessed | Shelves: 4

Final Verdict

The best option overall is the Kohler Flat Edge Medicine Cabinet. Suitable for recessed or surface-mount installation, it's made of rust-resistant aluminum with a mirrored door, beveled edges, adjustable shelves, and reversible, soft-close door hinges. For a more budget-friendly option, consider the TANGKULA Mirrored Bathroom Cabinet, which comes in a variety of finishes and is compact enough to fit in most spaces. It has a single, adjustable shelf on the interior, with a conveniently placed mirror on the exterior of the medicine cabinet door.

What to Look for in a Medicine Cabinet

Size

The dimensions of a medicine cabinet are important to consider since it must fit in the space you have available. Measure the area where you want to install the medicine cabinet and look for an option that has the correct height, width, and depth dimensions. If you’re installing the medicine cabinet above a vanity, be sure to measure how much space there is between the top of the vanity and the ceiling or a light fixture.

Colors

Since many medicine cabinets are made of steel or aluminum, you’ll see finishes in colors like chrome, brushed or polished nickel, brass, oiled bronze, or matte black. A good rule of thumb is to match the color of your medicine cabinet to the finish of the hardware in your bathroom. If you choose a wooden medicine cabinet, there may be more color options available. For example, the IKEA Hemnes Mirror Cabinet with 2 Doors is available in gray or white. 

Material

The material of a medicine cabinet is an important factor to consider as it relates to durability. Since the bathroom can be a damp, humid space and there is the potential for the medicine cabinet to be splashed by water from the sink, many medicine cabinets are made from anodized aluminum or steel. These materials won’t warp due to humidity and offer water- and rust-resistance. Other medicine cabinets may be made of solid or engineered wood. Medicine cabinets made from these materials offer a different aesthetic or may be more affordable. 

Function

The basic purpose of a medicine cabinet is storage, however, there are other functions a medicine cabinet can serve as well. For example, a medicine cabinet with a mirror (most often found on the exterior of the door) is useful while applying makeup, shaving, or checking your appearance. Another function of some medicine cabinets is lighting. While the lights from a medicine cabinet are usually not bright enough to serve as a primary light source, they offer helpful illumination while getting ready or offer ambient lighting that adds to the aesthetics of the space.

Storage Capacity

Pick a medicine cabinet that has enough space to store your essential items. Most people use a medicine cabinet to store items like toothbrushes, personal care products, and, of course, medicine. While these products are fairly standard in most medicine cabinets, what isn’t standard is how many items of each category you may personally need. Start by figuring out how many things you hope to store in your medicine cabinet, and then look for a model that fits your situation.

If you are shopping for a medicine cabinet that will be installed in a guest bathroom, a model with only a small amount of storage may be sufficient. A medicine cabinet with one or two shelves, like the Wrought Studio Veedersburg Medicine Cabinet, may offer enough space while also offering an attractive and functional round mirror. 

On the other hand, a medicine cabinet that serves the needs of a couple or family may need to have more storage capacity. In this case, it’s usually best to look for an option with several shelves and perhaps multiple doors to make accessing the contents of the cabinet easier. The Latitude Run Two Doors Medicine Cabinet has four shelves and two doors to keep bathroom essentials organized and handy. 

Installation Requirements

Medicine cabinets are installed one of two ways: surface-mounting or recessed installation. Surface-mounted medicine cabinets are designed to be hung on the wall using hardware. You might choose this option if you don’t already have a recessed medicine cabinet or don’t want to create a new opening in the drywall. 

A medicine cabinet that requires recessed installation will sit in an opening in the drywall, with only a slim margin of the medicine cabinet and door extending beyond the wall’s surface. Recessed medicine cabinets are popular for a more built-in look or to save space in a small bathroom since the cabinet doesn’t extend out as far from the wall. In addition, large medicine cabinets with three or more doors sometimes require recessed installation due to their size and weight. 

Keep in mind that some models can be installed either as wall-mounted or recessed medicine cabinets. In this case, the decision on how to mount it will be up to your preference, space requirements, and aptitude for projects that involve drywall modification.

Features

Depending on what you plan to store in your medicine cabinet, you may want to look for a model with adjustable inner shelves. Many personal care products come in tall bottles, and cabinets with fixed shelves may not accommodate these awkward-sized products. Other customizations include doors that can be assembled to open from either direction and built-in lighting for great convenience.

FAQ
  • What is the standard size for a medicine cabinet?

    The dimensions of a medicine cabinet vary based on the style and capacity. Mallory Micetich, a home care expert for Angi. provides 20 to 22 inches as the standard height for a medicine cabinet and a width of 15 inches for medicine cabinets that fit above a single-basin sink vanity, and 40 inches for wider cabinets that will be mounted over a double-basin sink vanity. When it comes to internal storage space, wall-mounted cabinets usually offer more depth than recessed models. “Recessed cabinets are a maximum of four inches deep, while surface-mounted cabinets max out around seven inches, giving you more storage space,” according to Micetich.  

  • How do you organize a medicine cabinet?

    Organize your toiletries stored in a medicine cabinet by taking everything out. Once you do, sort each item into categories and discard any expired products. If there are items you infrequently use, consider moving them to another storage location. If you have been running out of space in your medicine cabinet, Micetich advises the following: “Prioritize what you use most, like daily vitamins and medications, common pain or allergy medications, makeup, hair and skin products, and useful items like tweezers, nail clippers, and q-tips.” For other essential but less frequently used items, store them in another convenient location like a drawer or closet. 

  • How do you install a recessed medicine cabinet?

    How to install a medicine cabinet will depend on whether you're installing a recessed or a floating medicine cabinet. If it's recessed (meaning it fits into a space in the wall) and there wasn't a recessed cabinet there prior, you will have to carefully cut into the wall and then secure it with mounting hardware. If it's floating (meaning it sits on top of the wall, like a piece of art would), you will need to use a stud finder to make sure the wall can support the weight, then make sure the cabinet is level and drill in place, following the directions.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Erica Puisis has been following the latest trends for home decor, researching and testing products to find the best options for value, durability, and style. For this article, she considered medicine cabinets from leading brands and retailers, like Kohler, Home Depot, Wayfair, and West Elm. Options were compared based on factors like material, size, style, and colors. Additional features, like organizational components or integrated lighting, were also considered. 

Puisis also interviewed Mallory Micetich, a home care expert at Angi. Micetich discussed the most important factors to consider when buying a medicine cabinet and offered suggestions on how to choose the right size and whether or not to install a recessed medicine cabinet as a DIY project. Fendy Castillo, Interior Designer at Nemai Studio, contributed additional insight.

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