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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Short answer: a published procurement specification for a standard movable hospital bedside cabinet gives an overall footprint of 36-44 cm by 36-44 cm and a height of 72-88 cm, with a carrying capacity of 27-33 kg. The specification itself gives ranges rather than one fixed size, so check the dimensions stated by the specification or manufacturer you are working from.
Who uses it: patients and ward staff use a bedside cabinet for belongings at the bed; buyers and facilities staff use its dimensions to check that it fits beside a bed and can be moved.
What a bedside cabinet is
A bedside cabinet is a movable piece of patient-room furniture that stores a patient’s belongings next to the bed. The UNFPA Procurement Services specification “Cabinet, bedside, standard” (SKU ITM-1000360) describes a “movable basic patient bedside cabinet” with a lockable drawer in the upper part and a closed storage compartment below it (UNFPA Procurement Services, checked 2026-10-30).
How it is built
In that specification the frame, side panels, base, top, door and shelf are epoxy-coated plate steel, described as highly resistant to corrosion for tropical environments. Frame, drawer, door and panel thickness is 1-1.4 mm. The top has a smooth finish for easy cleaning, the drawer and door use recessed finger grips so the front is entirely flat, and the cabinet is not knockdown (the specification states knockdown construction: no). It is supplied with assembly tools, two keys unique to that cabinet, drawer organizers, a parts list and pictorial assembly and safe-use instructions.
Dimensions in a procurement specification
The table lists only values stated in the UNFPA specification, as ranges.
| Feature | Specified value | What it affects |
|---|---|---|
| Overall size (l x w x h) | 36-44 x 36-44 x 72-88 cm | Floor space beside the bed and height of the top |
| Panel thickness (frame, drawer, door, panels) | 1-1.4 mm | Construction of the steel body |
| Door opening angle | 120 degrees | Clearance needed to open the door |
| Swivel castor (w x diameter) | 2.25-2.75 x 6.5-8.5 cm | Ease of moving the cabinet |
| Carrying capacity | 27-33 kg | Total load the cabinet is specified to carry |
Parts that affect fit and use
Drawer and storage compartment
The upper part is one drawer lockable with a key; the lower part is a compartment with one fixed shelf, closed by a door that opens to 120 degrees.
Castors and brakes
The cabinet stands on four swivel castors, two of them with brakes. The brakes are a total-lock type (wheel and rotation) and both braked castors are on the push-bar handle side. A side rail handle is provided for repositioning.
Cabinet, locker and bedside table
The British Standard BS 1765-1:1990, “Hospital bedside lockers. Specification for general purpose bedside lockers for patients”, is the first part of a series setting requirements and test methods for general-purpose hospital bedside lockers used by patients. It includes recommendations on locker design and on the information a purchaser should give a manufacturer. It excludes metal lockers and lockers for day clothes, so the steel cabinet described above falls outside its scope (BSI Knowledge catalogue entry, status Current, checked 2026-10-30). The catalogue entry gives no measurements, and this page does not state any BS 1765 dimensions.
How to choose
BS 1765-1 covers the information a purchaser should give a manufacturer, and the UNFPA specification states size, castor, capacity and key details as ranges. Specifications can therefore be compared item by item (footprint, height, door opening angle, castor size and capacity) rather than against a single “standard size”.
Safe use and handling basics
The UNFPA specification says the supplier provides pictorial instructions for assembly and safe use; follow the instructions that come with the product. The specified smooth top allows easy cleaning, and the braked castors are provided so the cabinet can be locked in place. The specified carrying capacity is 27-33 kg.
Common mistakes
- Treating one brand’s size as a standard: the specification itself gives ranges.
- Forgetting door swing: the door in the specification opens to 120 degrees.
- Assuming a locker standard covers a steel cabinet: BS 1765-1 excludes metal lockers.
FAQ
How big is a hospital bedside cabinet?
In the UNFPA specification, 36-44 cm by 36-44 cm in footprint and 72-88 cm high.
How much can a bedside cabinet hold?
The same specification gives a carrying capacity of 27-33 kg.
Is there a standard for hospital bedside lockers?
BS 1765-1:1990 covers general-purpose hospital bedside lockers for patients, but excludes metal lockers and lockers for day clothes.
Related CASRAI guides
See overbed tables, adjustable bed dimensions, patient lift dimensions, commode HCPCS codes and shower chair HCPCS codes.
Sources
- UNFPA Procurement Services, Cabinet, bedside, standard (ITM-1000360), checked 2026-10-30.
- BSI Knowledge, BS 1765-1:1990 Hospital bedside lockers, checked 2026-10-30.
