Best Medicine Cabinets With Mirror: Recessed, Surface Mount and Lighted

The best medicine cabinets with mirror come down to one choice before any brand: does the cabinet sit inside the wall, or on it? A recessed medicine cabinet looks built in and takes no room in the bathroom, but it needs a hole that fits. A surface mount cabinet hangs on any flat wall and sticks out a few inches. Add a light and an outlet and the shortlist changes again. Below are seven cabinets I compared on their published specs, from a 16 inch plastic model that fits between standard studs to a 30 inch lighted cabinet with built-in outlets.

Measure first. My guide on how to measure a medicine cabinet walks through the opening, the wall depth and the clearances, and this page does not repeat it step by step. If you only want a lighted mirror without storage, see my best lighted bathroom mirrors.

My top picks

1. Editor's choice

   Best Overall

   Kohler Frameless Bathroom Mirror Medicine Cabinet, 20 in x 26 in | CB-CLC2026FS, Single Door, Rectangular Beveled Edge Frame, Adjustable Shelves for Storage

   • $$ Mid-range
   • 20 x 26 in
   • Recessed or surface
   • See Kohler spec sheet

   Keep in mind: Rough opening figures vary between retailer listings

   Check price on Amazon
2. 

   Best Budget and Best Between 16 Inch Studs

   IDYLLOR Plastic Medicine Mirror Cabinet for Bathroom 16 x 26 inch, Surface and Recessed Mount

   • $$ Mid-range
   • 16 x 26 x 3.75 in
   • Recessed or surface

   Keep in mind: Plastic housing, not metal

   Check price on Amazon
3. 

   Best for Black Fixtures and Storage

   GoTiling 20x26 Black Medicine Cabinet with Mirror, Recessed & Surface Mount | Bathroom mirror with storage: 6 adjustable shelves; DTC soft-close hinges; rust-resistant aluminum frame; fully assembled.

   • $$ Mid-range
   • 20 x 26 x 3.62 in
   • Recessed or surface

   Keep in mind: Opening is wider than a 16 inch stud bay

   Check price on Amazon

Best Medicine Cabinets With Mirror Compared

Sizes are width by height (and depth where the listing gives it). The opening row is the hole in the wall a recessed cabinet needs, as the seller lists it. Where a listing does not say, the table says "Not stated" rather than guess, so confirm with the seller before you cut.

Medicine Cabinet With Mirror Reviews

Dimensions, shelves and light settings below come from the makers' and sellers' published listings. I compared those specs against each other and against the stud and wall limits in the buying guide further down.

Editor's choice · Best Overall

Kohler Frameless Bathroom Mirror Medicine Cabinet, 20 in x 26 in | CB-CLC2026FS, Single Door, Rectangular Beveled Edge Frame, Adjustable Shelves for Storage

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 20 x 26 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Opening for recessed See Kohler spec sheet
• Light None

Check price on Amazon

For most single sink bathrooms the Kohler is the cabinet I would start with. It is 20 inches wide and 26 inches tall, the size that fits a 24 to 30 inch vanity without crowding it, and it comes from a company that publishes a spec sheet for the model. Kohler's listing describes a full overlay mirrored door with beveled edges, two adjustable tempered glass shelves, and two-way adjustable hinges that open to 108 degrees.

It is also flexible. The box includes hardware for surface mount or recessed installation, plus a side mirror kit that finishes the sides when you hang it on the wall, and the door swings left or right. That matters when the wall turns out to be a bad candidate for cutting: you can change the plan without changing the cabinet.

The one thing to do carefully is the opening. Retailer listings quote Kohler's recess figures with small differences in height and depth, so take the numbers from the current Kohler spec sheet for model CB-CLC2026FS and not from a shop page. A 20 inch cabinet needs an opening wider than the gap between two studs 16 inches on center, which means framing work, covered below.

What I like

• Hardware for recessed and surface mount in the box
• Two adjustable tempered glass shelves
• Anodized aluminum body that resists rust and chips
• Left or right door swing

Keep in mind

• Rough opening figures vary between retailer listings
• No light or outlet

Best Budget and Best Between 16 Inch Studs

IDYLLOR Plastic Medicine Mirror Cabinet for Bathroom 16 x 26 inch, Surface and Recessed Mount

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 16 x 26 x 3.75 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Opening for recessed 14 x 24 x 3 in
• Light None

Check price on Amazon

This is the cabinet that solves the problem most recessed projects hit. IDYLLOR lists a wall opening of 14 inches wide, 24 inches tall and 3 inches deep for the 16 x 26 inch cabinet. A bay between two studs spaced 16 inches on center has only about 14½ inches of clear space, so a 14 inch opening is the rare size that can go in without cutting a stud. That makes it the practical pick for a first recessed install or a rental where you want the smallest hole.

The listing describes a one-piece injection-molded plastic housing meant for humid rooms, three adjustable plastic shelves, a beveled edge mirror door and continuous piano hinges. The overall size is 16 x 26 x 3.75 inches and the interior is 13.6 x 23.6 x 3.35 inches, so it holds toothbrushes, skincare and daily medicine rather than a family's worth of bottles.

Plastic will not feel like anodized aluminum, and the listing is the only spec source for the opening. Measure your bay, then check the 14 inch figure with the seller before you cut.

What I like

• Listed wall opening of 14 x 24 x 3 in, narrow enough for stud bays
• Three adjustable shelves and a beveled mirror door
• One-piece molded housing with piano hinges
• Lowest tier on this page

Keep in mind

• Plastic housing, not metal
• Small interior: 13.6 x 23.6 x 3.35 in

Best for Black Fixtures and Storage

GoTiling 20x26 Black Medicine Cabinet with Mirror, Recessed & Surface Mount | Bathroom mirror with storage: 6 adjustable shelves; DTC soft-close hinges; rust-resistant aluminum frame; fully assembled.

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 20 x 26 x 3.62 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Opening for recessed 19.13 x 22.99 x 3.3 in
• Light None

Check price on Amazon

If your faucet and hardware are matte black, this is the 20 x 26 cabinet that matches. GoTiling lists the overall size as 20 x 26 x 3.62 inches and the recessed opening as 19.13 inches wide, 22.99 inches tall and 3.3 inches deep, so the depth is shallow enough for most 2x4 walls. Publishing the opening at all is more than many sellers do, and it is why I can compare it directly with the others.

The storage is the selling point: six adjustable, removable tempered glass shelves and a center divider, with the listing rating each shelf at 17.64 pounds. The frame is powder-coated aluminum, the mirror is described as copper-free, and the soft-close hinges open to 110 degrees. Mounting is recessed or surface.

At 19.13 inches the opening is wider than the 14½ inch gap between standard studs, so recessing it means cutting and framing around a stud. Hung on the surface, it needs none of that.

What I like

• Listed recessed opening of 19.13 x 22.99 x 3.3 in
• Six adjustable glass shelves, each rated for 17.64 lb
• Matte black powder-coated aluminum frame
• Left or right swing, fully assembled body

Keep in mind

• Opening is wider than a 16 inch stud bay
• Wall installation still required

Best for Wide Vanities

Design House Cyprus Bathroom Medicine Cabinet with Mirror, 25 Inch Recessed or Surface Mount Cabinet, 3 Frameless Mirrored Doors, 2 Shelves, White, Pre-Assembled, 597484

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 25 x 24.5 x 4.4 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Light None
• Extras 3 mirrored doors, 2 shelves

Check price on Amazon

A tri-view cabinet gives you the side angles of your face and head that a single door cannot, which is useful for shaving, hair and eye makeup. The Design House Cyprus is listed at 25 inches wide, 24.5 inches tall and 4.4 inches deep, with three frameless mirrored doors, two adjustable shelves and a white finish. It arrives pre-assembled and mounts on the surface or recessed.

That width suits a 30 to 36 inch vanity, where a 20 inch cabinet can look small. The same width is the catch for a recessed install: 25 inches cannot sit inside a 16 inch stud bay, and the listing does not give a rough opening, so ask the seller or read the instruction sheet before you plan the wall.

On the surface it is simple, and the three doors make the width earn its place. At 4.4 inches deep it comes further off the wall than the others here, so check the faucet and the room behind your shoulder before you choose it for a narrow bath.

What I like

• Three frameless mirrored doors give side views
• 25 inches wide for a 30 to 36 inch vanity
• Pre-assembled, recessed or surface
• Two adjustable shelves

Keep in mind

• Recessed opening size is not stated in the listing
• 4.4 inch depth protrudes more than a flat mirror

Best Lighted Medicine Cabinet

QueenFun Lighted Medicine Cabinet with Mirror & Clock -20x26 Surface or Recessed Aluminum Medicine Cabinet with Dimmable Light & Outlet, Anti-Fog, Built-in Sensing Light, Assembly-Free

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 20 x 26 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Body Aluminum

Check price on Amazon

This is the lighted medicine cabinet I would start with, because the listing answers the questions most others skip. It says the cabinet can go on the surface or in a recess, and that it runs from a plug or can be hardwired. It also lists ETL certification for the cabinet, UL or FCC listing for the lighting and electrical parts, and an IP44 frame for a damp room.

The light color and brightness adjust and remember your last setting, and the mirror heater clears fog and shuts off after an hour. The door mirror stays usable from both sides, with soft-close hinges, three adjustable glass shelves, a sensor light inside, a clock and room temperature display you can turn off, and a charging station on top.

The side mirrors that make the tri-view are part of the surface mount option, and the listing gives no opening size for the recessed one. Get that number from the seller before you cut.

What I like

• Listed as ETL certified, with an IP44 frame
• Recessed or surface mount, plug-in or hardwired
• Adjustable light, memory, anti-fog with one-hour auto off
• Three adjustable glass shelves and a charging station on top
• Listed 2-year warranty

Keep in mind

• Recessed opening is not stated
• Side mirrors are for the surface mount option

Best With a Socket Inside

20 * 28 Right Hinge LED Bathroom Mirror Cabinet, Aluminum Medicine Cabinet | Light Adjustable, Sockets & USBs inside, Anti-Fog, Easy to Install

• $$ Mid-range
• Overall size 20 x 28 in
• Light LED, 3500/4000/6500K, 10% to 100%
• Body Aluminum

Check price on Amazon

The GANPE is the lighted cabinet I would pick for a shaver or an electric toothbrush, because the socket and USB ports sit inside, behind the door, so the cords stay out of sight. At 20 x 28 inches it is also a little taller than the standard 26 inch cabinet.

GANPE lists warm white 3500K, natural 4000K and bright white 6500K, brightness from 10% to 100% with a memory, a built-in defogger and IP44 protection. The door has mirrors on both sides, and two glass shelves adjust in height.

Check the hinge side before you buy: this listing is the right hinge version, and a left hinge one is sold separately. The listing does not say whether the cabinet is recessed or surface mounted, or how it is powered, so confirm both with the seller and plan the power with an electrician.

What I like

• Socket and USB ports inside the cabinet
• 3500K, 4000K and 6500K settings, 10% to 100% brightness, memory
• Built-in defogger and IP44 listing
• Mirrors on both sides of the door, two adjustable glass shelves

Keep in mind

• Mounting type and recessed opening are not stated
• This ASIN is the right hinge version

Best Charging Station

TETOTE LED Lighted Medicine Cabinet with Lights 30 x 26 Recessed or Surface Mount Cabinet Mirror for Bathroom Wall, 2 Door Tempered Glass Led Vanity Cabinet, Outlets & USB, 3-Color Dimming, Anti-Fog

• $$$ Premium
• Overall size 30 x 26 in
• Mounting Recessed or surface
• Extras Anti-fog, 2 outlets, 2 USB

Check price on Amazon

The TETOTE is the cabinet that replaces the outlet strip on your counter. The listing gives two outlets rated 125VAC/20A and two USB ports, so a hair dryer, electric toothbrush or shaver can charge inside the cabinet. It is 30 inches wide and 26 inches tall with two tempered glass mirror doors, which suits a 36 inch vanity or wider.

It has lighting on both the outside face and inside the cabinet, so you can see the shelves with the doors open. There are three color temperatures (cool, natural and warm) with stepless dimming, a memory for the setting, a fast defog and soft-close hinges. The shelves are tempered glass, listed at 15/64 inch thick.

It can be recessed or surface mounted, but the listing does not give the depth or the opening, and a cabinet with outlets needs a power supply either way. Treat this one as an electrician's job and get the dimensions from the seller first.

What I like

• Two outlets (125VAC/20A) and two USB ports built in
• Lighting inside and out, three colors, stepless dimming
• Memory, fast defog and soft-close hinges
• Two tempered glass doors, glass shelves

Keep in mind

• Depth and recessed opening are not stated
• Needs a power supply behind the cabinet

How I Chose These Medicine Cabinets

A medicine cabinet is a box in a wall, so I started with the box. I compared the makers' and sellers' published figures and kept cabinets that state at least the overall size and the way they mount. Then I checked:

• Fit: overall size, depth, and a stated opening for recessed installs, especially against a 16 inch stud bay.
• Mounting: recessed, surface mount or both, and what hardware comes in the box.
• Build: aluminum or metal frames, tempered glass shelves and hinges that close softly.
• Light and power: color temperature, dimming and anti-fog, and whether outlets and USB ports are built in.
• A range of sizes: from 16 to 30 inches wide, so there is a cabinet for a powder room and for a wide vanity.

Where a listing does not state a figure, I say so. Cabinets that did not list their size or mounting were left out.

Recessed vs Surface Mount Medicine Cabinets

A recessed cabinet sits in a hole cut between studs, with only the door and a thin flange showing. A surface mount cabinet hangs on the face of the wall like a box. Neither is better; each solves a different wall.

When recessed makes sense

Recessed is the right call in a small bathroom where an extra 4 inches of depth in front of the sink is felt every day, or when you want a built-in look. It costs more in labor, because you cut drywall, may need to patch around the flange, and must check the cavity for pipes and wires first. A wall that backs onto a shower, a vent stack or an exterior wall with insulation can rule it out.

When surface mount makes sense

Surface mount needs a flat stretch of wall and fixings into studs or rated anchors, and nothing else. It suits rentals, tiled walls and any wall with plumbing inside. The trade-off is depth: where the listing gives one, these cabinets are between roughly 3½ and 4½ inches deep, and a surface mount cabinet comes out into the room by that much. Every cabinet on this page can be recessed or hung on the wall, which lets you decide after you open the wall.

Recessed or surface for a lighted cabinet

Lighted cabinets add a power cable, so the wall matters twice. Recessed, the cable usually runs inside the wall to a junction box, which is electrician work. Surface mounted, a plug-in cabinet can run its cord to a nearby outlet if the seller allows it. Check what the listing says about power before you pick either mounting.

Fitting a Recessed Cabinet Between 16 Inch Studs

The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Solution Center says wood-framed houses have traditionally been built with 2x4 studs spaced 16 inches on center. That is the distance from the middle of one stud to the middle of the next. A 2x4 is about 1½ inches wide, so the clear gap between two studs is only about 14½ inches. Newer homes can be framed differently, so find the studs with a stud finder and measure rather than assume.

What fits without cutting a stud

An opening of 14 inches or narrower fits the bay. Of the cabinets here, only the IDYLLOR lists such an opening, at 14 inches wide. The GoTiling opening is 19.13 inches wide, so it spans a stud. Every wider cabinet needs the same treatment.

What to do if the cabinet is wider than the bay

You have three options: choose the narrower cabinet, surface mount the wide one, or have a stud cut and the opening framed with a header and new side supports. The last option is a carpentry job, and in a load-bearing wall it needs someone who can judge it. Do not cut a stud to make a cabinet fit unless you know what the wall holds up.

Measure the niche, not the cabinet

Measure the opening width and height in three places and use the smallest, then the depth of the cavity behind the drywall. Compare those with the rough opening in the spec for the exact model, never with the headline size, because the cabinet is larger than its hole by the width of the flange. My medicine cabinet measuring guide has the full order of measurements, including pipes and wires.

Lighted Medicine Cabinets: What to Check

A lighted medicine cabinet puts a light fixture, a mirror and storage into one box, and each part has a spec worth reading.

Light and color temperature

Color temperature is measured in kelvin: about 3000K is warm, 4000K is neutral and 6000K is cool. For grooming and makeup a neutral setting reads closest to daylight, and the GANPE and TETOTE offer three settings with dimming, while the QueenFun lists adjustable color and brightness. None of the three lists a CRI figure, which is the number that tells you how true skin tones look. My guide to the best lighting for makeup explains both numbers.

Power, outlets and USB

A cabinet with outlets, like the TETOTE and the GANPE, needs a supply behind it. Plug-in cabinets need an outlet near the cabinet and a cord path; hardwired ones connect to a junction box. Hardwiring is licensed electrician work, and the breaker goes off before anyone opens a wall. The QueenFun listing says it works either way; for the other two, ask the seller how each cabinet is meant to be powered.

Anti-fog and heated mirrors

The defogger on a lighted cabinet is a heater behind the mirror, as the QueenFun listing says, and it shuts off after an hour on that model. If your bathroom steams up, read my guide on how to stop a bathroom mirror from fogging.

Choosing the Right Size

Match the vanity, then the wall

As a starting rule, the cabinet should match the vanity width or come in slightly narrower. A 20 inch cabinet suits a 24 to 30 inch vanity, a 25 inch cabinet a 30 to 36 inch one, and a 30 inch cabinet a 36 inch vanity or wider. For a plain mirror rather than a cabinet, my bathroom mirror size guide has the full chart.

Check clearance before you fall for the size

Hold a piece of cardboard cut to the cabinet's size against the wall and open an imaginary door. The bottom edge should clear the faucet at full height, the door should swing without hitting the tap or the wall, and a light above should not touch the top. A cabinet full of bottles is heavy, so plan screws into studs or anchors rated by their maker. My guide to hanging a heavy mirror covers the fixings.

Related: How to measure a medicine cabinet · Best lighted bathroom mirrors · Best bathroom wall mirrors · Bathroom mirror size calculator · How to hang a heavy mirror