Melamine-faced chipboard and MDF are the two boards most kitchen, bedroom and office furniture is made from. They look similar in a catalogue but behave differently when cut, milled and finished. This guide explains the difference, the board sizes and thicknesses available at Mobilier.md, and which board to use for each part of a piece of furniture.
In short
- Melamine-faced chipboard (particleboard; PAL in Romanian, ЛДСП in Russian) is made of pressed wood chips with a factory-applied decorative surface. It is used mainly for carcasses, shelves and side panels.
- MDF is made of fine wood fibres and has a uniform structure. It mills and paints cleanly, so it is used mainly for doors and fronts.
- At Mobilier.md, both boards come in 2,800 × 2,070 mm sheets.
- Boards can be ordered cut to size, edge-banded and CNC-machined.
Chipboard vs MDF at a glance
| Criterion | Melamine-faced chipboard | MDF |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Pressed wood chips, decorative surface on both sides | Pressed fine wood fibres, uniform structure |
| Surface | Finished at the factory | Raw (to be finished) or with a decorative surface |
| Milling and profiles | Suited to straight cuts and drilling | Mills cleanly: profiles, rounded corners, integrated handles |
| Painting | Not needed | Raw MDF can be painted |
| Edges | Covered with edge banding | Edge banding, paint or a profile |
| Thicknesses at Mobilier.md | 10, 16, 18, 18.6, 19, 25 mm | 3 to 38 mm |
| Sheet size | 2,800 × 2,070 mm | 2,800 × 2,070 mm |
| Typically used for | Carcasses, shelves, side panels, flat doors | Painted or milled fronts, profiled parts |
Both boards are sensitive to water on unprotected edges, so edges near the sink and dishwasher need careful sealing.
Which board for which part
| Part | Usual choice |
|---|---|
| Kitchen units, wardrobes, chests of drawers | 16 or 18 mm melamine-faced chipboard |
| Flat doors in a wood or plain décor | Melamine-faced chipboard with edge banding, or MDF facade panels |
| Painted, profiled or rounded doors | MDF |
| Cabinet backs and drawer bottoms | 3 mm HDF/hardboard |
| Kitchen worktop | Postforming or HPL Compact worktop, not standard chipboard |
Many kitchens combine both: chipboard carcasses with MDF fronts. For the worktop, see our guide to choosing and ordering a kitchen worktop.
For frames and load-bearing parts, see also our plywood guide.
Sheet sizes and how many you need
A 2,800 × 2,070 mm sheet covers about 5.8 m². Add up the area of all parts, divide by 5.8 and allow extra for cutting waste. The exact number of sheets depends on the cutting plan.
- Melamine-faced chipboard: 10, 16, 18, 18.6, 19 and 25 mm, from EGGER, Swiss Krono and Kronospan — see chipboard.
- MDF: 3 to 38 mm, some thicknesses on order — see MDF boards and MDF facade panels (AGT and EGGER, 19 mm).
Cutting, edge banding and machining
- Cutting of 3–38 mm chipboard and MDF, including angled cuts;
- ABS edge banding, 0.5, 1 and 2 mm, on straight or curved edges, with matching edging;
- CNC machining: drilling, radius milling, cut-outs.
Unit prices for boards and services are published on each page. According to the About page, Mobilier.md has been operating since 2000 and supplies materials and processing to furniture makers.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, chipboard or MDF?
Neither is better in general. Melamine-faced chipboard suits carcasses and flat parts with a ready-made finish. MDF suits painted, milled or profiled fronts. Many projects use both. For doors and drawers, see also our guide to cabinet hinges and drawer slides.
What size is a chipboard sheet?
At Mobilier.md, 2,800 × 2,070 mm, or about 5.8 m².
Can I buy boards cut to size?
Yes. Cutting, edge banding and CNC machining are ordered as services together with the boards.
Order boards cut to size
Choose a décor, then send your parts list through the form on the cutting service page or call +373 61 0 88 000.
Address: 18/2 Calea Basarabiei St., Chișinău, Moldova. All contact details.