Gridfinity glossary: the key terms
Gridfinity has its own vocabulary. This glossary explains the most important terms – handy if you're new to the system or reading guides and model descriptions.
| Term | German | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Baseplate | Grundplatte | sits in the drawer and forms the grid |
| Bin | Behälter, Box | stands on the baseplate and covers one or more units |
| Unit / grid unit | Feld | 42 × 42 mm |
| Height unit (u) | Höheneinheit | 7 mm |
| Stacking lip | Stapelrand | rim at the top of a bin that another bin stands on |
| Scoop | Greifmulde | rounded inner edge to slide small parts out |
| Label tab | Beschriftungslasche | tab at the top of the back wall for labels |
| Divider | Trennwand | splits the bin into compartments |
| Lid | Deckel | sits in the stacking lip |
| Padding | Randstreifen | fills the rest of the drawer next to the grid |
| Clearance / tolerance | Spiel | air so parts slide in easily |
| Insert / cutout | Formeinsatz, Aussparung | pocket shaped like an object |
Baseplate and grid
- Baseplate: the foundation of every Gridfinity drawer. It has a socket for each unit that the bins' feet click into.
- Unit: the base unit of the grid, 42 × 42 mm. Sizes like “2 × 3” mean two units wide, three deep.
- Half-grid: bins in half-unit sizes, e.g. 2.5 × 2 units. Gridmint uses a 21 mm foot grid for these; magnet and screw holes and the stackable lid are not available then.
- Padding: the area next to the grid when the drawer isn't an exact multiple of 42 mm. It keeps the baseplate in place.
- Clearance: a small gap – 0.5 mm per side by default in Gridmint – so the plate drops in easily.
- Magnet baseplate: a baseplate with magnets for extra hold – in Gridmint the “Magnets” and “Screw-down” styles.
- Weighted baseplate: a baseplate with pockets for weights to make it heavier. Not offered by Gridmint.
- Lite baseplate: a thin frame without a floor, very material-efficient – “Slim” in Gridmint.
- Skeletonized baseplate: a baseplate with an open grid floor – “Lattice” in Gridmint.
Bins
- Bin: anything that stands on the baseplate – from a plain box to a tool holder.
- Height unit: 7 mm. A “6u” bin is 42 mm tall, measured to the top of the wall.
- Stacking lip: a 4.4 mm rim at the top of the bin that other bins can stack on.
- Scoop: a rounded inner front edge so screws and small parts slide out easily.
- Label tab: a tab at the top of the compartment’s back wall, with a flat top for labels or engraved text and a chamfered underside so it prints without supports. In Gridmint: left, center or right with adjustable width – or full width.
- Divider: splits the bin into compartments.
- Magnet holes / screw holes: holes in the bottom for 6 × 2 mm magnets or M3 screws.
Models and tools
- Gridfinity Rebuilt: a popular OpenSCAD project that implements the Gridfinity dimensions as a reference. Gridmint is matched against it.
- Generator: a tool that creates Gridfinity parts from inputs like size and height – like Gridmint.
- Custom insert / cutout: a bin with pockets shaped like specific items such as tools. In Gridmint you can also create one from a photo.
- Shadow board: a surface with outlines where every tool has its own place.
Frequently asked questions
What does “u” mean in Gridfinity?
“u” stands for the 7 mm height unit. A 3u bin is 21 mm tall, a 6u bin 42 mm – both without the stacking lip.
What's the difference between a bin and a baseplate?
The baseplate sits in the drawer and forms the grid. Bins stand on it and can be moved around freely.
Related
Gridfinity is an open standard by Zack Freedman. Gridmint is an independent, Gridfinity-compatible tool.