Cabinet and countertop heights?

[Notch1988]

I will be building my workbenches and installing cabinets here shortly. Is everyone just going with the standard kitchen heights of 36" for counters and 54" for cabinets, assuming a bench depth of around 2' and a cabinet depth of 1'?

 

[BHR4CE1]

I think the old rule of 36" for counter height is outdated. The average person's height is taller now than it was 50 years ago. I'm only 5'11" and my kitchen counters/island are 40" and 42" respectively and i couldn't be happier. I guess the beauty of "custom" is just that. Do what works for you!

 

[bochnak]

My garage workbench is (42-44"???) up to my elbow (I'm 5'11") when standing next to it.

It's a nice height to rest the forearms on.

I think a 36" top would make my back sore.

 

[LocoCoco]

^ I agree. Maybe traditionally 36" counters were designed for the '50s housewife?

My workbench is roughly 36" and I find it too low for comfort at my 6'1" height. Pounding **** with hammers it's fine but for finer work (ie. cleaning carbs), I have to bend over a little bit making it uncomfortable after a while.

Ideally, I'd like to have two benches. One long one around 42" and a second smaller one at chest height. (Once upon a time I had a part time job making/repairing eyeglasses and for super tiny work the lab had a chest-height counter that made the job way easier to work with everything in your face).



LC.

 

[bczygan]

Make it work for the people using it and the tasks to be performed. Ideally you would have purpose built surfaces or adjustable ones.

 

[Killer95Stang]

42" for my workbench was perfect. I can stand there and clean my guns all day long. Kitchen cabinets are standard height at the sink and washing dishes makes my back hurt in no time. I'm sure having to wash them adds to the pain, but I'm really considering raising the height when we decide to remodel the kitchen.

 

[Zeke]

It's your bench, so build it to suit you. I'm a good 6' and 38" works great for me. Remember that all work is not flat. If I were only doing leaded glass, I'd raise the work surface.

A good thought is to make all work surfaces the same height, especially any movable benches that can be situated with others to create larger work areas.

A shop that has features that can be moved around like a puzzle can reinvent themselves over and ever.

 

[c_mccann]

I did mine at 38" and it is as high as I want to go. Wasn't ready to comit to 40", too much like a drafting table, but I can always add feet to the bottoms of the bench if I so choose..

 

[Scoutman]

I think I made my main workbench ~36" back 10 years ago and wish it was a tad higher. I'm about to rebuild it with a HF toolbox below and will make the bench top just a little higher. My steel table is about 40" and it seems about right. Keep in mind the size of your typical project and your height. Set up something temp to try it out. There isn't a magic number but somewhere between 36-42" should be the range depening on your height. I'm 6'3".

 

[Snake87]

I'm 5'6" with a 40" high workbench. It would probably be considered "tall" for my height, but it feels very comfortable for me.

 

[buening]

I chose 36" to the top of my counter and 20" clear to the bottom of my upper cabinets. 2' deep counter and 1' deep upper cabinets. This made my upper cabinets 40" tall so that the top matched the 8' tall cabinet I have next to it. Its all still under construction though

 

[REAL HOT SCHITT]

Hi.
I just had problems like yours. Evry1 is different in hite.

Im 6 ft, so i set hite @ 34 inch for bench for i stand when working (that hite is i won t struggle when i lift heavy objects like castings on2 bench).

For sitting on stool, i set hite equal to a hotel bar when level, and benchtop pinned horizontally at back so i can slope if needed to be used like a drafting table, for plans etc....so in the varieing hite due to slope i use a gas hite adjustable stool.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm 5'11" and I made all my benches 37" high. Try a few different heights and see what feels right for you.

 

[thrifty bill]

If you are going to have top cabinets built, depending on your ceiling height, I always go to the ceiling. Although I have to use a small ladder to get to the upper cabinets, it is still much more useful than the wasted empty space above standard cabinets. Sure, you can always stack stuff on top of a cabinet, but part of the advantage of a cabinet is being able to put stuff away (and out of sight).

 

[LocoCoco]

If you are going to have top cabinets built, depending on your ceiling height, I always go to the ceiling. Although I have to use a small ladder to get to the upper cabinets, it is still much more useful than the wasted empty space above standard cabinets. Sure, you can always stack stuff on top of a cabinet, but part of the advantage of a cabinet is being able to put stuff away (and out of sight).

I actually like having some space above the cabinets for display items. You know, the guy version of the **** women put in the house.


LC.