wall cabinet height?

[fehren2800]

I got a bunch of heavy duty cabinets for free recently and I'm trying to figure out the best height to install them at. I got 4 cabinets 36" wide, 1 @ 24" wide and 1 @ 30" wide. They are all 13" deep and 30" high.

I have found a lot of conflicting answers regarding cabinet height. Mostly I'm finding info for cabinets installed above a counter top. I'm wanting to install these along the outside wall running along the side of the parking bay. I intend to only park motorcycles in this bay.

Here are some photos of what I am dealing with right now;

The high cabinet is mounted at 66" above the floor and is 96" to the top. It seems to be out of the way, but I'm going to need to use a 2' step ladder to access the top shelf and rarely the top of the cabinet. The lower cabinet that is just sitting on the 2x4's on the ladders is at 60" above the floor, for me that is about shoulder height. I'm thinking I will mash my head on the higher one, and crush my shoulder on the lower one.

These cabinets will be painted and lighted with led's down the road, but I'm just trying to get them on the wall and move on to other pressing projects.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[nadogail]

The controlling dimension is between the countertop and the base of the cabinet. What are your plans for this space?

In a kitchen, you need to think about how tall the items to be kept on the counter are.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Standard measurement to the top of kitchen wall cabinets is 7'0" above the floor. Anyone going higher will require a step stool.

 

[bczygan]

Standard height for a residential kitchen is 36" to the top of a counter from finish floor elevation. Then an 18" space to the bottom of the cabinets. With a 30" tall cabinet, you end up with the top at 7'0" AFF (Above finish floor). Some kitchen cabinets are taller, some go all the way to the 8' ceiling. This last foot is not to accessible without a step stool, even for tall people.

But it also depends on your height and what use you are making of the counter top and cabinets. If you are tall, yo might like your counter 2 to 4" taller, especially if doing work on it. And any work surface will benefit from a larger space between the counter-top and the bottom of cabinets in that area. This leaves room for you to get your head and shoulders in there, manipulate tools and also to mount a light fixture above. You might leave a cabinet out of this area entirely, or put shelves above instead.

Do a mock up, like you have, but with a mock counter-top, and see how it fits you.

Bill

 

[fehren2800]

Nadogail; I plan on parking a couple motorcycles in this bay and the cabinets will contain extra parts, trinkets and doo-dads. They are mostly for display. The only one that will get used with any regularity is the 24" I will keep my current helmets in there. I have a collection of old and crashed helmets that will take up some space in the others.

gregtwojeeps; I have seen that dimension regarding kitchen cabinets. I will not have a counter top below these. I am hoping someone sees this who had a similar situation. No lower cabinets, just wall units.

Thanks.

 

[APEowner]

If you're using them for display then you'll want them at eye level.

Nice cabinets by the way.

 

[rt dak]

Those cabinets look awesome. My wall cabinets are 44" off the floor but I don't use them for display.

 

[coljar]

[/url][/IMG]

I'm at work right now and don't know what height I put these at, but I thought I'd share a picture to show what mine look like so far. This area is still under construction and is far from finished. The back splash is black Formica and that is commercial slatwall.. I'm putting LED lights under the cabinets.

 

[fehren2800]

If you're using them for display then you'll want them at eye level.

Nice cabinets by the way.

That would put them roughly 50" to 51" off the floor. Even though I don't intend to park a car here, I could see a car door banging into the bottom of the cabinets. Then again, with the height of SUV's today I don't think I can get them high enough to be safe from that.

Most if not all the work I intend to do in this garage will take place in the back room with the exception of cars. I do every type of work on motorcycles, but for cars it is mostly oil changes and the occasional brake job. Cars are so reliable these days they are pretty hassle free for 10 years or so. I don't want these cabinets in the back room as I'm sure I will break the glass on these doors.

Those cabinets look awesome. My wall cabinets are 44" off the floor but I don't use them for display.

Thanks. They do look pretty cool and I'm hoping when I paint the insides white and the outsides hammered gray they will really look good. I will probably put a string of leds under them for some cool downlighting.

I think you all have convinced me to put them at a lower height where they are more useful. I will put a 14" deep shelf on top of the cabinets for parts storage bins.

Thanks to all.

 

[fehren2800]

[/url][/IMG]

I'm at work right now and don't know what height I put these at, but I thought I'd share a picture to show what mine look like so far. This area is still under construction and is far from finished. The back splash is black Formica and that is commercial slatwall.. I'm putting LED lights under the cabinets.

That is pretty epic! Those look like similar cabinets. I'm liking the space between with shelving. I hadn't thought of that. I may be stealing this idea.

 

[NUISANCE]

Standard measurement to the top of kitchen wall cabinets is 7'0" above the floor. Anyone going higher will require a step stool.

Unless you are 6'6"

I am in the last stages of putting together the cabinets I made. I have one tall cabinet and 2 wall cabinets that are 44" wide. Being as tall as I am I am going to put them as high up as I can while still being able to reach the top with no issues so they will be closer to 8' or more off the floor. I would suggest you do the same.

 

[nadogail]

Enjoy your cabinets, everybody's situation is different and "One size fits all" answers seldom fit.

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Standard measurement to the top of kitchen wall cabinets is 7'0" above the floor. Anyone going higher will require a step stool.

some go all the way to the 8' ceiling. This last foot is not to accessible without a step stool, even for tall people.

You guys must know some short Tall people, I've got 8ft cabinets in my kitchen with 9ft ceilings and my shop with a 36in wide bench below it and have no problem reaching the top shelves.

Unless you are 6'6"

Yea that would make it real easy, I'm only 6'4"

 

[akdiesel]

The kitchen measurements work for a kitchen that also has a 25" depth counter and usually 12" deep upper cabinets with smaller doors that usually don't extend out past the counter depth. The large door cabinet you have can create some headaches later on if mounted to low.
I use my upper shop cabinets for lighter weight / not to often used items so I wanted them as high as I could get them and simply use a step stool when needed to reach the top section. Air and pressure lines also dictated my height which put the bottom of the upper cabinets at approx 5'8" and I am 5'9" so if a door gets left open and I am working at the bench they extend out pass the bench and I have nicked my head a couple of times.
This also limited the amount of wall space I had for a peg board.

 

[fehren2800]

Just a follow up to all the great info here. I got my cabinets mounted last weekend but just got some pics today. Anyway, here is what I ended up with;

Now I have back a large portion of my floor space to move some items in

 

[Hawk]

Looking great

 

[Capt Chrysler]

NICE!

Capt. Chrysler

 

[coljar]

That looks really nice.

 

[fehren2800]

Thanks everyone. They were a real PITA getting them up there by myself. They are built heavy like things used to be. Just guessing on age from the building they were removed from, they are a lot older than I am.

 

[John in OH]

They look great .... but what height did you finally decide upon?

 

[starquestMM]

That turned out nice!

The little void at the bottom looks like a perfect spider habitat

 

[fehren2800]

I went with 55". I was seeing 18 to 20 inches above counter top height of 36" so I just split the difference.

There is still a lot of work to do in the new garage, but most of it is moving stuff in and organizing on the main level. The upstairs still needs to have the insulation finished and drywall hung. For now I am moving some stuff out of my attached garage and into the new place.

just kind of stuffed in for now.

My welder in it's new home.

The attached garage is starting to have some extra space!

 

[yaidunno]

Great looking cabinets! Any info on them or manufacturer?

Nice RC51 BTW.

 

[fehren2800]

That turned out nice!

The little void at the bottom looks like a perfect spider habitat

Haha. Yeah good call. I'm going to box in the sides and put a shelf along the top.

Great looking cabinets! Any info on them or manufacturer?

Nice RC51 BTW.

No info other than they came out of a hospital building that was recently demolished. They are old, that's for sure.

Thanks, it's a first year model RC51, 2000. Still feels new even though it is 15 years old.