There are no building codes that establish a standard upper cabinet height. The prevailing “standard” among kitchen remodelers is 54 inches from the floor to the cabinet's bottom edge. That leaves an 18-inch space between the countertops and the upper cabinets.
There is no strict standard height for upper cabinets. The preferred height has constantly changed over the years. The most common height that contractors follow is 18 inches above the countertop. However, for clients that request some extra space, 20 inches was the usual measure.
Common wall cabinet heights are 12, 36, and 42 inches. In standard kitchens, the wall cabinets are typically 30 or 36 inches tall, with the space above enclosed by soffits. Where the cabinets run all the way to the ceiling, 48-inch cabinets are the logical choice.
We recommend doing a 42"H upper OR a 36"H with a 12"H stacked cabinet above with glass (bringing you to 48" H) with a crown molding of at lease 5" in height.
Also, you could use 12” cabinets above the 42” ones and then fill the gaps with crown moldings or other decorative work. → For 10-foot-tall ceilings, the best option would be to have cabinetry makers build the custom cabinets to fit the space perfectly.
If your ceiling height is over 9 ft you can still go to the ceiling but it may not be practical and can look overhelming. In kitchen with tall ceilings it might be best to create a soffit at the 9 ft mark to run cabients to or vary the cabinet height to add interest and break up the wall space.
Cabinets come in standard sizes, and to reach the ceiling, you will need to figure out what size works best. Most kitchen ceilings are 8 to 9 feet high. You can likely use 42-inch tall wall cabinets, with 12-inch additions on top if needed, to achieve the height you want. You can fill any gaps with crown moulding.
An alternative solution in kitchens with taller ceilings is to simply stop the cabinets short of the ceiling and top them with a thick crown molding. The range chimney stretches to the ceiling for functional reasons, but also to contrast the height of the upper cabinets.
Ceilings can go beyond the industry standard, to 10 and 12 feet high. Higher ceilings, up to 12 feet, are not uncommon, especially in renovated loft apartments and pre-war style architecture (between 1890 and 1940). A new house can also be designed with varying ceiling heights.
Most homes have kitchen cabinets that are 32 or 36 inches tall, with an interval of 1 to 2 feet between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling.
People with limited mobility may need shorter upper cabinets. 48 inches, or 4 feet, should work for most people. Taller people may need to adjust the height of their upper cabinets because the base cabinets may be higher off the ground too.
Using 36" Tall Upper Cabinets
This is by far the safest choice when designing around an 8-ft ceiling.
If you have a top-loading washer, there should be 16 to 18 inches of clearance above the washer to open the door. Stacked washer and dryers and combination units required a vertical clearance of 60 to 76 inches and a horizontal clearance of 24 to 30 inches.
In a typical family home, wall-hung kitchen cabinets measure between 32 and 36 inches tall, leaving a space of around one or two feet above. There is a valid reason for the gap between the kitchen cabinets and the ceiling; this is the height that most people can reach by standing on the floor or by using a ladder.
It's better to keep things more accessible,” Ashley says. Always work with your designer to determine what height will look best in your space. “Leave a foot or more between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. This looks intentional and gives your kitchen the polished, elevated look you're seeking.”
Mainly it is a matter of cost and ease of installation. Most kitchen cabinets are built in standard sizes and, when mounted on the wall, they leave space up above which gives the installer some wiggle room when leveling the cabinets.
High ceilings can increase a home's value by five to 25 percent. In fact, raising the height of a ceiling added an average of $4,000 to home values, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders.
In an effort to keep houses cooler during the summer months, many homes in Florida built after 1980 incorporated the 'great room' design. This method of construction normally features vaulted or high ceilings where most of the common rooms are under one roof, not separated by floor to ceiling walls.
Typically, high ceilings boost a home's value by 5% to 25%; in fact, the National Association of Property Builders found that raising ceiling height increased property values by an average of $4,000. However, context is critical.
In a traditional home, upper-level wall-hung cabinets typically measure between 32 and 36 inches tall, leaving a space of around one or two feet above. However, in modern kitchens – particularly in urban locations where space is at a premium – running cabinets to the ceiling is a smart way to incorporate extra storage.
The two primary upper cabinet choices are 36 inch and 42-inch cabinets. If you are dealing with a ceiling height of 36 inches it is quite a safe bet to go for the 36-inch ones. They will not touch the roof of the ceiling so the option of adding a crown molding can be left for later on.
Most homes built in the last 50 years have kitchen cabinets that are 32 or 36 inches tall, installed so there is a gap of 1 to 2 feet between the tops of the cabinets and the ceiling.
Generally, upper cabinets are mounted with the bottom edge being 54-inches above the floor. That means if you have 8-foot ceilings, your upper cabinets would be 42-inches tall, while a 9-foot ceiling has 54 inches available.
Advantages of Kitchen Cabinets That Go All The Way Up to the Ceiling. It is vital to point out that most people prefer to use 42'' tall upper cabinets as they accord them much more space while also touching the ceiling thus making it appear visibly larger.