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.
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.
Many manufacturers of stock cabinetry offer wall cabinets in heights of 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 32, 36, and 42 inches. If you have 8-foot-tall ceilings and want cabinets that run to the ceiling, 42-inch-tall wall cabinets will fit perfectly.
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.
Ceiling Height
It is generally recommended that wall cabinets be mounted 54 inches up from the floor, which means that for 8 foot ceilings, a 39 or 42 inch upper cabinet will reach the ceiling, depending on the height of the crown molding used at the top of the cabinet.
'I advise clients only to fit floor-to-ceiling cabinetry if they have lofty, high ceilings,' says Tom Howley, Design Director at the eponymous kitchen company. 'In smaller spaces, waist-height pull-out drawers are the best option.
You can build the cabinets to the ceiling (most expensive option), keep the area open (no cost!), build a soffit to match the cabinets, or add a drywall soffit. Below I'll share photo examples (and the why behind)
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.
The recommended space between upper and lower cabinets is typically 18 inches. This measurement allows for sufficient workspace on the countertop while providing enough clearance for appliances and tasks.
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.
What is standard cabinet height? The height of a standard cabinet varies depending on the cabinets. Base cabinets – 34.5-inches or 36 inches with countertop. Tall cabinets – 84, 90, 96-inches.
So what are the standard cabinet sizes for wall cabinets? For height, you have the option of 30 inches, 36 inches, or 42 inches. Once installed over your base cabinets, the top of your wall cabinets will be at 84 inches, 90 inches, or 96 inches, respectively.
Upper and base cabinets can match if you want them to. However, if you want to add variation to your space, they don't have to match. It's all about the appearance and mood you would like to achieve.
Sometime between 1995 and 2004, nine-foot ceilings replaced eight-foot ceilings as the most common ceiling height in single family homes.
It is absolutely more desirable to haveif you 9' ceilings, and will more than pay for itself in value added to the home. Consider choosing more economical finishes like counters and bathroom floors that can be upgraded down the road, ceiling height is forever.
Today's standard ceiling height is nine feet.
While many custom builders will assume that homeowners want nine-foot ceilings, don't take it for granted. Put your desired ceiling height measurements in the construction contract you and your contractor sign.
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.
For kitchens without an island, the lower, or base, cabinets can become the focal point by choosing a darker paint color for the lowers and a lighter shade for the uppers. Select your colors- Now that you chose a focal point, it's time to choose what colors appeal to you the most.
Lots of people install the lower cabinets first. Once the lowers are in place, it's easy to use them as a handy shelf for holding tools and for bracing the uppers as you install them. As you see in the video, we like to install the uppers first with nothing underneath them to get in the way.
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.
The majority of kitchens don't have ceiling-height cabinets because they can be too high to access for some people. They're also more difficult to maintain and the cost of installing taller cabinets can be expensive. Additionally, not all kitchen sizes and ceiling heights can accommodate full-rise cabinets.
Avoiding Damage: The floor is often prone to moisture, spills, and cleaning activities. By leaving a small gap between the cabinet doors and the floor, it helps to prevent the doors from coming into direct contact with these potentially damaging elements.
Is decorating above kitchen cabinets outdated? The short answer is no.
Fill in the space with trim.
If the gap between your upper cabinets and the ceiling isn't particularly large, you can fill it in with trim running along the top of your upper cabinets. This makes for a cohesive, built-in look, and a lot less potential for collecting dust.
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.”