The standard height for upper cabinets from the floor is 54 inches, or 4 feet and 6 inches. This means the bottom of the upper cabinets should be this far from the floor. This comes from the sum of 34-and-a half-inch base cabinets, a 1-and-a-half inch thick countertop, and an 18-inch backsplash.
There are no building codes that establish a standard upper cabinet height. However, the prevailing “standard” among kitchen remodelers is 54 inches from the floor to the bottom edge of the cabinet. That leaves an 18-inch space between the countertops and the upper cabinets.
What is the recommended space between upper and lower cabinets? 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.
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.
8 Ft Ceilings – use a 39″ or 42″ upper cabinet
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.
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.
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 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.
A 12-inch or 15-inch tall wall cabinet fits neatly over a refrigerator. This provides a narrow space between the fridge and the bottom of the cabinet. The top of the cabinet will usually touch the kitchen ceiling and be attached to it.
The height of the cabinet above a kitchen sink hangs between 24-inches and 36-inches above the countertop. This allows for ample overhead space.
It's only necessary to have the cabinets themselves level. With lots of shims, this can be done over an uneven floor or against a wall that is out of plumb.
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.
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.
If you have tall ceilings and want to draw attention to the height, then kitchen cabinets reaching the ceiling may be the preferred choice. There are no absolute right or wrong decisions when it comes to kitchen cabinet heights.
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 a Kitchen Soffit? Kitchen soffits are bulky box-shaped walls that connect the cabinets and the ceiling. Due to this, they are located at the top of the cabinets, extending from upper cabinetry towards the ceiling, and hide industrial elements such as plumbing, ductwork, vents, wiring, and pipes.
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.”
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.
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.
In most cases, installing cabinets come first before the flooring. Know that floor covering is the surface you see and walk on, where it is usually cut to size and butt up against the cabinets.
Always install the upper cabinets before the lower cabinets. This way you won't have to awkwardly work over the lower cabinets, risking damaging them in the process.
If you are doing the painting yourself, we would generally recommend priming and painting first, then have the cabinets installed, then do any necessary touchup.
First, it's pretty awful to work over a sink with a full cabinet inches away from your face. The whole situation becomes entirely too crowded, and basically turns a tedious task into an unnecessarily stressful situation. And from a safety standpoint, sooner or later your noggin will bang up against the cabinet.
As a general rule of thumb, you will want at least a 1/2" of clearance on both sides between the lip of the sink and the inside walls of the cabinet (1/4" is tight, but doable!).