Most of my clients are gravitating toward upper cabinets that are 14 to 16 inches deep, roomy enough to accommodate their chargers and other oversize dishes. (The dimensions of lower cabinets, typically 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall, still work.)
There is no set rule, upper cabinets aren't made in any one specific height or width, even the depth can vary. It is true that generally upper cabinets tend to be shallower than lower ones.
Most commonly, wall cabinets are 12 inches deep, since this provides a good compromise between storage space in the kitchen cabinets and workable countertop space below the cabinet. Above microwave ovens, a 15- to 18-inch deep cabinet is common, and above a refrigerator, a 24-inch deep cabinet is standard.
12" is the standard for a reason, though in some instances you can get away with 14" or 16" uppers. The ONLY way that 24" uppers would work is if it was a continuous cabinet without a counter, like a pantry cabinet.
It is recommended that you leave between 24" and 30" of space between the top of your stove and the above cabinet. Spacing between stoves and other kitchen objects is essential for both safety and best kitchen practices.
When designing around doors and windows, it's important to remember to leave space between the cabinetry and any door/window trim (or casing). At least 3″ of space between the cabinets and any trim work is ideal although this can vary depending on your space.
A standard countertop usually has an overhang of 1½ inches. Although some countertops may have a longer or shorter overhang, this number is generally the standard length for an overhang in homes. When utilizing an overhang for kitchen islands, the standard amount of overhang is typically 12 inches.
Standard kitchen cabinet heights include 12, 15, 18, 30, 36 and 42 inches tall; depth ranges from 12 to 18 inches. Typically installed 18 inches above countertops, 54 inches above floor and 24 inches above stove.
Standard Base Cabinet Sizes
The cabinets vary from 6" to 42" based on the usage of the cabinet. Depth: The depth of base cabinets without the countertop typically measures 24 inches. Adding the countertop will create an overhang between one to two inches.
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.
The industry standard thickness for kitchen, bathroom, and other countertop surfaces in natural stone is 1.25 inches. This thickness provides the strength and stability required to create an unbroken surface without the need for stabilizing it with a plywood backing.
The countertop should be between 28 and 34 inches tall, and have a minimum of 27 inches for knee clearance underneath. These measurements are ideal for making the space easy to access, even with a wheelchair.
According to Atlantic Shopping, if you want to be able to eat at your kitchen island, you'll need at least 12 inches of overhang to make adequate knee space. It's also important to remember than an overhang of over 12 inches requires support to make it sturdy enough to lean on and eat off of.
Ceiling height cabinets are not easy to access as they are very high up in the ceiling. Anything up there at the top of these cabinets is quite hard to access hence you will need to have something to step on in order to reach these things. This also poses some very serious safety concerns.
Height Matters
The standard distance between the top of a kitchen counter and the bottom of the wall cabinets above it is 18 inches. For the average person, this distance is the ideal balance between plenty of space to work on the countertop and the ability to reach all of the shelves in the cabinet.
Luckily, there are few rules about cabinet placement. Upper and lower cabinets may align at each end, and they sometimes do. However, aligning every upper and lower cabinet throughout the room is rare. As long as the cabinets are installed securely, almost anything goes.
In order to determine how many stools will fit at your kitchen island, home experts recommend you allow 28 to 30 inches for each seating space, which means you can divide the length of your island's counter by 30 to to figure out how many stools will comfortably fit.
Available Kitchen Space
If you have a smaller room to work with, you can go with the minimum overhang of about 8 inches. You will want to find a good balance between not taking up too much space and still having enough room for people to sit.
The height of an island usually matches the height of a countertop at 36 inches. If your island has seating, the counter should overhang at least 15 inches. An island with a taller height for bar stool seating should be 42 inches high and the overhang should be at least 12 inches.
Countertop Width Standards
Most homes are fitted with kitchen countertops that measure 25.5 inches in width (from the wall to the edge of the counter), with some measuring up to 28 inches. Standard measurements allow for a 1.5-inch overhang over 24-inch deep base cabinets.
Thickness and Edges.
Wood countertop thickness generally ranges from a three-quarter inch to six inches, and butcher block from two inches to 12 inches. A wide variety of edge options exist.
Laminate countertops have a standard thickness of an inch and a half, though fabricators can produce various thicknesses. Some homeowners prefer a thicker countertop to mimic stone.
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free.
No, you can't use disinfecting wipes on quartz countertops. Disinfecting wipes contain citric acid as their primary ingredient and are not diluted in any way. When you use these wipes to clean your countertop, they will weaken the seal on your countertop's surface leaving them vulnerable to discoloration.
The main downsides of quartz countertops are their price, appearance (if you desire the look of natural stone), and lack of resistance against heat damage.