In most houses, I recommend a ceiling height of ten feet on the main level and nine feet on upper floors. When a bit more drama or grandeur is desired, setting the ceiling height at twelve feet creates an elegant scale that is still comfortable visually.
Floor-to-ceiling height
A luxurious apartment typically has a ceiling height of 12 feet or more. Anything less, and the apartment no longer qualifies as opulent.
In most houses, I recommend a ceiling height of ten feet on the main level and nine feet on upper floors. When a bit more drama or grandeur is desired, setting the ceiling height at twelve feet creates an elegant scale that is still comfortable visually.
In more upscale, luxury apartment buildings, ceiling heights can be higher, from 9 to 10 feet or more, to add a sense of space and luxury. Some contemporary designs even feature varying ceiling heights within the same unit to create architectural interest or define different areas within an open-plan space.
The ideal height for ceilings is between 10 to 12 feet. This is believed to be the most auspicious height for a home as it promotes good energy flow and a sense of spaciousness. Ceilings that are too high or too low in height are generally considered to be unfavorable in Vastu.
Any ceiling over 10 feet is considered a high ceiling, Shipp says. “Sometimes ceiling height can vary within one home to make some rooms seem cozier or more grand. In two-story homes. the second story is often a foot or so shorter than the bottom floor,” she adds.
The second criteria for gross living area is that the space has to be finished. The area must contain walls, floors and ceilings of materials generally accepted for interior construction (painted drywall, carpet etc.) The ceiling height of the finished space must be 7 feet.
Increased Property Value
According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders, homes with nine foot ceilings or higher can sell for 6% more than homes with eight foot ceilings or lower. And that number only goes up from there if you do it right and have some fun with the design.
Size of the Space
Consider the size of the room to determine which ceiling height would look and feel the best. Generally, smaller rooms should have an 8- to 9-foot ceiling, while larger rooms may have a 10- to 12-foot ceiling.
The average or standard ceiling height as of present is 9 feet. This wasn't the case before since, at some point, the standard ceiling height was 10 feet. Nevertheless, now, most contractors have agreed on 9 feet.
According to the National Building Code (NBC), the standard ceiling height is ninety-six inches, or eight feet; for suspended ceilings; the minimum height is ninety inches, or seven and a half feet. But nine- and ten-foot ceilings are now common, not only in living rooms and kitchens, but also in bedrooms.
The minimum ceiling height for bathrooms and toilet rooms is 6 feet, 8 inches (2032mm). There are exceptions, including a sloping ceiling over the toilet if the minimum ceiling height of 6 feet, 8 inches (2032mm) is maintained over the front clearance area. Source, 2018 IRC, 305.1.
There is no denying the fact that high ceilings are aesthetically pleasing. If you are comparing high ceiling vs. low ceiling, one of the biggest advantages you will find is that high ceilings bring in more natural light and turn an average looking room into a stunning piece of architecture.
Spacious and Open Floor Plan: Loft-style homes are usually characterized by large open spaces. High vaulted ceilings without additional walls are common in loft houses since they are usually found in renovated warehouses and barns.
We all know that lower ceilings can make a room look smaller while higher ceilings tend to increase the size of a room.
The height of a two story house can vary depending on a number of factors, including the design, location, and building materials. However, a typical two story house is around 20 to 25 feet tall. It's important to note that the height of a house is generally measured from the ground level to the roof peak.
This size has proven to be both comfortable for inhabitants and versatile enough to suit different home styles. While 8 feet has remained standard for several decades, it's increasingly common for houses to be built with high ceilings, between 9 and 10 feet tall.
Standard door height is a fairly easy metric to understand. The average interior and exterior door is 80 inches or six feet, eight inches tall. While some doors may be taller than this—especially when the door is placed on the exterior of a home—these oversized door sizes may need to be custom-made.
If you move from a home with normal ceilings to one with high ceilings, you shouldn't be surprised when your energy costs are suddenly much higher. The fact that your AC or furnace will need to work much harder to properly cool or heat your home means that it will also use more energy.
Total Cost Per Square Foot:
Overall, 10' ceilings would add an additional $7.50 per square foot to this 1,300 square foot home. Keep in mind, the total cost increase is surely greater than this.
Cooling a Room with High Ceilings
Since warm air rises, it's harder to keep a room with high ceilings warm; in summer, it's not as hard to keep it cool. Unfortunately, though, a room with high ceilings will cost more to keep cool than a normal height room, simply because of the additional volume in the room.
The minimum required ceiling height for bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms is 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).
Above-stated rooms with natural ventilation shall have ceiling heights of not less than 2.70m.
A finished floor-to-ceiling height of 2.3 to 2.4 metres is ideal, however this is not always possible due to existing constraints.