Standard House Ceiling Height

Why

• The current standard ceiling height is 8 feet. Though many people prefer taller ceilings, this height cuts down on energy costs. Taller ceilings require more energy to heat and cool, making them less energy-efficient.

Recent Trends

• In recent years, builders have begun building homes with 9-foot ceilings, and that height has pretty much become standard for newly-built high-end homes. Some higher-end homes now feature 10- and 12-foot ceilings.

Cost Differences

• Building a custom home with ceilings higher than standard will result in increased cost. Higher ceilings will require longer studs and larger pieces of drywall. Standard drywall comes in 8-foot and 12-foot lengths, so if your ceiling height is somewhere in between the two lengths, you may incur additional labor charges as your builder will have to cut the drywall to fit.

Other Considerations

• A study by Joan Meyers-Levy, a professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, found that higher ceilings affect the way people think, making them think more abstractly, while those in rooms with 8-foot ceilings focus more on specifics. This may be why many people claim to feel more comfortable in rooms with higher ceilings.