Standard Table & Deck Height

General Deck Height

• The height of your deck can vary greatly. You can have a low-setting deck that is less than 30 inches off the ground or you may opt to have a multiple-story deck that has a floor of decking several feet off the ground. Building codes vary by region, so the height of your deck may depend on the applicable building codes in your area. In general, risers can’t be more than 8 ¼ inches and no riser in a flight of stairs can be greater than 3/8 inches taller than another riser in the same set of stairs. The height from the deck to the bottom rail spacing is 2 to 4 inches.

Deck Railings

• The railings for your deck will be determined by any applicable building codes in your area. However, a 36-to-42-inch railing is a standard height. A 34-inch railing is acceptable in some municipalities, and some areas don’t require you to have a railing if the deck is less than 30 inches off the ground.

Deck Stairs

• Stairs must provide a headroom measurement of at least 6 feet 8 inches. This means that your stairs must be 6 feet 8 inches away from the flooring of a second story level or the roofline. The height of stair railings depends on the rise of the stairs. For example, a stairway with a rise of 30 inches requires a 34-inch minimum height for its railing.

Standard Dining Table Height

• A standard dining table height is about 28 to 30 inches. This includes chairs that are 30 to 35 inches high in which the seat is placed about 18 to 20 inches. If you are placing a lower setting bench on your deck, you will want to have a shorter table that accommodates the bench height. For example, if the bench is 16 inches high, use a table that is 24 to 26 inches high.

Counter or Bar Height Tables

• Some tables are built to be at counter or bar height. Kitchen counter height tables are 36 to 40 inches. Stools to accompany a kitchen counter height table are 24 to 26 inches high. Bar-height tables are about 42 inches. Chairs that surround a bar-height table have a height of 40 to 46 inches, with the seat being 26 to 30 inches in height.