Height Between the Base Cupboards & Top Cupboards

Tradition

• Cabinet measurements, according to home improvement author Gregory Paolini, take their cue from large appliances and stock lumber sizes. Traditional base cabinets stand 36 inches tall and 24 inches deep. Wall cabinets are half as deep and standard height is 30 inches. They are mounted so that their bases sit 18 inches above the counter. These measurements add up to an overall height of 84 inches -- 6 feet and 5 inches -- which is short enough for adults to reach, perhaps with a kitchen stool. Tall, 42-inch upper cabinets add storage space for seldom-used items, making an overall measurement of 96 inches from floor to ceiling in a kitchen with 7.5-foot ceilings.

Considerations

• As Americans have grown taller, appliance sizes have changed and the kitchen has become a multipurpose room. The 36-inch base left an uncomfortable work space for taller cooks and base cabinet structure adapted to new uses as eating areas and desks. Wall cabinets would have to move up or down to maintain the 18-inch interval between base and upper. Tradition, however, dictates that the bases of the upper cabinets be at the same level except for breaks over ranges, in which exhaust hoods would fill the void. The standard seating height for base cabinets is 30 inches and the “tall cook” or buffet height is 42 inches.

Function

• As more labor-saving appliances appeared during the 20th century, the 18-inch space on counters became more cluttered. Some appliances, such as toasters and food processors, fit under the overhead cabinets neatly. Blenders, professional mixers and large microwaves, however, required several inches more head space. Any increase in separation of base and upper cabinets, however, must pair up with full-length pantry or refrigerator cabinets.

Variables

• The stock base cabinet does not come out of the box measuring 36 inches; it will likely measure 30.5 inches. The thickness of any new floor, 4-inch bases, or toe plates and even shims used to level the cabinets add to the height. Measure the counter depth, too; it will add another 1.5 inches to the base cabinet’s height. Granite, soapstone or other custom material might add more. When planning installation, always figure these variables before altering the standard separation of 18 inches between lower and upper cabinets.