Spacing Above the Stove to a Cabinet

Over-the-Stove Cabinet Placement

• Many building codes agree that the bottom of a cabinet located over a stove must be a minimum of 30 inches above the cooktop surface. A noncombustible surface, such as that of a range hood, may be as low as 24 inches above the cooktop. Cabinets with a bottom of insulating millboard covered with metal may also meet the 24-inch separation requirement, as may some brands of wall-mounted microwave ovens. This standard appears in an internationally accepted building reference code, state codes and those applicable at a local level.

About Building Codes

• When you plan any building renovation, your first source of information and possible restrictions to your plans is your local building code. Renovation of a kitchen, which can be a source of heat, fire and water damage, is particularly sensitive to regulation in most communities. In coordination with the local fire code, regulations covering kitchen renovation regulate the amount of floor space, number and quality of electrical connections, plumbing configurations, access, egress and ventilation. Early in your renovation plans, check with your local, county or regional building department to determine whether and for what parts of the work you will need to file plans and obtain permits.

Selecting Your Cabinet Size

• The maximum height of a cabinet over your stove will be determined by the distance between your cooktop and the height of your ceiling. Figure 36 inches for standard appliance and counter height. In a kitchen with an 8-foot ceiling, subtracting the stove height and the mandated space allowance over the cooktop leaves 30 inches of vertical cabinet space (96 inches ceiling height less 36 inches stove height = 60 inches, less 30 inches mandated space = 30 inches). A kitchen with a ceiling height of only 7 feet has room for a cabinet with a maximum depth of 18 inches. Plan a shorter cabinet if you plan to mount it below ceiling height, add an under-cabinet vent fan or mount a wall-hung microwave oven above the stove. An alternative is to let the top of an over-the-cooktop cabinet rise above the tops of those on either side of the stove. Especially if you are mounting a vent fan over the cooktop, follow the manufacturer's directions for maximum as well as minimum height. Placing a vent fan higher than the manufacturer recommends can impair the fan's ability to remove steam and smoke from the kitchen. Placing a microwave much more than 24 inches above the cooktop can make it both difficult and dangerous to remove hot food.

Cabinet Placement and Cooking Style

• You will also want to consider how your cabinet fits into your cooking style. If you do lots of steaming, frying or large-quantity cooking, you may want to hang your over-the-stove cabinet higher than the mandated space to save on cleanup. Setting your stove with your biggest pots, lids and all, can help you decide if your cabinet bottom is too close to the stove for your comfort. An over-the-stove cabinet is intended to store items you will not be reaching for when the stove is on. For example, the ultimate height of the cabinet may be determined by the height of the occasionally-used tall flower vases, picnic thermoses and cold-drink pitchers you might like to stow away in this location.