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How High Should Your Kitchen Cabinets Be

The standard height for cabinets is to be raised about 18 inches off the countertop. Of course, following these guidelines is nearly almost going to be a safe and solid choice – but you shouldn’t feel limited by them either. Rules are made to be broken, and breaking the rules can result in a pretty stunning outcome!

For starters, the 18-inch rule has actually creeped up a bit in recent years, and 20 inches is now another common height to have your cabinets raised. Those two inches can provide a little extra breathing room, and open up the space a bit more. Now, you can go lower too – although that’s quite a bit less conventional as some appliances won’t fit and it can make the space feel claustrophobic. If you don’t need the counter space, however, it can also provide unique and expanded storage opportunities. Additionally, you can go even higher, and it’ll offer even more space for you to work, but it’s worth mentioning the trade-off is that you’ll have less storage at the more typically reachable heights. This is a matter of personal preference, but a few variables that may warrant raised cabinets include:

Tall chefs
Anyone on the taller side, perhaps 5’10” or above, may benefit from raised cabinets. It’ll provide a different visual angle than a shorter person may have, which makes sense for designing your own home to fit your needs best. Plus, it’ll open up the wall-space for everyone who visits, and that can offer a wide range of impactful design choices, like a bold backsplash.

Tall faucets
Deep sinks and tall faucets are a great new trend that’s becoming more common in private residences. They’re even more functional and can accommodate dishes and some of the heavier lifting needs the involved chef may want to take into consideration. Raising your cabinets to fit those appliances can be a complementary visual.

Extra storage
If you have additional storage like a large pantry or built-in cabinets, you may not need as many shelves mounted onto the wall. If this is a trade you can accommodate, consider mounting your cabinets even higher, even if means sacrificing shelf space. This will create a wide-open space that can visually expand your kitchen significantly.

Wall statements
As touched on above, raising your kitchen cabinets can bring out greater opportunities for a creative use of wall space. One great option is to choose a dramatic backsplash that brings together your counters, appliances, and cabinets. Find a complementary color or pattern, and use your raised cabinets to really let it shine!

Dark elements
If either your cabinets or counters are particularly dark, you may want to go the opposite direction with your backsplash. Raise the cabinets higher to get them farther away from the counters, and put a bright and crisp backsplash in to create negative space and provide a visual break between the dark surfaces.

When it comes to deciding where you’d like your cabinets raised, there’s really no wrong answer as long as you know what you’re hoping to achieve. Lower cabinets can offer creative counter storage options, though it may be limiting, while higher cabinets can complement other parts of the kitchen. If you’re completely in doubt, don’t be afraid to go with a standard height, too – it’s all about what feels best to you!