Almost every housewife dreams of a functional kitchen. Manufacturers offer a huge number of headset models. Any consumer is given the opportunity to choose an option that is not only most convenient, but also corresponds to his taste preferences. Most modern furniture options use wall-mounted modules. To make it comfortable for a housewife to cook in the kitchen, it is important to arrange all the elements correctly. An important nuance is the height of the cabinets.
At what height should you hang kitchen cabinets?
Rules and standards
The generally accepted distance between the upper and lower kitchen cabinets is 50-60 centimeters. However, standards are not always applicable in life. When installing wall cabinets in the kitchen, be sure to consider:
- growth of residents;
- ceiling height in the apartment;
- size of lockers;
- probable distance from the working surface to the top line of the headset;
- purpose of cabinets.
The height of the apartment's residents is the main factor that determines where to attach wall-mounted furniture. The location of the cabinet that is convenient for a tall person will not suit short people. The ideal option is to place the hanging row of kitchen units at eye level in order to easily reach the shelves. When making calculations, keep in mind that the top of the cabinets should be no more than 25 cm higher than human height.
If the kitchen does not have impressive ceilings, give up the idea of purchasing tall cabinets. Even if you maintain the minimum distance between them and the tabletop, it will be difficult to reach the upper shelves. A reasonable solution in such a situation would be to buy medium-height cabinets.
When installing hanging furniture, make sure that it does not block the ventilation openings. Ideally, the pipes should pass over the headset.
Standard sizes of kitchen units
As already noted, kitchen furniture modules can be placed on the upper and lower levels. Their typical sizes were determined taking into account the average physiological characteristics of a person, mainly his height.
Kitchen unit dimensions
GOST regulates standards for certain dimensions of interior items installed in the kitchen.
Table. Standards set for kitchen cabinets.
| Parameter | Size, mm |
| Module height (including table top) | 850…900 |
| Tabletop depth | 600 |
| Depth of the lower cabinet (internal), not less | 460 |
| Depth of wall module (internal), not less | 270 |
| Height from floor to top shelf of wall cabinet, no more | 1900 |
Kitchen furniture dimensions
In practice, the parameters of furniture offered to the consumer often differ slightly from the specified values.
Dimensions of lower modules
Furniture modules
When purchasing standard furniture, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
- optimal overall height of floor cabinets: 85...95 cm. In this case, the thickness of the tabletop is also taken into account, varying from 2 to 5 cm (it depends on the model and material from which the tabletop is made);
- the depth of the desktop surface is usually 60 cm;
- the tabletop can protrude 5 cm from the facade. The table surface can protrude to the same distance in relation to the back wall;
- cabinets can have a base at the bottom measuring 8...10 cm;
- standard module depth: 50 or 55 cm;
- The width of the lower cabinets is usually selected from the range: 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 80 and 90 cm.
Important! Recently, multi-level work surfaces have become popular among designers. This is due to the fact that it is more convenient for housewives to perform various operations when preparing food at different levels. For example, it is comfortable to process food at a height of 90 cm, to wash dishes at a level of 100 cm, and to cook on a stove with a hob installed at a distance of 80 cm from the floor.
Dimensions of suspended structures
The standard dimensions of the upper modules are also designed for the average housewife.
- Height: 60, 70, 80.90 cm (some manufacturers may also offer a cabinet with a height of 120 cm).
- The depth of the structures is usually 30 cm.
- Width standards correspond to the parameters of the lower cabinets.
Upper kitchen modules
The distance between the shelves in the cabinet can be 20 or 30 cm. Despite the fact that current standards determine the maximum height of the top element to be 190 cm, however, it is also possible to exceed this parameter. In addition, wanting to make maximum functional use of the entire space of a small kitchen and installing structures almost to the ceiling, many deliberately resign themselves to possible difficulties.
Despite the accepted standards for hanging cabinets, which take into account the ease of their operation, if the apartment owner wishes, higher structures can be installed. Frequent use of the upper shelves is not very convenient, especially for those who cannot boast of significant height.
Cabinet sizes and ease of use
However, to accommodate products and items that are not used very often, in kitchens with high ceilings it is not uncommon to fill all possible space with furniture. To make it easier to get what you need, many people use small stepladders or stools.
Today, interesting solutions are offered for organizing access to areas of wall cabinets suspended high. For example, the installed electric drive allows you, after pressing a button (in some models, you can simply pull the handle), to lower the top shelf down to the required distance.
Lift system for kitchen cabinets
A stepladder that extends (after pressing the keys with your foot) from the lower cabinet also helps to operate all the compartments of the wall cabinet as needed. In this case, there is a big disadvantage of the design - the device hidden in the module takes up space that could be used for storing kitchen utensils or installing equipment. Designs that fold into drawers have also been developed.
Extendable stepladder
The design of a kitchen set may involve various ways of installing wall-mounted structures:
- at the same height;
- at different distances from the ceiling and work surface.
Of course, if there is such an opportunity, it is more convenient to order furniture with individual parameters. In this case, you can easily take into account the wishes of the hostess and use the available space as functionally as possible.
Installation height of upper level cabinets
To make it convenient to work in the kitchen and to place household appliances on the countertop, you should not hang the cabinet below 45 cm from the work surface. If the owner's height exceeds average, this parameter can be increased to 60 cm.
Installation height of upper level cabinets
There is a dependence of the installation height of the modules (lower part) on the height of the main cook.
Table. Distance from the bottom surface of hanging cabinets to the floor.
| Man's height | Distance, cm |
| 175…178 | 150 |
| 185 | 160 |
| 200 | 175 |
When installing cabinets in which exhaust devices are built-in, the standards for the placement of this equipment become decisive. In kitchens with gas stoves, hoods cannot be installed lower than 75 cm above the hob. If we are talking about electric stoves, then it is recommended to maintain at least 65 cm.
The upper modules can be mounted on a wall where there are no floor cabinets or work surface. In this case, they are guided by the ergonomics and design of the entire headset. The same principle is used when installing furniture above appliances (refrigerators, ovens, microwave ovens, etc.).
Wall cabinets in the kitchen
When calculating the distance from the tabletop to the bottom of the hanging furniture, first of all you need to focus not on the rules, but on your preferences. Despite accepted standards, some install cabinets at a height exceeding 70 cm. This is more convenient for them.
Incorrectly placed upper modules can significantly complicate the cooking process for the housewife. This not only leads to rapid fatigue, but is also fraught with injury. There are often cases when a cook hits a cabinet with his head. One of the reasons for the problem is the low location of the piece of furniture.
Important! Before ordering furniture, you need to prepare a drawing in order to correctly calculate all the parameters.
Upper cabinet height
For convenience and free placement of household appliances on the work surface, wall-mounted furniture is most often positioned so that the bottom edge ends 45-60 cm from the tabletop.
The height of a wall cabinet depends on the ceiling level in the kitchen and is usually 70 cm. For rooms with a large area and three-meter ceilings, you can order cabinets with a height of 90 to 120 cm.
There are many more options for the width of wall-mounted furniture, since they practically do not accommodate household appliances. It ranges from 15 (spice cabinets) to 80 cm.
If your kitchen is small or oddly shaped, create a custom design. This option will be more expensive, but the set will fit perfectly into the kitchen space. To make the interior look harmonious, when placing an order, stick to the same height for all cabinets.
Distance between the countertop and wall cabinets in the kitchen: normal
Ergonomics is a science that allows you to rationally organize space. One cannot do without this applied discipline either in production or in everyday life. Knowledge of the basics of ergonomics will allow you to practically organize the kitchen and bathroom, bedroom and living room.
How much should one retreat according to norms and standards?
Focusing on the average height and the average sizes of furniture sets, the designers developed a standard height from the tabletop to the base of the lower cabinet. It is 50–60 cm.
Height of base cabinets
The main kitchen furniture is placed on the floor and contains a hob, oven, dishwasher, as well as a bunch of pots, plates, bulk products and other things. The dimensions of floor cabinets directly depend on the built-in appliances and affect the ease of use of the kitchen set.
For people of average, by human standards, height, the most comfortable cabinets will be 85 cm high, which consists of:
- legs - 10 cm;
- the cabinet itself - 72 cm;
- tabletop thickness - from 28 to 40 mm.
Recommendations from experts
Additional recommendations:
- It is better to measure the kitchen before installing communications (plumbing, gas, electrical).
- In rooms with low ceilings, the height of the kitchen unit from floor to ceiling should be maximum - long lines of cabinet walls will visually correct this defect.
- It is better to choose furniture dimensions that are multiples of 15 cm.
- The distance from the set to other furniture is calculated taking into account the space for opening cabinet doors.
Dependence on hood and stove
The defining moment when hanging a hood is the distance to the stove. The instructions usually contain a diagram with dimensions. If you do not have documents for the equipment, be guided by the following rules:
- The minimum distance from the stove to the hob is 65-70 cm. With such a gap, there is no risk of flame contact with the device.
- Position the lower level of the hood so that when cooking food there is no inconvenience even when using the largest pans.
- Install the upper part of the hood at such a level that air is drawn in from all layers of the room.
The height of the location is directly affected by the type of slab. If it is electric, it is allowed to hang the hood at a distance of 65 cm. For a gas stove, this figure increases to 70-75 cm. Usually the device is suspended at a height of 70 to 90 cm, taking into account the height of the cook.
Household appliances and their features
It was already said above that it is important not only to arrange kitchen cabinets in such a way that the result is a comfortable work area, but also the presence of household appliances. Indeed, often according to fire safety rules, it is strictly forbidden to hang wall cabinets. If you have a standard electric stove, then the top cabinet overhanging it should be at least 650 millimeters away.
At the same time, you need to understand that daily cooking on it, the lower part of the laminated plate will quickly lose its appearance. The main enemy of chipboard is moisture. Therefore, if it gets exposed to fumes from a boiling pan on the stove, it will become unusable. When installing a gas stove, it is necessary to increase its distance to at least 700 millimeters. This must be done to eliminate the possibility of a fire, which could happen if a flash occurs and the flame above the hob rises to a decent height.
But if you follow the instructions for fire safety rules, then there should be a hood with good power above the gas stove. It will rid the room of excess fumes and odors that are present during cooking. The hood is subject to the same hanging rules as kitchen furniture (photo).
Dependence of height on human height
When determining the installation height of wall cabinets, the decisive factor is the height of the kitchen owner, since she must easily reach the upper shelves. For women with a height of up to 160 cm, wall cabinets are mounted at a distance of 165 - 170 cm from the floor. For ladies of average height, it is more comfortable to use a set if its top row is located at a height of 185 cm. If the housewife is tall (from 175 cm), wall cabinets can be placed 200 cm from the floor. In all cases, this refers to the upper limit of the typeface.
The optimal height of the cabinet is the sum of the person’s height and 25 cm from above. Sometimes cabinets are placed so high that you can only reach them by standing on a chair. Usually, things that are rarely used in everyday life are stored in such places.
The concept of ergonomics for the kitchen
Ergonomics is not a concept, but a science that studies everyday human interaction with environmental objects to identify optimal living conditions.
Simply put, ergonomics can tell you how to arrange objects near you, in particular furniture, so that it is convenient to use them, and therefore more convenient to live and/or do your work.
In the kitchen, these ergonomics are especially important, because the kitchen in an apartment is a place where a person not only has to relax, but also work - prepare food.
Data that ergonomics provides on the location of interior items, furniture installation distances, the height of kitchen cabinets above the countertop, etc. are not dogmas and should be applied taking into account the convenience of people who will live and work in this environment.
This means that the canopy height of kitchen cabinets for short people may not be suitable for tall people or vice versa.
Related article: Dimensions of built-in ovens: how not to make a mistake with the installation
Possible problems
Proper organization of the kitchen space makes life much easier for the housewife. After installing the headset, moments arise from time to time that cause considerable inconvenience.
Back pain
If such a symptom appears after cooking, it means the height of the floor cabinets does not correspond to your height. Constantly bending over while cooking puts stress on the spine and back muscles. To calculate the correct height, bend your elbow at an angle of 90 degrees and measure down 15 cm. The tabletop should be located at this distance. In a family, height is calculated based on the height of the person who most often stands behind the stove. Replacing the kitchen legs will help solve the problem. However, this process is very labor-intensive.
Upper cabinets hit your head
The reason for the inconvenience is the narrow tabletop. When the depth of the working surface is less than the standard 60 cm, the upper cabinets, protruding 30-40 cm, cover at least half of it. As a result, the owner rests her face on the top row of the headset or hits her head when bending over. The solution to the problem is to replace the countertop with a deeper one.
The reason may also be the low location of the wall cabinets. In this case, you will have to move the furniture higher. The presence of an apron will cause certain difficulties, since it is laid out along the lower border of the upper cabinets. Lifting them will create a gap.
Height of kitchen countertop from floor
Typical height is shown in the table:
| Man's height. | Standard kitchen height measurement from floor to countertop. |
| Up to 151 cm. | About 76 cm. |
| 151 – 181 cm. | Maximum 90 cm. |
When choosing a countertop, consider:
- The height of the sink. The height of the countertop in the kitchen from the floor should be the same as hers.
- The height of the cooking panel. It is advisable to place it a little lower.
- Purpose. The countertop for cutting food must have a maximum surface scale.
Expert opinion
Eduard Radikhovsky
She has been working at the Decorico design agency for 14 years. Shares his experience on the old days of our online magazine.
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Note! When choosing a tabletop material, most buyers give preference to chipboard, which is given moisture-resistant properties, as well as laminated models.
The preferred depth is about 70 cm. It is also difficult to work on high tabletops, because you have to keep your palms unnaturally raised.
Surface for slicing and cutting
When placing, consider factors:
- Its position is ideal at the level of the navel.
- The surface area should be maximized.
- Place the sink nearby.
Preference should be given to headsets with two-level work areas, which is not provided by all manufacturers.
Washing
The dimensions of the sink are important, since housewives spend a lot of time washing dishes.
The optimal height is calculated as follows:
- The distance between the floor and the person’s elbow is determined.
- The width of the fist is measured (between the outer fingers of the hand in a compressed state, usually about 12 cm).
- The value of the second point is subtracted from the first. The resulting number will be the ideal sink height.
On a note! Ideally, the sink should be located below the cutting area.
Hob
The height should be such that it would be possible to look into the pan standing on the stove.
It is measured by taking the tallest food pan and placing it at the peak level of visibility of its contents.
To order, furniture makers will make it in accordance with the required dimensions. When purchasing a ready-made headset, you can change the height by adjusting the legs or using a plinth.
Features of the installation process
You can’t ignore hanging cabinets; you should know a few subtleties of the work being done.
- If the modules are installed on plasterboard walls, it is advisable to decide in advance what the distance between the cabinets in the kitchen will be. This is due to the need to install a wooden block to increase the reliability of the structure.
Important! Using a butterfly dowel is not prohibited, but it is not recommended. This is too weak for kitchen cabinets.
- It is better to hang the modules on a metal guide, and install adjustable canopies in the cabinets. This will allow, if necessary, to raise or lower the kitchen top by 1.5-2 cm.
- The cabinets must be tied together with intersectional ties or wood screws. This is required for the reliability of the entire structure.
- Use high-quality fasteners, do not skimp on hardware.
For a more even hanging, you can attach a temporary strip, which will be the bottom border of the cabinets
Hanging a wardrobe
We have more or less decided on the height. Now you need to hang the cabinets so that it is level, secure and does not spoil the wall - you never know, suddenly you want to change the interior of the kitchen. So, we do everything step by step.
The mounting rail must be secured to dowel-nails
Method 1
- We measure the height of the top cabinet - your height plus 20-25 cm and mark it with a pencil. Using a level, draw a horizontal line as a guide.
- We mark the place where we will drill a hole for fasteners: a self-tapping screw, a hook. We'll make the second outline later.
- We drill and insert the fasteners - this must be done very carefully.
- We turn the cabinet back towards us and screw the hinges to the back wall.
- Now you will need the help of one of the family members. We hang the cabinet on the only fastener so far, level it using the rule, and mark where the hole for the second fastener will be.
- Drill and insert the second fastener.
If there is more than one cabinet, go through all the steps for each of them. Make sure that everyone hangs at the same level - that's why you drew a horizontal line.
Fastening with dowel-nails
The second tip concerns fastening the cabinets together. They do this both for aesthetic reasons (so that they do not diverge) and for greater reliability.
- Now we hang the cabinets, install the upper cornice, and check the operation of the lighting, if any.
- We insert shelves and install doors. If there is a misalignment, tighten or loosen the adjusting screws.
Method 2
In order not to poke around a sea of holes in the wall, you can do everything a little differently. Attach the mounting rail to the wall and hang the cabinets on it.
Metal mounting rail
First you need to level the wall, although we assume that after the repair they are already perfectly level.
- We connect lamps and sockets (how many should there be and where, read the article “Location of sockets in the kitchen”).
- You already know at what height kitchen cabinets are hung. Make a mark on the wall where the fasteners will be. At the same time, you can draw the “imprint” of the cabinet itself.
- We make holes and attach the mounting rail.
- We attach hinges and hooks to the back of the cabinet.
- We check whether they hang strictly horizontally.
- We hang the cabinets on the mounting strip.
- The cabinets need to be pulled together; to do this, we drill holes through the side walls. To prevent cracks and chips from forming on the walls, first drill a narrow hole and then widen it. The second option is to press the block tightly against the cabinet wall where the drill will come out. Now you can pull the cabinets together and move on to the next step.
- We insert shelves.
- We fasten the doors.
- Check to see if they close tightly. If necessary, adjust the bolts.
Fastening cabinets to a special canopy
With this method, cabinets can be moved along the slats, as if on rails. However, such a design costs much more than simple screws, hooks and loops. But you don’t need to get fancy with the markings or hire an assistant. The cabinets can be moved both vertically and horizontally thanks to the rotating screws and thus align them. If the cabinet is very heavy, you can strengthen the structure by breaking the rail into pieces and attaching each with 3 screws.
This is approximately how the cabinet is attached to the mounting rail.
The mounting rail method also has its disadvantages . There will be a small space between the wall and the cabinet. Therefore, you need to nail a strip of the same thickness along the bottom of the cabinet from the back side, or hang the cabinet so that the bottom edge is on the kitchen apron.
