How High To Hang Kitchen Cabinets: Installation Guide

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Wondering about the perfect spot to hang your upper kitchen cabinets? You’re not alone! Getting the height right is crucial not just for the look of your kitchen but for functionality too.

Whether you’re updating your space or installing new cabinets, we’ve got the scoop on finding the ideal height for your kitchen cabinets.

How High To Hang Kitchen Cabinets

If you saw last weeks post on our new lake house investment (see it here), you know that we are in the middle of remodeling the home and the kitchen renovation was the first project we tackled. 

Today I am sharing why we removed the old upper kitchen cabinets at the lake house and re hung and attached the upper cabinets to the wall. 

Industry standard or a general rule is 54″ from the floor to the bottom of the upper cabinets and 18 inches from the countertop to the bottom of the upper cabinet.

Unfortunately, the previous owner hung the upper cabinets a bit too low making the kitchen feel awkward and minimal height space above the countertop.

Here is the lake house kitchen before we remodeled.

The kitchen layout is a “U shape kitchen” but one of the walls had a window (that was stuck closed) and a door that was not in good condition.

The wall was a hodgepodge of appliances and counter space that in my opinion didn’t flow and lacked visual appeal.

The Standard Height: A Starting Point

First things first, let’s talk about the standard height for upper kitchen cabinets.

Typically, the bottom of the upper cabinets should sit 18 inches above the countertop.

This space ensures easy access to the counter and enough room for appliances like your coffee maker or toaster.

Why Cabinet Height Matters

Your kitchen isn’t just a place for cooking—it’s a hub of home activity.

The right cabinet height helps keep everything within reach, whether you’re grabbing a plate from the top of the cabinets or storing away your groceries.

Plus, it’s key to a kitchen design that looks and feels good.

We ultimately decided to rip out all the upper kitchen cabinets, rehang them to the proper standard eight of 54″ from the floor and add an entire new wall of upper cabinets. 

We ended up eliminating the old window and door (we relocated the door to the otherside of the house) on that wall allowing us to extend the kitchen cabinet layout.

When Jim started removing the window, he found literally plywood and siding. There was no insulation.

Kitchen Upper Cabinet Dimensions

The existing upper kitchen cabinet dimensions as well as the new kitchen cabinets are 30 inches tall which is a standard size.

How high to hang kitchen cabinets is a common question and it’s very important to make sure the cabinets are attached to the wall at the correct height. 

The upper cabinets were hung 2 inches too short (at 52″ from the floor) so adding a new wall of cabinets at the wrong height was not an option according to Jimbo.

It seemed like a lot of work for nothing but once they were hung to the correct height, I could see the additional height difference in the back splash area.

It looked so much better with the upper kitchen cabinets hung and attached to the wall at the correct height! 

What Is The Standard Height Of Kitchen Hanging Cabinets?

Once all of the kitchen upper cabinets were removed, we marked a new line at 54″ from the floor to where the bottom of the kitchen cabinets would sit.

So basically, the bottom of the upper cabinets should be 54″ from the floor.

How High To Hang Cabinets: Installation Process

Hanging cabinets might seem daunting, but with the right tools (like a stud finder) and a bit of know-how, you can get it done.

1. Measure Carefully: Start by measuring the height of your ceiling and the height of your upper cabinets. This will help you determine the right spot for the bottom of the cabinet.
2. Mark the Wall: Use a pencil to mark where the top and bottom of the cabinet will be. This is where a level comes in handy, ensuring your cabinets are perfectly straight.
3. Find the Studs: A stud finder is your best friend here. Securing the cabinets to studs ensures they’re safely and securely mounted.
4. Consider the Crown Molding: If you’re adding crown molding, leave enough space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling to accommodate it.

Jim added temporary cleats to the wall (18 inches from the countertop) which allowed the upper cabinet to rest on it while I kept it steady so Jim could fasten the cabinet to the wall with cabinet screws. 

You can see the 2×4 cleat below running horizontally across the wall. 

We ended up reusing all of the old kitchen upper cabinets (just hung them 2″ higher) and purchased a handful of new ones.

The cabinets that were in the house when we purchased it were builder grade stock cabinets that you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot so it was easy to purchase additional cabinets for the new wall.

Here is the kitchen showing the height of the upper cabinets at 54″.

As you can see, the new kitchen offers extra space,

We spent a couple of weekends working late nights (with cheese, crackers and wine!) installing the new kitchen cabinets and as you can see below, the transformation is beautiful!

Factors to Consider

Several factors can influence how high you should hang your cabinets.

Ceiling Height

The height of your ceiling can affect the overall look. In homes with higher ceilings, you might opt for taller upper cabinets or even add an extra row of smaller cabinets or shelves above the standard ones.

Cabinet Style

From stock cabinets to custom designs, your cabinet style can dictate the best hanging height. Custom options might offer more flexibility, while stock cabinets stick to the standard sizes.

Countertop Thickness

Don’t forget to consider the thickness of the countertop. A thicker countertop means adjusting the cabinet height slightly to maintain that ideal space between the counter and the bottom of the upper cabinet.

Kitchen Size

Smaller kitchens might benefit from slightly higher cabinets to make the space feel larger and more open.

If you are looking for more kitchen cabinet ideas, be sure to check out the following posts.

From the ideal cabinet height to creating a kitchen that’s uniquely yours, remember, the right height is all about making your space work for you. Here’s to a kitchen that blends function with style, perfectly tailored to your life.