The height of the countertop in the kitchen, does it matter

When starting to re-equip a kitchen and making a new kitchen unit, it is necessary to decide not only on its appearance, but also on its dimensions. And this question is by no means idle, because the standard height often offered by manufacturing companies the kitchen countertop turns out to be too large or too small - and work in the kitchen becomes reality torment.

How to choose the optimal height of the kitchen countertop and what this height depends on - we will tell you in our article!

Kitchen countertop height and person's height

Dependence of the height of the working surface on growth

So, the choice of the height of the kitchen countertop - what should it be based on?

Read the article How to choose a kitchen countertop - advice from a professional designer.

The first and, moreover, the most important parameter is the height of the person who will work at this countertop. Despite the obviousness of this, many furniture manufacturers neglect this parameter, offering standardized options.

On the one hand, it is really convenient, because the production of kitchens from a standard dimensional grid requires lower financial costs, but on the other hand, it is extremely inconvenient to work at a tabletop that does not suit you.

How does human comfort depend on the height of the surface on which the work is done?

• When performing standard kitchen operations, for example, when cutting vegetables for salad, about forty muscles of our body are involved. But this is only if we are standing straight, without bending over to the table top - you can watch any video showing the chefs at work and see for yourself!

• If the table top is below a comfortable level, then we have to bend and stoop. In this case, the number of muscles involved increases by 50% - the back muscles, gluteal muscles, and also the muscles of the back of the thigh are connected.
• If the surface is higher than we need, then not the number of muscles involved increases, but the load on them. We have to keep our hands at an uncomfortable angle and we will get tired much faster. And if you also have to make an effort - for example, when cutting frozen meat - then in a quarter of an hour we will remember this tabletop with an unkind word.

The conclusion is simple - working in the kitchen, we need a surface of the optimal height. This is why one standard kitchen countertop height is not for everyone.

Optimum worktop heights

What should be the height of the table top to work comfortably behind it?

Generally speaking, the most suitable countertop height is different for each kitchen operation - we'll talk about this below. But if you look for a single solution, then there are a number of recommendations for choosing countertops.

• If a person's height is 150 cm or less, the height of the table top will be 76 mm. The same tabletop can be recommended to be installed in apartments where wheelchair users live.
• For people up to 150 cm tall, worktops with a height of 82 cm are suitable.
• If the height of adult members of your family is 160-180 cm, then countertops from 88 to 91 cm will be optimal.

Note! It is this countertop option that is offered as a standard by most furniture companies.

• For taller people, whose height is from 180 cm to 2 m and more, countertops up to a meter high are suitable.

However, these dimensions are fair if you want to make all surfaces in the kitchen at the same height. But is it right?

In the next section of our article, we will answer this question!

Work surface height and work performed

The dependence of the height on the actions performed

Typically, most modern kitchens are equipped with worktops and worktops at the same height. From the point of view of appearance, this option, of course, is preferable, but from the point of view functionality - it loses a lot to kitchens in which different work surfaces are located on different height.

This conclusion has long been reached by engineers working in companies manufacturing kitchen appliances.

Depending on the load on the human body, several zones of the kitchen working surface were identified:

1. Test area.
2. Hot cooking zone (cooking, frying, etc.).
3. Zone of primary processing of products (cutting).
4. Serving area.
5. Dish washing area.

For each of these zones, its own countertop height is optimal - and it is this height that you need to focus on when ordering a kitchen or making it yourself.

Below we will look at what countertops should be for the most common operations.

Sink countertop

The choice of the height of the countertop for placing the sink is very important, since it is near the sink that the bulk of the time (about 40-50%) that we spend in the kitchen passes.

Standard sinks that furniture manufacturers offer us have a height of about 83-84 cm. This height is not convenient for everyone - and very often you have to wash the dishes, bending over the sink, or even resting your forehead against the facade of the dish dryer.

More information in the article Kitchen cabinet with custom-made worktop.

The height of the countertop for the sink is determined quite simply: we measure the height from the floor to the elbow and subtract the height of the fist from the result obtained.

In practice, this instruction is used as follows:

• Height from floor to elbow - 102 cm
• Fist height - 7 cm
• Therefore, the optimal height of the countertop for the sink is 102 - 7 = 95 cm.

How you can check the height of the sink, you see in the photo.

Note! As a rule, when ordering such non-standard modules, the price of a kitchen rises. But it's better to put up with these expenses, because the result of a small overpayment will be the most comfortable and convenient kitchen for work!

As a result, the countertop under the sink should turn out to be the highest surface - after all, when washing dishes, we do not need to apply muscle force, which means we do not need to bend. Conclusion - the higher the sink (within the limits of our height, of course), the more convenient it will be for us to spend time at it. And in a convenient sink and washing dishes is not so annoying!

Slicing worktop

The worktop on which the slicing and shredding takes place should take up the maximum area. In height, the work table should be slightly lower than the sink, because two types of operations are performed on it:

• Operations associated with the use of physical force - kneading dough, cutting large vegetables, cutting meat, poultry, etc. Such operations will be maximized it is convenient to perform if the tabletop is slightly above the level of our belt - in this case, the muscles of the back and legs will take on part of the efforts, somewhat "unloading" arms.
• "Subtle" operations - cutting fish, cutting sausage or cheese, curly cutting vegetables. It is not so much strength that is important here, accuracy, therefore, many prefer to perform such operations on a higher surface.

It would seem that the requirements for the countertop in the work area are contradictory.

That is why - if the area of ​​the kitchen allows it - it is better to divide the countertop of the working area into two:

• A low cutting table of a small area (by the way, here you can install a countertop made of another, more durable material), located at the waist level.
• Main work surface at a height of 830 - 850 mm.

Well, if the kitchen area is not enough, then you will have to choose the middle option. The main thing is that the height of the cutting table top is less than the height of the sink!

Worktop under the hob

The choice of the height of the worktop in which the hob will be built is also very important. If the hob will be placed on a very high level, you will have to look into the pots, standing on tiptoes, and if you set it too low, you will need to bend over.

Determining the height of the countertop in this case is quite simple - we take the highest pan and place it at such a distance from the floor that you can look into it without standing on your toes.

As a rule, the hob is located below the main work surface, and certainly below the sink level. The optimal worktop height is 800-820 mm from the floor.

Read also the article on the site DIY kitchen countertops: recipe for making.

Other important dimensions of kitchen furniture

In addition to the height of the countertop above the floor level, the kitchen set also has a whole list of dimensions, the observance of which is a prerequisite for comfortable work in the kitchen.

Here is some of them:

• Countertop depth. The standard depth is 600 mm (these are the dimensions for most built-in appliances). If the size of the kitchen allows - you can make a worktop 700 mm deep - in this case, drawers for kitchen utensils can be placed closer to the wall.
• Height of wall cabinets above the worktop - at least 450 mm from the bottom edge. If the cabinets are hung lower, then, firstly, it will be difficult to view, and secondly, there is a risk of hitting the cabinet with your forehead, bending over to the table top.
• Distance between stove and sink - at least 400 mm. Otherwise, there is a risk of water entering the hotplate and extinguishing the fire.
• Distance from the hood to the top edge of the stove or hob - 650-750 mm.

As you can see, the overall dimensions of kitchen furniture, such as the height of the kitchen from floor to countertop or the distance between the countertop and wall cabinets, play an important role in ensuring your comfort. And if you want your work in the kitchen to be a pleasure - carefully consider the recommendations of this article!