How Much Space Should You Leave Between Countertops and Upper Cabinets? A Complete Kitchen Design Guide
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How Much Space Should You Leave Between Counter tops and Upper Cabinets? A Complete Kitchen Design Guide
February 17, 2025
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Planning the kitchen is not just about picking colors or cool appliances. It’s about making a space that suits your life. From how you set things up to the materials you choose, every choice should help make the kitchen work best for you. The space between the countertops and the upper cabinets can seem minor, but it affects the kitchen’s work and feel. Righting that space makes it easier to reach things, move comfortably, and balance the design. In this post, I’ll explain how much space to leave between your counters and cabinets and why creating the perfect kitchen is important for you.
Why the Right Space Between Countertop and Cabinets Is Crucial for Your Kitchen Design
Kitchen design is all about making sure the space works for you. How much space you leave between your countertops and upper cabinets plays a big role in how easy and comfortable your kitchen is. If you get the distance wrong, you might bend too much, bump into things, or stretch awkwardly to reach what you need. Most professionals suggest a gap of 18 to 20 inches. But before we settle on that, let’s look at the factors that affect this choice and figure out if that range works for your kitchen and your daily routine.
Understand the Importance of Space Between Countertops and Upper Cabinets
In a kitchen, even small changes can make a big difference. These extra inches between the countertop and cabinets affect how much space you have to work with and how the room feels overall. Here’s why every inch counts.
1. Comfort and Accessibility: Making Your Kitchen Easy to Use
The space between your countertops and upper cabinets plays a big role in how easy it is to get things done in the kitchen. If the cabinets are too low, you’ll probably feel like you’re always bending down. But if they’re too high, reaching the top shelves can be a pain, and you might need to grab a step stool more often than you’d like. Striking the right balance makes it easier to move around, reach what you need, and work comfortably.
2. Ergonomics and Kitchen Workflow: Keeping Things Comfortable
The kitchen is a space where you do a lot of important tasks, so the design should help you move around easily. Activities like chopping, mixing, and cooking need plenty of space and a clear view of everything. You should have enough room to work without feeling cramped. Good spacing in the kitchen helps you work comfortably and safely, reducing strain and the chance of accidents.
3. Visual Balance: Achieving Harmony in Your Kitchen Design
How your kitchen looks is just as important as how it works. The space between the countertop and cabinets can change the feel of the whole room. If there isn’t enough space, the kitchen might feel crowded and tight. But if the space is too big, the cabinets can look like they don’t fit. Get the space right to help everything look balanced and feel comfortable.
How to Determine the Ideal Space Between Your Counter and Cabinets
The general rule is to keep about 18 to 20 inches between the counters and cabinets, but it all depends on the height and how your kitchen is set up.
Consider Your Height for the Perfect Fit
1. Everyone has a different height. Shorter people want the cabinets a little lower so they can grab things without stretching and taller people need more space to not feel squished while working on the counter.
It’s really important to make sure the bottom shelf is easy to reach for whoever’s using the kitchen the most, usually around eye level or a bit lower.
2. Account for Countertop Thickness
The thickness of the countertop plays a big role in how much space you have between the counter and the upper cabinets. The standard countertops are typically 1 to 1.5 inches thick; materials like marble or quartz tend to be much thicker. For a thicker countertop, you need to adjust the height of your upper cabinets to keep the right amount of space between them. This simple adjustment ensures that your kitchen both looks balanced and functions well.
3. Cabinet Depth and Functionality
When thinking about your upper cabinets, don’t forget to factor in their depth. Standard cabinets are about 12 inches deep, but if you need more storage, you might go for something deeper. Just be sure to leave enough space between the counter and cabinets so you don’t feel squeezed while working.
If you spend a lot of time cooking or baking, it’s smart to leave more space between your counters and cabinets. This gives you enough room for appliances, gadgets, and a backsplash, so you don’t feel cramped. Getting the space right makes your kitchen easier and more comfortable to use.
Customizing the Space: When to Adjust the Standard Distance
Its good to follow a standard distance, but sometimes its better to slightly adjust it for your kitchen. Here are some situations where you can change it.
1. Open and Airy Kitchen Designs
It’s very important to make sure the bottom shelf of the upper cabinets is easy to reach for the person who uses the kitchen the most. Ideally, this shelf should be positioned around eye level or just a little lower. This ensures that you don’t have to stretch or bend too much to get what you need. Keeping this in mind will make working in your kitchen more comfortable and efficient, helping you avoid unnecessary strain when reaching for things on the shelves.
2. Maximizing Storage in Tight Spaces
If you want to get more storage out of your kitchen, lowering the cabinets a little might be a good idea. Doing this helps you make use of every inch of space, especially if your cabinets go all the way up to the ceiling. lowering slightly will give room to store all the kitchen essentials and keep things organised, especially your appliances, cookware, or food items.
But be sure not to lower the cabinets too much. Even though extra storage is helpful, you still need enough space on your counters to work comfortably. The right balance between more storage and enough workspace is key to keeping the kitchen functional and pleasant to use.
3. Ideal Kitchen Layouts for Different Styles
It’s common to hang the cabinets a bit higher than in older styles. Raising the cabinets adds height, which makes the room look more balanced. It’s also a practical choice for built-in appliances like microwaves; it fits nicely with the layout. Taller cabinets pair well with higher backsplashes too, especially for standout materials or designs that you want to show off. This visual change makes your kitchen less cramped and more inviting.
4. Small Kitchens: Balancing Storage and Comfort
In a small kitchen, every piece of space is valuable. Lowering the cabinets by just an inch or two in a cramped kitchen gives more storage without wasting too much room to work. It becomes handy to store extra dishes or gadgets you don’t use daily. However, lowering the cabinets too much will cause the comfort and practicality of the counter space to be lost. You need enough room to chop, mix, and cook without feeling squeezed, so balancing storage and comfort is crucial.
Feeling inspired to perfect your kitchen layout? Now that you know the ideal space between countertops and upper cabinets, you’re one step closer to creating your dream kitchen! If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with others who are planning their kitchen remodel. For more kitchen design tips, ideas, and inspiration, be sure to subscribe to my blog and stay updated with the latest posts.
I’m Javaria Afsar, a stay-at-home mom and DIY fan. When my kids wrecked my dream kitchen cabinets, I learned to create tough, kid-friendly homes on a budget. I test every tip myself: from juice spills and crayon masterpieces to my Labrador’s enthusiastic tail. Grab my free Kitchen Reset Checklist here: Visit kitchencabinet.info