Wall cabinet height - AUS and US difference?

durhamac · Jan 22, 2023 3:59 pm

I am installing new wall cabinets and all Australian sites say they should be 60cm above the 90cm kitchen bench. My current ones are this but my wife cannot reach the top shelf and I wanted to know if they can be lower.

Most US sites suggest 18" ie 45.7cm or less for that country's kitchens and I have to agree that this seems adequate, even taking into consideration any appliances to be stored or used (generating heat) underneath. Another advantage of starting 15cm lower is that the cabinet can be this much taller and the shelves can be arranged to store bigger items.

The difference cannot be due to the risk of banging your head on an open door - for a 60cm wide cabinet, the door will not overhang the benchtop. Even where an 80cm cabinet door may occasionally overhang the benchtop, are eye injuries less likely to happen at 150cm compared to 135cm?

Am I missing anything?

PS Does anyone know the standards elsewhere eg UK, Canada, Europe etc?

chippy · Jan 22, 2023 6:18 pm

Australian cabinetry is more European in its design. The kitchens tend to be more streamlined, where as US kitchens tend to have a more "country" feel with face frame cabinets, large stand alone cookers and ranges.
The only true "rule" you need to follow is the height of flammable materials above your hob. There is no issue with running your overhead at 450 above the bench if that is what suits you but you will have to stop the cabinets or step them up before you get to your cooktop to make sure you keep the correct distance away from the burners.
Most people prefer a nice straight line for their OH's and the rangehood so the 600-650 mm height is pretty standard in Australia as it is in Europe.

At the end of the day a kitchen is a big investment and it's vital that it functions for you. Personally I find overheads at 450 off the bench makes a kitchen feel closed in but each to their own. There are definitely some practical advantages to lower overheads but I'd consider making the benchtops a bit deeper 650-700 so your face isn't so close to the overheads if you do make them lower.

strannik · Jan 23, 2023 8:54 am

we've found that 600mm isn't enough, wife ends up banging her head on the exhaust hood when she leans in to look at the pots on the back burners. so opted for 700mm. really depends on how tall both of you are.

durhamac · Jan 23, 2023 9:26 am

Thanks for your advice.

However, we will not have a rangehood above the bench top and my wife would like to be able to reach every wall cabinet shelf. We have not banged our head on the door currently at 150cm despite both being over that height so cannot see how this would be different at 135cm

strannik · Jan 23, 2023 9:54 am

i think it's when it's at a certain height relative to the person's height. cause i'm taller, and i don't bang my head either, possibly because i'm looking at the hood from the top. but when it's roughly at your eye height, people might misjudge how much they have to duck to avoid it.

if it's not a problem for you, then you can make it as low as you want. especially if you're not going to have any burners there (which kinda sounds to be the case, judging by your comment about no rangehood).