Kitchen counters are standardized today to make installing appliances like your stove or dishwasher easier. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to install a stove top if it wasn’t the same height as your counter top?
If you want to build your own kitchen counter or cabinets, use these standards as a hard and fast guide.
Kitchen Counter Top Height
The height of a kitchen counter top is 36 inches from the floor. This is the total measurement from the floor to the top edge of the counter. The height of the kitchen cabinets, due to the thickness of the counter itself, is slightly lower, since the counter top lays on top of the cabinets. It actually adds height to the counter top.
Read our article about kitchen counter top dimensions for more detailed information!
Kitchen Cabinet Height
Usually, kitchen cabinet manufacturers anticipate a counter top thickness of between 1.5 inches and 2 inches, so they build their cabinets to a height of around 34 or 34.5 inches.
Kitchen Counter Width
The width of a kitchen counter top is 25.5 inches, including the back splash, which is usually 3/4 to 1 inches thick. This is also standard so appliances line up flush with the front edge of your cabinets. Some appliances, like your dishwasher may not be a full 24 inches deep, but it still mounts flush under the counter top so that’s all right. Appliances usually conform to the cabinet width, which is typically thinner than the counter width.
Cabinet Width
Kitchen cabinets are usually 24.5 inches wide, to allow a one-inch overhang for standard 25.5 inch wide counter tops. If your counter top is wider than 25 inches it will have a bigger hang over (never a good thing, no pun intended). This is all right but it adds no real value or function to the kitchen. Normal counters hang over the edge of the cabinets by 1/2 to 1 inches.
Our related articles can also give you more detailed on kitchen measurements and dimensions: