As I was using my bathroom vanity recently, I was wondering how tall it is and how different vanity heights might feel when using them. This made me look into average bathroom vanity heights and here is what I found.
What is the standard bathroom vanity height? There are two types of heights for bathroom vanities, namely the standard bathroom vanity height and the new comfort bathroom vanity height. The standard bathroom vanity height is 32 inches and the comfort bathroom vanity height is 36 inches.
To get a good idea about these vanity heights we need to look into them in much more detail. That’s why I thought of exploring the options available in bath vanity heights and to look into their pros and cons in detail here.
Standard Bathroom Vanity Height – 32″
The standard height bathroom vanity is 32 inches. This height is measured from the bathroom floor to the top of the vanity countertop and sink. This height puts the top of the countertop at waist-high or slightly lower, depending on your height.
In the USA today these 32-inch vanities are still fairly common though they are being replaced by the newer 36-inch vanities. Still, the 32″ standard height bathroom vanity has its advantages.
The greatest advantage is that it sits just between the shorter and taller vanity models available in the market. So it’s the ideal option for households consisting of kids and mixed height people. For example, if you and your spouse are tall but your kids will be using the vanity as well, then this standard height units suits all of you better.
This is also a good option for a bathroom vanity installed in a
It is also good to go for a standard height bathroom vanity when you are planning to make a bathroom just for your kids. There would be no issue of height in such a case.
As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t mind having one shorter than the standard height of 32 inches. That’s because my family consists of short to medium height people.
Comfort Height Bathroom Vanity – 36″
Comfort height bathroom vanities are 36 inches tall. This height is the new standard height for bathroom vanities.
If you see old bathroom vanities made decades ago, you would notice that those vanities are much shorter, such as 32 inches in height or lower. That is because comfort height vanities have just emerged in the market.
This new comfort height vanity is best as it is ergonomically made up putting your health into prime focus. No longer do you need to bend too much in order to use the vanity. So it greatly reduces stooping and helps you to maintain good posture. This makes it easier to wash up.
I think many medium to tall height people will prefer this comfort height vanities over the 32 inches standard height vanities. This 36-inch height is just perfect as long as you are not too short, that’s to say, less than the average height of a person.
However, if you have small kids using the same bathroom, this would not be a good option as they can find it to be too tall.
Bathroom Vanity Height with Vessel Sink
In vessel sink vanity, the sink sits on top of the countertop of the bathroom vanity and is not built into the vanity as in normal bathroom vanity designs. So the height for this type of vanity differs from the normal style bathroom vanities we discussed above.
The height of the sink and the height of the vanity should both be considered to find out the total height which would have an impact when you are using it. This makes sense as the vessel could add up quite a few inches to the entire vanity height.
Generally, the ideal height for a bathroom vanity with 8-inch high vessel sink is between 24 and 35 inches. Again, this depends on who will be using the vanity, for example, the members of your household.
For a home which has disabled people in it, it is best to stick to a vanity with a height between 21 and 26 inches for a vessel which is 8 inches in height.
Floating Wall Hung Vanity Height
Like free-standing bathroom vanity cabinets we saw above, wall vanities too used to be installed at around the 32-inch standard height. But today in many new homes wall hung vanity units with sinks are installed at 36 inches from the floor to the countertop.
But for public places, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications recommend the highest point on the front edge of a wall hung bathroom sink to be between 29 to 34 inches above floor level.
This ADA bathroom vanity height is ideal, so the vanity sink and countertop can be accessed by people of varying heights and also by those who have disabilities. After all, ADA recommendations come after much research and considerations. So there is no need to worry about whether you will be able to reach the sink, at all.
Of course, with floating wall-hung vanities you have the freedom to install it at any height you like. The most important thing to keep in mind is the height of the people who will be using your bathroom. If both kids and adults will be using it, you’ll probably not want it that high.
Ideal Makeup Vanity Height
A makeup vanity could have varying heights due to the way it is used. Although standing makeup vanities are available, it is more common to see makeup vanities in sit down form.
The standard makeup vanity height for a stand-up makeup vanity counter is 30-34 inches. Sit-down
No matter what the design of your makeup vanity is, you need to make sure that the countertop is reachable from the position you are at. This makes it easier for you to put or take anything from the countertop while applying makeup on yourself.
As a woman with a height a bit shorter than the average, I would go for a sit-down makeup vanity that is about 27 inches in height. It is really up to you to decide which one you prefer over the other. It could be either a stand-up makeup vanity counter or the sit-down option in any of the above heights, depending on your convenience and style.
Best Bathroom Vanity Height
The best vanity height can greatly change from person to person depending on their height. With this in mind, vanities are built with the heights ranging from as short as 29 inches up to as tall as 36 inches.
In order to standardize vanity heights and best fit a range of users the National Bath and Kitchen Association has set the standard height range between 32 to 43 inches.
You can find vanities in this varying heights of vanities available in local home improvement stores as well as on the internet in places like Amazon and Wayfair.com.
What Height Bathroom Vanity Should I Get?
I suggest you first consider each and every member of your family and if they would be using the same bathroom. If so, you need to take the average height through a rough calculation of the height of each family member and then come up with the best decision for you and them.
But don’t forget that you have a range of options to select from, which could be lower than the 32-inch standard vanity height and taller than the 36-inch comfort height vanity. So you can go for a good option based on the ideal height for your family needs and preferences.
In my house, I would stick to the standard bathroom vanity height of 32 inches because my family members are close to the average height of an ordinary person. Also, since I have kids in my home and they use the same bathroom, it’s the ideal choice for me.
I would find the comfort height vanity too tall for all of us, even though it is known to promote good posture. It would not work in the case of my family and we would be doing more harm than good to ourselves, in the long run.
Related Questions
What is the Standard Bathroom Vanity Depth?
The standard depth of a bathroom vanity is 21 inches. This value is measured from the front of the vanity cabinet to the rear of the vanity cabinet and excludes any overhang of the countertop.
What are Standard Bathroom Vanity Sizes?
Standard bathroom vanity sizes are 24, 30, 36, 48 and 60 inches. These are the normal vanity cabinet widths.
What is the Standard Bathroom Sink Height?
The standard bathroom sink height could be anywhere starting from 31 inches to 36 inches.