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Bathroom Vanity Height

Wooddust | Posted in General Discussion on December 5, 2008 03:24am

I am building an unusual Vanity for my cabin bathroom. The top is a 3inch slice of White Cedar that is beautiful. It will stand on two legs made from log sections from red cedars cut off my place and be cleated at the back to the wall..But to the question…the sink will be a vessel sink…I know it sounds a but modern for a cabin but one has to give in occasiionally to wifely pressures. The question is, what is the correct height for a vanity with a vessal sink? Is there a “standard” or is this something that people just use the old standard and set the sink on top?….

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  1. Piffin | Dec 05, 2008 03:39pm | #1

    It just depends on how tall you folks are.

    The old 'standard' was 29" because of an attempt to average in the little members of the family, but there has been more movement to making vanities 32-34" tall, and letting the tykes use a stool to get there.

    So mock it up to find out what feels comfortable to you and go for it.

     

     

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  2. AitchKay | Dec 05, 2008 04:25pm | #2

    I'm with Piffin on stools for the kids. I'm on the tall side(6'-2"), and 29" vanities are miserable to use.

    Really, even kitchen sinks are set too low. The problem is that the working height is close to the bottom of the sink bowl, 6" to 8" below counter height.

    So if a 36" high counter feels right to you, then the sink should be in a 42" high counter so that you don't have to stoop to use it.

    In your case, whatever is a comfortable eight for the cedar slab should be just fine for washing hands -- you don't have to compromise between the two.

    AitchKay

  3. User avater
    Gene_Davis | Dec 05, 2008 05:37pm | #3

    With a vessel sink, I use the sink height-above-counter figure to size my vanity, and build everything so sink rim is at 34" to 36" above finished floor.

    Shorter folks get the 34-inch build.

    In a master bath with a his and hers sink arrangement, it sometimes makes sense to have his sink at a height way up above hers, thus a step or break is designed into the arrangement.

    Vessel sinks are a hot design rage, but they throw things out of whack, IMHO.  Because the sink rims can be up off the mount by 6 inches or even more, you can either feel as if you have your hands up way too high for washing and other sink chores, while your adjacent counter level is too low.

    The sinks emulate the old time washbowl and pitcher, common before indoor plumbing, but the designers have made them look tres cool with edgy designs

    I prefer a nice undermount sink.

     

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    1. AitchKay | Dec 05, 2008 05:44pm | #4

      I dunno, Gene,Turn on the TV and watch peoples' posture --if they're chopping vegetables, they're standing erect. If they're washing dishes or their hands, they're bent over.Just cuz we're used to that doesn't mean it's good ergonomics. Sure, it feels different to be washing your hands without bending over, but, trust me, you'll get used to it!AitchKay

  4. Planeman | Dec 05, 2008 05:51pm | #5

    I just finished two bathrooms in my house with vanities at 36".  Both the wife and I are superior human specimens at 6'3" and 5'8" respectivly.  Since the kids are gone I built these for our comfort.  I have been amazed at the positive comments from guests who love not having to bend over to use the sink.  Mock it up and go for the height, you can always lower it later if need be.

     

    Experienced, but still dangerous!
  5. Dave45 | Dec 05, 2008 06:36pm | #6

    I just did three vanities for a customer and two of them had vessel sinks. Their first homework assignment during the design process was to decide how high off the floor they wanted the sink rim to be. One they decided on that, and picked out the sinks and countertops they wanted, I was able to design the vanities.

    I talked them out of a vessel sink in the third bathroom. They plan to have kids in the near future, and I don't think that vessel sinks are a good mix with small kids.

    I've also done several vanities at 35" - 36" high. The older folks (including yours truly) appreciate not having to bend over so far while brushing whatever teeth are left. If small kids (or grandkids) need to be accomodated, a stepstool does the trick.

    1. MikeSmith | Dec 06, 2008 02:19am | #7

      given  the opportunity , we set our vanity ht. at 36"....  most people prefer it.....

      be careful about keeping your options open if you want to make the bath accessible for the handicappedMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

      1. oldusty | Dec 06, 2008 08:20am | #9

          A Handicap vanity style I have made is more of a console wall mounted unit that allows a wheel chair to snug up to the counter better.

          Most any standard vanity is not easily accessible for many wheel chair users

                              dusty         

        1. MikeSmith | Dec 06, 2008 02:40pm | #10

          what did you use for top of rim ht ?Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          1. oldusty | Dec 06, 2008 05:43pm | #11

              Mike ,    It has been a long time since then but seeing as though a person is sitting in a chair / wheel chair the top typically is 12" taller then the seat ht .

             I think 30 - 32" is the ht I used .

                                dusty

  6. confused2 | Dec 06, 2008 02:29am | #8

    Would love to see a picture when you are done.

    1. Wooddust | Dec 06, 2008 10:22pm | #12

      I cannot wait to get to the picture phase.....I started this "little hunting cabin" addition with far far too few hours planned. But I can say that the hardwood floor looks stunning after all the work. The tile was not as bad as I expected but lots of work, and the cabinets in the kitchen should be awesome with the redoak flooring and the walnut cabinets. Its been a ton of work for one guy but its been a hoot. Ill probably post in the gallery even though its an amature DIYer project.

  7. susiekitchen | Dec 07, 2008 12:52am | #13

    I'm with those who say to mock it up and decide which works best for you. Please don't just bend over to see how your back feels. Actually pretend that you are washing/drying your face, brushing your teeth, etc. (See my comment in the next paragraph). If you want to keep within accepted standards, then I think 34-36" would be a good range.

    I know the trend in vanities now is to do the 36" counter height. However, I'm 5-4 and for the last week I've had to use the kitchen sink as a vanity. Not fun at all. It's less of a pain for me to bend over the 30" vanity sink than it is to stretch over the counter and try to keep my elbows from banging into the sink when I rinse my face. For taller people I think a 36" high vanity is great. For average folks, I think 34" is the best.

  8. User avater
    Mongo | Dec 07, 2008 05:41am | #14

    Interesting replies, as they're all over the place. Which is to be expected when we voice our personal preferences.

    I made the counter top height in our master bath 35" high, I have a Kohler Memoirs pedestal top sitting on top of, but slightly recessed into that countertop. The rim of the memoirs sink is at 39".

    At 6'4" I'm digging it.

    At 5'1", my wife says it's the most comfortable sink she's ever used.

    Whodathunkit?

  9. joharrington | Dec 13, 2012 12:53am | #15

    kitchen cabinets

    One thing to think about....if you're using kitchen height cabinets for your bath, remember that the sink mount makes a difference in the final design.

  10. Jenny26 | Dec 18, 2012 09:21am | #16

    There is nothing like "correct height for a vanity" with a vessal sink or anything for that matter, it all depends on the height you or those using it would feel comfortable with because it has to be used on a daily basis. Don't bother about what others would say about the height.

  11. bing0328 | Sep 14, 2020 11:39am | #17

    If you like 36" or higher countertop and have or will have kids, my solution is installing a 4-6" high drawer at bottom of vanity and put a 3/4" plywood rabbitted shelf on top. Blum makes heavy duty drawer glides to accommidate 100 lbs so then you have a kid step built in.

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