There was a lengthy discussion about this not long ago. Something about the height of your bent elbow being the correct height. My old counters were 34. My new counters are 36. I prefer the 34. I'm 5'4" I feel like I'm going to hit my chin when I stir bowls of things. I'm really trying hard to get used to them but ..........they're too tall. My kitchen is so perfect otherwise, I won't complain. My 34 inch counters had such a shallow toe kick it was hard to mop under them. The new 36s have a taller toe kick. easier to clean. The new cabinets were 34 inches plus two inches of counter. But, I'm happy and that's what matters.

i think it's - with arm straight at your side bend your arm at the elbow 90 degrees, have someone else measure from elbow to the fl*oor, subtract 6" from that measurement = hght of counter good for you.

I did it and my number was 29... then i had my sister do the measuring - lol! it's 33" now. I think I'll have her do it again and see if it comes out the same the 2nd time.

Are they custom cabinets?

Is the finished floor in? The cabinets may be slighly raised on plywood or something to accomodate the thickness of the finished floor.

Kitchen sinks are deeper than ever now, so the norm for counters might have to move higher than before. It's around 4-5 inches from your bent elbow, as a general rule of thumb that you can do with as you like.

Yes, the floor is in. Self-measured, my elbow is at 42". So, I guess I just need to get used to it--both to work on, and the way it looks. I am going to ask my GC why he chose this height. My guess is that the bottom of the deep sink would have been too low for a comfortable reach. I sort of wish we had talked about the various options (sink depth, countertop height)...I might have chosen a shallower sink.

The standard countertop height is usually considered to be 36", but it's really a matter of personal preference. Julia Child always had her kitchen counters at 38", because she was tall. I'm in the same boat, so when my kitchen was being built, I specified 38", too. A very comfortable height for me. Actually, the area where I do most of my prep and chopping is even higher, because I work on a large 2-1/2" thick maple cutting board that sits on the counter all the time.

if they're comfortable for you to work at it'll probably work out fine for you. do have someone else do the measuring tho. i ended up off by 4".
i'll have to have at least the sink counter up a bit higher to fit a dw under anyway.

The correct height is whatever is comfortable for you. My new counters will be 40'', the island 38.''

In our old kitchen, the cabinets were placed before the finished floor - so they were about 34.5" with the countertop. In our new kitchen, the cabinets are placed after the finished floor - so they will be about 36". It is a significant difference! I'm sure I will get used to it. I always think of resale, and 36" seems to be the standard. Good luck!

IÂm happy to read these responses. We have finally made the decision to put a counter (it will be Bamboo  another final decision :-) over the washer and dryer in the laundry/mud room/pantry and the height will be close to 40". IÂve not measured my elbows, but IÂm 5Â8" so this should work out just fine. :-)

I'm 5'4 1/2'' and my counters measure 37 3/4'' from the floor to the top of the counters. I love the height. My back doesn't hurt when I do dishes now (something that always happened before).

They did look high to me at first, but now it looks normal. No one has ever mentioned that my counters look high when they see my kitchen.

I think you'll really enjoy it. :)

My current cabinets are 36", I'm 5'7" and in my new kitchen I've specified 38" height. My sink is 10" deep, so with the taller counters, it will hopefully save my back. In the laundry room, the sink counter will be 40"... that's where my yorkie will have her bath.... no more leaning over the bathtub!!

I'm 5'10 and hubs is 6'3" ...we raised our new counters to 37". Love it and perhaps only wish they were 38 or 39" especially on the peninsula where there is seating. I love the height... it feels richer and more elegant. I don't notice any issue with my back, neck or arms. But I am a taller I guess. We put two 3/4" plywood under our taj mahal 3cm quartzite material. Dont even waste time thinking about it...if your counters are 36", they need to be taller. I highly doubt anyone will notice it when time to sale the house. Also, I have a farmhouse Kohler sink and didn't want to feel like I was bending waaay over a trough to wash dishes.

Your counters sound like they're slightly above the standard height, but if they feel comfortable for you, that's what matters most. I'd say if you're happy working at them, it might not be worth the hassle of changing them. Each inch can affect usability, but as long as they work well for your needs, that's what counts!

I recently remodeling my kitchen and I found a helpful website that compared local company and it made finding an affordable option so much easier. It saved me a lot of time and hassle in the process of finding the right service.