How Tall Are Upper Cabinets? Heights for 8 ft and 9 ft Ceilings

Standard Upper Cabinet Heights

Standard wall cabinets come in three heights: 30", 36" and 42". ECG stocks each height in ten widths, from 9" to 36", all 12" deep.

Shorter wall units cover the spaces in between. Bridges run 12" to 24" high for over a range or refrigerator, stackers are 18" high to sit on top of an upper, and GDW glass door walls are 12" high. All sizes are on the wholesale wall cabinets page.

How High Upper Cabinets Hang Above the Counter

With the common 18" gap above the countertop, the bottom of the uppers sits at 54" from the floor. That number drives every height decision below.

The math starts at the floor. ECG base cabinets are 34-1/2" high; a 1-1/2" countertop brings the counter to 36"; an 18" backsplash zone puts the uppers at 54". Add the wall cabinet height and you get the top of the run.

Upper Cabinet Depth and Width

Upper cabinets are 12" deep and come 9" to 36" wide in 3" steps. Height is the choice that changes with the ceiling; depth and width stay the same across all three heights.

Door count follows width. ECG uppers up to 21" wide have one door, and 24" and wider have two. Glass door versions (GD) come 15" to 36" wide in all three heights, with the same Shaker frame and finish as the solid doors. The one exception to the 12" depth is the refrigerator wall, which is 24" deep so its face lines up with the refrigerator box and the tall cabinets next to it.

Keep the heights consistent along a run. Mixing a 36" and a 42" upper on the same wall breaks the top line unless the change is planned, such as a taller glass door unit as a focal point with molding to tie it in.

Upper Cabinet Height for 8 ft Ceilings

For an 8 ft (96") ceiling, use 30" uppers with crown, or 36" uppers taken to the ceiling with trim. A 42" upper at 54" would reach 96" and leave no room for top molding.

The 30" upper is the standard pick for 8 ft rooms. The 36" upper adds a shelf of storage and makes the kitchen look taller.

The math starts at the floor: the base sits above a 4" kick space, the counter lands at about 36", and the uppers usually start 18" above the counter.

Upper Cabinet Height for 9 ft Ceilings

For a 9 ft (108") ceiling, use 42" uppers with crown, or 36" uppers with an 18" stacker on top to reach the ceiling.

Check widths before you plan a stacked run. ECG stackers come 12", 15", 18" and 21" wide with 1 door, and 24" and 27" wide with 2 doors. Wider uppers need a different plan at the top, such as 42" uppers with crown.

Ceiling, Wall Cabinet and Pantry: One Table

Line up the pantry with the top of the uppers. ECG pantries come 84", 90" and 96" high, which match the 30", 36" and 42" uppers when they hang at 54".

Oven cabinets follow the same rule: OC3384U, OC3390U and OC3396U match the 84", 90" and 96" tops. See every size on the pantry and tall cabinets page.

Short Uppers Over the Range, Refrigerator and Sink

Over appliances, use a bridge cabinet whose top lines up with the run. Its height is the top of the run minus the height the appliance or hood needs.

• Over the range: W30, W33 or W36 bridges, 12" to 24" high; follow the hood and range instructions for clearance
• Over the refrigerator: 24" deep W361224, W361824 or W362424 to line up with the refrigerator box
• Over a window or open shelf area: GDW glass door walls 12" high, 12" to 36" wide
• Next to the run: a refrigerator return panel (RRP9624) closes the side of the fridge opening

Checklist Before You Order Uppers

Measure the ceiling in several places, then fix the top line and work down.

1. Measure ceiling height at each wall; old houses vary.
2. Decide crown, trim or stacker at the top.
3. Choose the wall cabinet height from the tables above.
4. Pick the pantry and oven cabinet that match.
5. Order top molding (CM or CM4R, 96" lengths) and light rail with the cabinets so the finish matches.

Molding profile heights are in the ECG cabinet Spec Book; panels and moldings are on the fillers, panels and moldings page. For base and pantry sizes in one chart, see standard kitchen cabinet sizes.