If you are looking for the best height for different kinds of furniture, then you have come to the right place. Height can be a tricky thing for a builder since there are so many things to consider. Factors such as personal preference, other furniture’s height, and the height of the individuals using the furniture will impact how tall you build each piece. The height of all the most common types of furniture has been listed below for your convenience.
How tall your furniture is, impacts both comfort and style. Whether you are wanting to know how tall your dining room chairs or your bedroom dresser should be, you will be able to find the answers in this guide. To learn more about the recommended height of furniture, keep on reading to discover more about this topic.
Dining Table Height: 29 Inches
First on this guide for custom wood furniture is a dining room table. The standard height of a wooden dining room table is typically 29 inches.
While a dining table can range in height, it is typically not below 28 inches or above 30 inches. This is because the 28-30 inch range is the conventional height that works for individuals of all heights and ages, including those who are in a wheelchair.
Both children and adults alike can sit at a dining room table of this height without a problem. In addition, mobility plays a role in creating the standard height of a dining room table, which must also be taken into account.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tables must be no more than 34 inches tall and no less than 28 inches tall above the ground. This is to help accommodate to those with wheelchairs. Anything outside of these limits may make it difficult for them to sit or eat at the given table. These limitations from the ADA are part of a federal civil rights law. Requiring all tables to be between 28 and 34 inches protects those with disabilities from exclusion at dining tables.
Below is a list of requirements provided by the ADA regarding the height of a dining table:
- Tables must have a maxmum height of 34 inches and a minimum of 28 inches
- Tables must have a 27 inch knee clearance
- Tables bust have a knee clearance of 19 inches underneath the table
End Table Height: 20 Inches
Second on this guide of custom wood furniture is an end table. The standard height of a wooden end table is 20 inches. In general, these types of tables are between 1.5 and 2 feet. An end table has minimal uses, so its height is not as critical in comparison to other types of furniture. Most use them for resting objects such as TV remotes or for placing light fixtures such as lamps on them. No matter what your end tables are used for, the height likely will not impact your daily life.
Although the height does not matter for an end table regarding its function, it does matter in order to make sure that it matches the living room aesthetic. An end table that is too high or too low compared to the other furniture around may cause the table to look out of place.
Because end tables are generally placed next to a couch, they should be built to be about two inches below the couch’s arm height. For example, if a couch has an armrest that is two feet above the ground, then the end table should be about 22 inches in height.
Coffee Table Height: 18 Inches
Third on this guide of custom wood furniture is a coffee table. The standard height of a wooden coffee table is 18 inches. However, the height of the table should change based on what it is being used for.
A coffee table can have many different functions, from being a work station to a dining area. Depending on what its primary use is for, you will want to choose a height that accommodates that purpose.
A coffee table can differ in height, ranging from 14 to 20 inches. The height of a coffee table primarily depends on the height of the individual using it. A coffee table should be tall enough for the individual to lean over and grab an object from the table without having to bend their back. If hunching over is necessary to get something from the coffee table, then the coffee table is too short and the height needs to be adjusted.
In order to accurately make a wooden coffee table, you should first measure the other furniture in your living room. This is a very simple hack to utilize and it can make the building process much easier as you will have other items as a reference. The most important item to measure before building the table is your couch.
The coffee table should be about two inches lower than the sofa cushions. A coffee table with a tabletop that is above the cushions of your other chairs may look out of place and awkward, while one that is too low may make the table uncomfortable to use.
For example, if your couch cushions reach a height of 16 inches, then your coffee table should only be 14 inches tall. However, if your couch is a bit taller and its cushions are 20 inches in height, then the top of the coffee table should be 18 or 19 inches above the ground.
Couch Height: 33 Inches
Fourth on this guide of custom wood furniture is a couch. The standard height of a wooden couch is 33 inches. The height of a couch is very important, as it decides the height of all the other living room furniture. The couch is the centerpiece of any living room, so its height should be taken into consideration.
The seat of the sofa (which is the measurement from the top of the cushion to the floor) is typically about 20 inches high. However, the seat height can be a couple of inches below or above this measurement, giving you a range of 18-22 inches.
Anything higher or lower than this may cause difficulty for people of differing heights. If a couch is too tall, then it can make it difficult for children to climb on top of it. If couches are too low, however, then taller adults may find it uncomfortable to sit on. Couches should be accommodating to individuals of all ages and height, and should not discriminate against anyone.
Dining Chair Height: 18 Inches
Fifth on this guide of custom wood furniture is a dining room chair. The standard height of the seat on a wooden dining room chair is 18 inches.
However, the height of the dining room chair seat primarily depends on the height of the dining room table. If the table is higher than usual, then it will require chairs that are higher as well, and vice versa. Because most dining tables are about 29 inches in height, then 18 inch chairs will be perfect.
If a dining chair is the wrong height, then it will be uncomfortable to sit at. In order to maximize comfort, do not stray too far from the 18 inch suggestion. With chairs of this height, you can seat people comfortably regardless of the dining table in front of them’s height.
For the back of the chair, the top typically reaches about 33 inches in height. However, this average can vary greatly depending on the design and aesthetic of the dining room chair.
For example, the Sunset Trading Oak dining chairs have backs that are much higher than the Koreyosh dining chairs. The height of the back of the chairs all depends on the style that the chair is a part of. Depending on the look that you prefer, you can build your chairs to have backs of whatever height.
Bench Height: 18 Inches
Sixth on this guide of custom wood furniture is a bench. The standard height of a wooden bench is 18 inches. If the bench is being placed at a dining room table in combination with chairs, then the bench and chairs should be the same height. They should not differ from one another and should be as similar as possible. This means that if the dining room chairs are taller than average, then the bench should be as well. The height of the dining room bench is determined by measuring the distance between the seat and the ground.
If the bench is not being used in the dining room, then its height is much more flexible. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is whether or not it will be easy to sit on. For example, if the bench is being placed at the foot of a bed, then it just needs to be lower than the bed and easy to get onto. As long as these two things are taken into consideration, then the height of the wooden bench is entirely up to you.
Desk Height: 28 Inches
Seventh on this guide of custom wood furniture is a desk. The standard height of a wooden desk is 28 inches. However, it greatly depends on the height of the individual using it.
A desk of 28 inches is for a person with a height of 5’8″, so the desk should be lowered or made taller based on the person. For instance, if a child is using the desk, then the desk should be much shorter than 28 inches.
The height of a desk is largely based on personal preference. For example, some individuals who are above 5’8″ prefer to have the desk lower as they perform better that way. To others, a low desk is more comfortable.
Meanwhile, others may prefer a taller desk. Before building a desk, make sure you test out several desks of differing heights so you can decide which height is best for you in terms of comfort and ability to function.
Many desks come with adjustable heights, so that way it can be changed based on what the desk is being used for and how tall the person is. However, given you are building this desk from scratch, it is unlikely that this feature will be replicated.
Because of this, you will want to take the height of the person you are building the desk for into account. Do not worry to much about getting the height of the desk perfect as most desk chairs can be adjusted to fit the height of the desk.
Dresser Height: 30 Inches
Eighth on this guide of custom wood furniture is a dresser. The standard height of a wooden dresser is 30 inches. Depending on how many drawers the dresser has, the dresser can increase or decrease in height by quite a few inches. Most dressers, however, have about 8 drawers and they can even reach up to a towering 50 inches in height. Depending on who is using the dresser can greatly determine how high it should be.
If the dresser is for a child, then it should be low enough to ensure they can reach all of their clothes without climbing on top of it. Unfortunately, it is all too common for dressers to tip over when children climb on them. This can be fatal to a child, which means that great care needs to go into the building process.
Making sure the height of the dresser is correct is just one of the many considerations that needs to be taken into account. However, dressers of every height can crush a child, so any dresser that is built should be properly anchored to a wall to ensure safety.
Dressers for an adult are much less finicky. As long as the height does not look awkward next to other bedroom furniture, then it should be okay. The height of a dresser should depend on nearby furniture and the amount of space that is needed. For ample storage, then a taller dresser should be built, one that is about 50 inches tall or taller.