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What Is the Standard Bathroom Sink Height?

By Author Kevin L. Sharp

Posted on Last updated:

If you’re unsure what the standard bathroom sink height is, then you’re not alone. Many people don’t know, and that’s mainly because different sinks and vanities have different depths and heights. In addition to this, personal preference also plays a part in the physical height of a sink. However, if you want to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the rim of your sink should be no taller than 34 inches from the finished floor.

There also needs to be room underneath the surface of the countertop to ensure they’re wheelchair accessible. This clearance under the surface should measure out to 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches deep. It’s important to note though that unless you own a public business or have someone in your household who is in a wheelchair, you don’t have to worry about the ADA standards.

Standard bathroom sink height

So, now that you know what the ADA requirements are, it’s time to cover what the standard heights are for various sinks and vanities. Let’s start with standard sinks. The height for most standard sinks is anywhere between 29 to 36 inches. This is from the finished floor to the upper rim of the sink. The specific measurement you choose will largely depend on the style and design of your standard bathroom sink. For vanity cabinets with set-in sinks, the standard measurement should be anywhere between 30 to 36 inches.

Standard bathroom vanity height with vessel sink

Vanities with vessel sinks can really give your bathroom that old fashion look. However, it’s important to know what the standard height for them is, so they not only look good but work well too. The thing you need to realize about vessel sinks is that they’re mounted on top of the countertop surface. This means that the total height of your countertop surface must be positioned low enough, so you can physically access the sink. For example, let’s say your sink vessel has a depth of 6.5 inches, and you want to ensure that you have a sink height of around 34 to 36 inches. Your countertop will need to be positioned no higher that 27.5 to 29.5 inches.

Standard height for a bathroom sink drain rough-in

The average sink is about 8-inches deep. Keeping that in mind, the standard height for a bathroom sink drain rough-in is about 24-inches. This is the distance from the sink rough-in to the finished floor. This is based on a countertop that’s 32-inches from the floor. Like with the other sinks, this height may change due to personal preference.

Increasing the typical sink height for increased comfort

If you’re a taller individual, and you find yourself straining your back by bending over the sink, you may want to raise your vanity to a height of 42 to 48 inches. These are just standard heights. You can personalize your vanity to meet your own personal preferences, but how do you raise the height of your bathroom sink?

The first thing you’ll want to do if you’re interested in raising the height of your standard sink or vessel sink is to completely remove the vanity. You’ll also want to make sure you do this very carefully to ensure that the vanity doesn’t get damaged. Follow these easy steps:

  1. Turn off the water in your home.
  2. Detach any screws or clips holding the vanity to the floor.
  3. With a pry bar, pry the vanity up carefully and then remove it. Don’t do this by yourself. Have someone help you move this out of the bathroom.
  4. Cut your wood supports with an electrical saw. These should be the exact size that you want to increase the vanity height by. For instance, if you want to raise your vanity up by 3 inches, your wood supports will need to be cut 3 inches.
  5. Lay down your wood supports where the vanity was.
  6. Drill your wood supports to the floor using an angled drilling pattern. You may also want to drill a pilot hole too. This will help with the installation process.
  7. Put your vanity back where it was, on top of your wood supports. Screw your vanity to your wood supports. Wood screws work well for doing this.
  8. Turn the water back on.
  9. Lastly, make the wood supports match both the color and the pattern of your vanity. You should be able to purchase matching baseboard material at most home improvement stores.

After you have completed raising your vanity, your standard or vessel sink should be higher and more comfortable to use while also putting less strain on your back.

Kevin L. Sharp
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