One thing that’s easy to overlook during a bathroom remodel is how high off the ground your vanity should sit. The standard bathroom vanity height is 32 inches, but it can range from 30 inches up to 36 inches or more, depending on who uses the bathroom and what you plan on using your bathroom countertop for.
Quick Takeaways
The standard bathroom vanity height is 32 inches, but 30 inches is more common in bathrooms for children, and 36 inches tends to be more comfortable and ergonomic for adults.
The size of your vanity can determine how high your counter should sit, as larger vanities can look strange if the countertops are set too high off the ground.
Bathroom vanity height for a two-level countertop can go up to 40 inches, but 32 inches is the standard height for a sink and the main portion of the countertop.
What’s the Standard Bathroom Vanity Height?
The standard bathroom vanity height is 32 inches, but 34 and 36 inches are some other common options in bathrooms across the U.S. Within that range, it’s really based on personal preference. A 32-inch vanity is considered standard, a 30-inch vanity is ideal for children’s bathrooms, and a 36-inch vanity is considered a “comfort vanity.”
Keep in mind that “bathroom vanity height” really refers to the height of the vanity including the countertop, so with a standard countertop thickness of 1.25 inches, that puts the actual top of your vanity at an average of 30.75 inches.
How to Choose the Ideal Vanity Height for Your Bathroom
While 32 inches is the typical height of a bathroom vanity, common options include 30 inches, 32 inches, 34 inches, and 36 inches for the bulk of the countertop, and up to 40 inches for the upper area of a two-level bathroom countertop. Use the tips below to choose the right bath vanity height for your home.
Consider Who Uses the Bathroom
In a standard bathroom, you should aim for a vanity height of between 32 and 36 inches. If the people living in your home are on the shorter side, 32 inches is likely the way to go, while a 36-inch vanity may be better if most of the occupants are taller than average.
If you’re remodeling a bathroom intended for children, like a Jack and Jill bathroom adjoining bedrooms for younger siblings, a lower vanity with a 30-inch countertop will be more accessible for them (with or without a step stool) while still being tall enough that adults can use it comfortably.
Consider How You Use Your Bathroom Countertops
How you and your family use your bathroom is another thing to consider when choosing the right bathroom vanity height.
If anyone in your home uses the countertop to get ready in the morning, resting makeup or hair accessories on it, a 36-inch countertop will be more comfortable than a standard 32-inch one. This height is ideal for more active use. (The average height of kitchen countertops is 36 inches, for example.)
Keep Your Sink Type in Mind
For a standard drop-in sink, a vanity that’s 32 inches tall is ideal. If you plan on installing a vessel sink, which usually extends 5 to 8 inches above the counter height, you should drop the height of your vanity to 30 inches so that the top of the sink is under 40 inches.
You should also consider the type of sink faucet you’re installing. Again, most faucets will fit well on a 32-inch vanity, but consider a 30-inch vanity if you have a taller faucet in mind that might extend above 40 inches total once installed.
Think About Your Current Bathroom Vanity Height
Most homeowners only consider bathroom vanity height when they’re remodeling an existing bathroom and have the opportunity to customize the new vanity to their liking. In that case, you should consider the height of your current vanity.
The vanity houses the sink in addition to the countertops, so raising or lowering your vanity height may require minor changes to the water lines and drain lines connected to your sink. It may add $100 to $200 to your bathroom remodel costs to have a plumber make the necessary changes to fit the new height.
Don’t Forget About Your Bathroom Countertop Thickness
You should also consider how thick your bathroom countertop is or how thick you plan on making it during a bathroom remodel. The vanity height includes the countertop thickness, so if you’re choosing a particularly bulky or slim countertop for aesthetic or cost reasons, you’ll need to adjust the vanity height accordingly.
Two-Level Vanities
Some homeowners choose two-level double vanities for master bathrooms, which usually sit mostly at 32 inches off the ground but have a second tier that’s either raised for standing or shortened to sit at.
The taller vanity section typically sits at 40 inches tall, while the shorter section, often situated between double sinks, would sit at 26 to 30 inches tall. If you’re going this route, you may want to choose the height of the main countertop based on preference or comfort, then raise or lower the other tier by 6 to 8 inches.
Consider the Vanity and Room Dimensions
Finally, think about your vanity size and bathroom dimensions when deciding on an appropriate height. Narrow vanities can look out of place or generally odd if they’re 36 inches tall, while wide vanities may present similar issues if the vanity top is too short. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, though. Remember that you can customize your bathroom to your preferences.
You can also plan out your vanity height based on your bathroom space. Tall vanities may look out of place in small bathrooms and powder rooms, while shorter vanities could look odd in a large master bath.
FAQ: Bathroom Vanity Height
A “comfort height” bathroom vanity that sits 36 inches above the ground is ideal for the elderly. This height is more comfortable for handwashing and daily use, as it requires less bending to reach the sink. Some homeowners opt for this height regardless of the ages of family members in their home, as they’re more comfortable to use than standard 32-inch countertops.
A rough-in for plumbing underneath a bathroom sink should sit at least 18 inches above the ground, and it can go up from there depending on how tall your bathroom vanity or pedestal sink is. Rough-ins for supply lines should always sit 2 to 3 inches above the rough-in for the drain line, which means they’re usually 20 to 21 inches from the ground.
A good rule of thumb for bathroom design is to place the mirror behind a vanity 5 to 10 inches above the top of the countertop, but the positioning really depends on how tall your vanity is and how large the mirror is. To avoid water from hand washing splashing on the mirror, don’t place it too close to the vanity top. But also ensure you’re not leaving a visibly awkward gap between the mirror and the countertop. Make sure to leave space for electrical outlets as well. Finally, consider how high your backsplash extends above the countertop, too, as tiling can create a little extra room between your counter and mirror without the spacing looking awkward.
In most cases, you should space lights above a vanity about 12 to 14 inches apart for adequate and even lighting, so you’re looking at between 5 and 6 lights over a 72-inch vanity. Placing more will often look overcrowded, and placing fewer may not provide enough light, even if you have overhead lights as well.
Dan was a property manager from 2015 to 2020, during which time he managed and oversaw the upkeep and repairs of over 2,000 residential properties. He uses that experience, as well as his extensive DIY knowledge, to bring reliable information to homeowners about renovations and home-related projects. Since 2020, he has been using his experience to write about home improvement, and his work has appeared on sites like USA Today, CNN, Angi, and Today’s Homeowner.