What Is The Standard Bathroom Vanity Height?
As someone who models from time to time, there are few types of furniture I am more well-acquainted with than a vanity. Vanities are a cornerstone for anyone who wants to look good. Ideally, you’ll have a vanity that you can sit comfortably at as you do your makeup and hair. If you want to get a vanity that you can really work with, you need to know the right height. Unfortunately, that’s not common knowledge…
The standard bathroom vanity height is 30”-36” tall, and larger vanities only suit big bathrooms. A 32” tall bathroom vanity can accommodate any standard bathroom. You can customize bathroom vanities to the most convenient height for you and your bathroom.
If you want to buy a new vanity for your bathroom, or just need to figure out the right counter height, it’s totally normal to get confused by the new trends. Want to know the full scoop? Don’t worry, you’re not alone here.
What Is The Standard Height For Bathroom Vanities?
Standard Vanity Size Ranges | |||
| Typical Height Range | Standard Width Range | Standard Depth Range | |
| One Sink | 30 to 36 Inches | 24 to 40 inches | 17 to 24 inches |
| Two Sink | 30 to 36 inches | 48 to 72 inches | 21 to 24 inches |
Bathroom vanities have started to diverge when it comes to their heights. There is a traditional height they’re made in, and a more modern height. Here’s what you need to know:
- Traditional vanities had a height between 30 to 32 inches, maximum. This is considered to be the standard height, even today.
- Modern vanities can reach heights of 36 inches or higher. Many bathroom vanity and cabinet designers call this “comfort height” because it is actually more comfortable today.
Why Is The Height For Bathroom Vanities Changing?
It all depends on who you ask. There are several reasons why designers and manufacturers are starting to see an increased demand for tall vanities.
Sitting Down vs. Standing Up
Part of the difference in height rests on the fact that vanities used to be places where women would sit down and do their makeup. This is why many vanities were located in a woman’s bedroom. It was their place to sit down, do their makeup up, and get sorted before they hit the world.
Nowadays, most people don’t have sit-down vanities. Instead, the typical vanity involves people standing up as they sort through all their accessories and do their hair. This means that a traditional height would make most of us crouch down to pick stuff up. This means that having a taller height would be the more comfortable option. Designers have started to follow suit.
Increased Height
Another phenomenon has affected the way that counters and vanities are built, but it’s not one most people think about. As agriculture and food transportation improved, people were able to reap the benefits of better nutrition. This, in turn, caused them to grow. We are now over 4 inches taller than we were 150 years ago as a result.
The increased height of people means that more people find it easier to work with “comfort height” vanities rather than traditional ones. So, there’s also a biological aspect at play.
Fashion
The cool thing about furniture design is that it never stops changing. What would have been the norm 100 years ago isn’t the norm anymore. In many cases, the reason why people want to have a higher vanity has little to do with the fact that people don’t sit down anymore. Rather, it has more to do with the fact that taller vanities look cute.
Which Vanity Height Is Right For You?
Honestly, both heights have their perks and pitfalls. Though many people are opting for a comfort height, there are times when you might be better served with a standard height vanity. The following clues can tell you which type of vanity would best suit your needs.
- If you tend to like standing, go for a comfort vanity. These are better for people who don’t want to pull up a chair.
- Most vanities that have sinks tend to be traditional sizes. If you have a vanity with a sink, then there’s no room for a chair. However, they still tend to be popular in the traditional heigh because it’s easier for children to access. If you don’t have kids, this doesn’t really mean much, but parents know how important it is to have kids reach the sink on their own.
- People who want to have a modern vanity will go for comfort vanities. Meanwhile, those who want to have a more antique feel might want to choose a traditional option. The only exception is if you have a farmhouse-style vanity. These tend to be taller, simply because they’re supposed to look more rugged.
- Try to make your vanity proportional to the rest of your room. Smaller rooms will need smaller vanities, simply because oversized ones might overwhelm your bathroom and cut into walking area.
- With that said, if you need lots of storage space, go for a comfort height. More height means that you get more places to store goods in drawers.
How Wide Is A Typical Vanity Supposed To Be?
Vanities can vary greatly when it comes to their typical width, much more so than their height. Here’s what you need to know about each width.
- A typical vanity can range anywhere from 24 inches to 72 inches in width. It’s possible to find vanities that are even longer, but most are going to be luxury items or otherwise custom-made.
- Single sink vanities are going to be between 24 to 40 inches wide. This is enough space for you to have a sink, several drawers, and a little counter space so that you can set your stuff down while you get prepped.
- Double sink vanities will be between 48 to 72 inches wide in most cases. This gives both sinks enough space for two people to use them comfortably simultaneously.
- When determining the ideal vanity size for you, make sure to measure your bathroom. A bathroom will need to have around half an inch of space between all corners that meet a wall in most cases. When it comes to parts of the vanity that do not have an adjacent wall, give yourself at least 24 inches for walking space.
- The three most common sizes for a vanity’s width are 30 inches, 48 inches, and 60 inches. However, it’s possible to find vanities that are 24, 36, 54, and 72 inches fairly easily. If you are looking for a vanity that’s a relatively common size, you can usually find one online by searching up the width measurement you want, plus the word “vanity” on Google.
You might also be interested in reading: What Size Mirror For A 36 Inch Vanity? | What Size Mirror For A 48-Inch Vanity? | What Size Mirror Do I Need For A 60 Inch Vanity?
How Deep Is A Typical Vanity Supposed To Be?
Though widths tend to be pretty varied, the depth of your vanity will not be as wildly different. The truth is that most vanities now have sinks. This means that your vanity can’t be as thin as they once were and that the minimum depth will be bound by how much space a small sink will need. Here’s the scoop about the depth of a typical vanity.
- The average range for a typical vanity’s depth will be from 17 to 24 inches. The most common depth for vanities, across the board, tends to be 21 inches. This is just under two feet and is just enough space to comfortably sit a sink and all the fixings it needs.
- Larger-sized depths tend to be more common in two sink vanities. If you see a vanity that boasts two sinks, it probably is between 21 and 24 inches deep. This is because designers rightfully assume that having enough space for two sinks means you’ll also have extra room for more vanity countertop.
- Ultra-small vanities or “corner sinks” tend to be closer to 17 inches deep. With that said, these vanities are starting to vanish from the markets. No one wants a tiny vanity anymore!
- If your vanity is a desk vanity (like the older ones were), then you can expect your depth to be between 17 to 21 inches. No sink means that you don’t have to account for extra space for all that plumbing.
What Is The Best Depth For A Vanity?
Vanities have a great deal of variety when it comes to sizing. If you want to get the best vanity depth for your room, it’s best to make sure that you have a good idea of your room size. Most people will want at least two feet of space for walking purposes. If you have a standard-sized bathroom, then a 21-inch depth will suffice.
People who have particularly petite bathrooms should look into a shallow sink vanity. Shallow sink vanities are under 19 inches deep, giving you ample space to move around and open drawers. Though they tend to be smaller than typical vanities, don’t be fooled. These sinks can be pretty big on style.
What To Consider When Adding A New Vanity To Your Bathroom
When you’re shopping for a brand new vanity, it’s all too easy to get swept up in the desire to focus on the material, layout, and design of your new vanity. It’s normal! We all love to show off our personal tastes in furniture. However, that has to take a backseat when it comes to figuring out your measurements. Here’s what you need to be aware of before you place an order…
- Keep 24 inches of space from your vanity to the closest wall. This should give you ample space to walk around and open drawers.
- Make sure that your chosen vanity will be able to access any plumbing fixtures that you need for your sink. If you try to add a vanity that’s too far away from the drains or water source, it might be a bad match. You may need to take out drawers or do an installation that looks tacky.
- Standard building code says that you need to have at least 18 inches of space from the vanity to the toilet. This helps reduce the chances of gross stuff from the toilet hitting your vanity.
- Don’t stray too far from your current bathroom’s layout, if you can. Going too far from your bathroom’s layout may mean that you’ll need to change up the tiling, reroute plumbing, or even return the vanity to the hardware store because it won’t fit. Unless you’re doing a complete overhaul, stick to the layout you have. The only thing that you can vary with ease is the height!
- Watch for any existing features that you want to keep in your bathroom. If you’re just replacing your vanity, most of the other parts of your room should stay stable. This means that your vanity will have to be the right height to accommodate things like your mirrors, your electrical fixtures, as well as your towel racks.
- A good rule of thumb is to measure your kitchen counter’s height. If you feel like your kitchen counter is a comfortable height, chances are that it’ll be a good height for your bathroom’s vanity as well. Grab a tape measure to see how high your kitchen counter is.
What Should You Do If You’re Feeling Lost With Your Bathroom Design?
While it may seem like taking all those measurements can be pretty daunting, most of the time, it’s okay to do it yourself. However, even the DIY route can be hard to deal with. If you’re feeling lost or just don’t know what kind of bathroom vanity measurements your new piece should have, there are two options that you can choose from to help you put together a new bathroom…or at least get a new vanity.
Measure Your Current Vanity
The easiest way to make sure that you get a vanity that’ll fit your home is to measure the vanity you currently have, then find a new model with the exact same measurements. Most of the time, this shouldn’t be that hard to do. Most vanities have a fairly set-in-stone range of measurements they can have.
If you can’t find one that’s your exact measurements, you might be able to deviate around one to two inches in terms of width and depth. Should you do that, prepare to make minor adjustments in any fixtures that you might have in and around your bathroom. Usually, this may mean trimming your tile or refitting your new vanity to fit said tile.
Consult A Bathroom Designer
If you’re in the middle of a bathroom remodel, then you’re in luck. Most major home improvement stores will have at least one person on staff who offers free bathroom design services. This means that you can go to your nearest Lowe’s, Home Depot, or IKEA and get information on how you can best redesign your bathroom for your budget—no purchase necessary.
Though you might feel pressured to get your next vanity from the store in question, the truth is that you don’t have to buy anything to get these services. In most cases, they will be able to gently guide you in terms of style as well as advise you on the best measurements for your room.
These services are often well worth the trip, especially if you are doing a full remodel of your bathroom. You might be surprised at what the pros can help you out with.
How Much Does A New Vanity Cost?
There is a huge range of prices you’ll see when you’re shopping online for a new vanity, and most of those prices won’t include any installation fees. You should expect a new vanity to cost between $200 to upwards of $1500 for the setup and cabinetry alone. In most cases, the sink will cost extra.
If you want to get a more affordable vanity, it’s best to stick to cabinets that are made out of MDF, affordable wood, or laminate. Materials like marble or granite (which are used in luxury vanity countertops) drive up the cost of your vanity immensely.
Related Questions
Why do bathroom vanities cost so much?
Bathroom vanities are fairly expensive, and for good reason. These pieces of furniture are routinely exposed to high levels of moisture and bacteria. To ensure that they are able to withstand the moisture without molding up, manufacturers often have to treat them with chemicals, add protective coatings, or splurge on high-quality, water-resistant woods.Simply put, bathroom vanities carry a high price tag because it takes a lot of work to make furniture that can hold up in a bathroom. What you’re paying for, in essence, is the durability you get from quality goods.
What are some of the best places to get bathroom vanities?
If you want to do some online shopping, both Amazon and Overstock are famous for having a good selection of vanities to choose from. If you want to go to a brick-and-mortar store, there are several major places you can go to. The most popular stores for vanities include Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and IKEA.People who are looking for luxury vanities should consider going to Pottery Barn, Joss & Main, or Restoration Hardware. All three are famous for their luxury goods, and regularly have vanities on sale.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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