I had a similar question for my remodel designer today and here is what he said: "In the industry desk height is always 30”. I am sure we can use desk cabinets to come up
with your lower bathroom cabinets you are looking for. " Hope this helps.

I also disagree with the contractors deciding the new norm. At 5'4" I went with 34.5" vanity and couldn't figure out why water always ran back down my arms when washing my face or why I couldn't get close enough to the mirror to put on makeup. @rengrav said it, homeowners should determine what works best for them and contractors should listen. The person from Cabinet Studio that asked "Do you find it uncomfortable to work in your kitchen sink, because this will be similar" should understand that there's a big difference between what a female that is typically shorter does in the kitchen and what she does at her bathroom vanity. I say the vanity height is more important to the female in the home than the male. Anyone selling cabinets should take that into consideration.

Interesting discussion. We once did a bathroom remodel for a very short lady - widow so no one else to be concerned with. We asked her on three occasions during design if she wanted the taller vanity that is now more popular. She literally laughed at us and sarcastically said "why would I ever need a tall vanity at my height". We contracted with her for the old standard bathroom vanity height of 32". Once the bathroom was complete and we were long gone, she spoke with another one of our clients (goes to same church) who is also short and she was singing the praises of her new tall, stylish vanity. We got a call within days and she was crying and saying we had given her "old, out of style stuff" and that her back hurt from bending over this short vanity (same height vanity as she had in that house for over 30 years). She wanted it fixed. $3k later (at our cost not marked up) everything was changed out and fixed. We ate almost all the cost even though she turned down the offers during design and contracted for a "standard" vanity. Not all short people like short vanities.

Once my cat chased a dog. The dog terrorized cats in the neighborhood. The cat next door, told my cat about the vicious dog and the next time he came around my cat took after him. She chased him up the street and back down. Not all cats are afraid of dogs.

Hope you were able to get your vanity cabinets at the right height to suit you. It seems like a lot of the lower end builders are using the 36" vanity height without giving you any choice in the matter, even if you ask. Someone said "who made the standard to be 32", well, I ask in return "who decided that the standard should be 36". It should be based on your preference taking into consideration re-sale value as well. In 11 years we have sold only 3 vanities that were 36" high, and those customers were close to 6' tall. We ask our customers whether they want standard height or "back-saver" height. We have never had any complaints about the standard height. If your cabinet maker won't do it -- find someone who will. Almost anything is possible in design and specs now.

If you put the vanity at 36 inches and have a tall faucet with a backsplash, the mirror is set-up pretty high so your mirror reflection is so limited. As a result of my experience in my master bathroom (and I am 5'8) I am lowering my bathroom counter in my downstairs vanity to 33" to accommodate for a large medicine cabinet mirror combo for 2 reasons: 1) I want more reflection in the mirror and 2) better access to the medicine cabinet. I am hoping I made the right choice and it looks nice! but I do know that 32" is not too low for me since we do have that in the boys' bathroom.

My wife is 5' 2", or 62". Ten years ago when she had me remodel the master bath, she was the one that insisted I make them the same as the kitchen counter height which is 36". She washes her hair in the bathroom sink and says that is a more comfortable height for her. There is less strain on her back and combined with high rise faucet she is able to easily rinse her hair.

I too am glad for the move to higher counter tops in the master bath. It is much more comfortable height for me at 5' 11". It also allows for more space in the cabinet underneath. This helps make up for the 10 or so inches lost in the cabinet height if you are doing a floating vanity.

For those of you who think the contractor is trying to make them use kitchen cabinets, you should know that kitchen cabinets are 24 inches deep, vanities generally are not. I suggest you check the facts before you make judgments about the motives of the contractor. The most common height of vanities today is 34.5 inches with the top the finish at around 36 inches depending on the counter top thickness.

I'm 5'6" and hate a 36" bathroom vanity. Can't wash my face with water dripping down my arms or lean over it to get close enough to the mirror for my makeup. That was even more fun the two times I was pregnant. Can't wait to get rid of it.

We built a custom home in 2005 and we've struggled to bend over enough to wash faces and brush teeth, or get close to the mirror. I just measured our bathroom vanities and they are 39". We are a tall family, but these vanities are ridiculously tall!

@sandykeller001, curious how y'all are?

I’m 5’4” and my master bath vanity is 36” tall and it’s too tall. Everytime I wash my face, the water runs down my elbows, drips on the floor and gets all over the countertop. It’s gotten so that I take my shirt off to wash my face. Can’t wait to replace it.

Our contractor pushed us on the 36” comfort height. I hate it. I’m 5’6”, and I can’t lean in close enough to use the mirror, and water runs down my sleeves when I wash my face.

Can't you move the mirror down?

Wow, great discussion. Very helpful. I will keep my standard 32 inch height vanity cabinets. This just saved us lots of money in bathroom remodel. We will stick with new paint and faucets. The mirror comment also very helpful.

Let's remember that 36" height on the vanity is a mere suggestion. I am 5'4" and I find it is alot easier on my back. We find when we renovate a bath for our clients both parties are in tune with it. This is not designed only for men but for all family members. When renovating you do not want to design for the moment, remembering that even the children grow quite quickly. (they can use a stool until they grow into it.) Carrie 30/32" I think are still the most common for vanities so you should be able to find them anywhere. (it'll be 32" finished with counter top). Custom made is also another solution then you can get it any size you like.

I'm short and couldn't get close to a bathroom mirror at any height and the standard low vanity was too low.

In my current remodel, I replaced one sink with a lowered counter that I can sit at. The sink is at the standard raised elevation and I love this configuration. If I only had room for one sink I would get a really good extension mirror and attach to the side wall where I worked - between the side mirror (with magnifying mirror on flip side) and the standard bathroom mirror for the big picture, the configuration would work. I have always preferred sitting while grooming so giving up a sink was easy. I actually used to do almost everything at an old fashioned vanity in the bedroom - very few things one does except washing and brushing teeth require access to water.

Replying to The Cabinet Studio: I am 5' 3" and agreed to the "new" taller vanity for our master bath remodel. It is difficult for me to lean in and rinse my face without water running down my arms and sleeves. My granddaughter, who is 3, is small and can not begin to reach the sink to spit while brushing, even standing on a step stool. We will soon remodel the other bath that is shared by the rest of the bedrooms. It currently has a 31" vanity (and I use it still, occasionally) and I will insist that the new vanity be "short" as well. The higher cabinets are just too uncomfortable for short people and children.

Has anyone just cut the bottom of the vanity shorter? Cutting 2.5" off the toekick of the vanity would make the 34.5" vanity down to 32". Can that be done or does it compromise the structural integrity of the vanity base too much?

For everyone complaining that water runs down your arms while washing your face at a 36" vanity, I use terry cloth wrist sweatbands and voila! dry arms, sleeves, and probably a cleaner face...

I'm 5' on a good day, and have never had issues with a 34"-36" vanity (top included). If anything I have wondered if this vanity height is too short for taller people. My desk right now is 30" and it just seems incredibly short for a sink to me. Different strokes, I guess!

I an currently having the same conversation with my contractor. The cabinets in my bathroom were done in 2005 . We used the kitchen cabinets (as it is a large space) for the bathroom, but had them take off most of the legs off for a 32" base. I had 3/4 granite( doubled front) and the sink height a bit low, even for me at the 32.75 (undermount sinks) finish. I am now redoing the bathroom space with new Kitchen height counters for the space. This time I have 2 of those 2" over mount sinks. As I am 5.1" , I am having the toe kick cut to reduce the height,(again) .plus the addition of the quartz countertop and the 2:" over mount in the sink. This should end up about finished about 34.5. Slightly higher than original but hopefully not overpowering.

That is the thing....I am 6’4” and I always tell people....it is easier for a short person to get a freaking stool or reach up than it is for a tall person to stoop down....stooping is not good on a body, especially the bigger you are. I hate how every shower head is pointing at my chest and I have to hunker over to get under it....also bathroom sinks are so low I have to almost sit on the toilet to not have to stoop over to rinse my mouth or a wash my face. I can see wanting to be comfortable like the original poster is trying to say, but not all your family or friends are going to be short like you. But it comes down to you having to use it more than others ever will...for that then yeah have it at the perfect height for you, but like your contractor said. It will be more difficult to find new things to accommodate your perfect height unless you spend to have it custom made. Big companies go with one or two heights to make it faster to make all their product in an assembly line set up which makes producing cheaper. So you have to pick either a typical bathroom vanity height or a kitchen cabinet for a bathroom. My question is, how do you even wash dishes if you can’t stand the bathroom sink to tall?

We are finishing our construction, I'm almost 5'3", my husband is about 5"11", and he WANTS the vanities to be at 33", he won't even budge on it. He actually had the plumbers finalize the plumbing without me realizing how short they would be... how can anyone think this looks normal - it's too short even for me? I feel like 36" would be OK - even our tile installer was shocked that our powder room vanity was only going to be 34" high. I honestly thought somethig was wrong with the vanity!? HA! Attached is a photo of the kids vanity. It doesn't even come up to my waist?!? Nope.. I don't like it, I don't know who decided this height, perhaps someone who was a young designer during the Great War? I feel like I went through designing everything only to have it look ridiculous, no?

Interesting that this thread has gone on for years! I think 34" vanity height is right for most people. My kitchen counters were set by the previous tall owner at 38.5. Too tall for me at 5'8". And thats my second house with too tall kitchen counters, The other one was 40"!

@uberbrawd Editorial about your husband's decision-making style aside, I think it's important to note that you have chosen a floating sink base; those are meant to show-case at a taller height and with the taller ceilings in your bathroom, yours doesn't look proportionally placed. Not to mention you are very likely to be bumping your shins at the sweet spot. Now is the time to discuss this, not after you "give in". Good luck!

@bignogginsfarm

You are my people! Well, i did talk him into re-doing our master vanity, but all the damn plumbing is in for the powder room. He said he was keeping the kids' vanity low, because they're still short. I think you can imagine my feelings on that. Now that they have installed all the plumbing and electrical, there's no going back, but i'm going to fight for it. Our builder is being difficult about everything, even refusing to do work he is contractually obligated to complete (we have a fixed bid). I know he will refuse, but I've worked so hard on designing our house. At least, now I'm armed with your eloquent explanation. Otherwise, the kids' vanity will look like someone who's 6' tall, but has a 4' torso. Thanks for the honest feedback @bignogginsfarm. I'm attaching a photo of the Powder Room (it's half tiled, so there MAY be time to change it). I'm sure you instantly noticed the ridiculously low faucet hookup... really depleting to see this after all of my planning etc.

@Duxborough Designsi think it's hilarious that this thread is alive and kickng after 7 years! HAHA.. good call out on that one.

34 is not too low, is a correct height for a bathroom. You don't want water dripping down your arms when you wash your face at night. I am 5'4". Our Masterbath built in 2001 and we are the 2nd homeowner, and it is not even 33 inch in height. That is a pull out makeup drawer under the countertop which we added a couple of years ago.

It works for me and spouse too, he is 5'9" (We considered ripping out the entire vanity and replacing with a higher counter but it wouldn't work with the plumbing and too much $.)

I am 5' and considering a 34" high countertop that meets the bottom of a large mirror. The vanity will not have a backsplash. Your thoughts?

Over time, the mirror may lose some of the finish closest to the counter. At least that’s what mine did.

Happy to have found this thread. We are remodeling a small guest bathroom. We plan to put picture frame molding along the bottom of the window frame all around the bathroom and then wallpaper above it. Our focus was on the width of the vanity and we picked one that fit and then just realized it's 32.5" tall but our current vanity is 35" tall. The shorter vanity allows for a higher profile faucet and still good access to the medicine cabinet so it's not placed too high. In a guest bathroom, should I go with the aesthetic we like over the height? Is 32.5" just TOO low?

Ok a year later and the thread is still going! We renovated our last home’s master bath and my 6’3” husband insisted on a bar height (42”) vanity. He has a bad back and can’t stand stooping over. We put my 36” vanity on the perpendicular wall so mine sort of abutted into his, and his counter went into the corner. Worked well for us. I wish I had a picture.

Our current home has a two sink vanity that is only 32” and my husband hates it so much. So do I because he spatters his toothpaste and shaving cream all over the counter because he refuses to stoop down that low. Lol. We are planning our renovation and we are doing a two level vanity vanity again. The next owners can change it if they hate it. 🤷‍♀️

When I redid the master bath I asked for a split-level counter. One sink and counter is at 36", then the counter is dropped 4" for the 'short person' side. I really, really dislike a 36" counter height because I can't get my face down to the sink. Split level works really well.