Choosing the Perfect Height for Your Bathroom Vanity Unit

What height should your new bathroom vanity unit be? We take a look at all the factors you’ll need to consider.

When it comes to bathrooms, the vanity unit is perhaps one of the most important pieces of furniture because it is the first thing you will approach and use every morning. It’s where you wash, rejuvenate yourself and get ready for the day. Plus, depending on the type of vanity unit you are getting, it also acts as a storage space for towels, toys, toiletries and other bathroom essentials.

We live in a society where everything is personalised and varies from individual to individual. A typical bathroom vanity unity is around 600mm in width and 800mm in height. However, if you’re looking for something catered to your own height, read on to find out more.

Vanity unit v cabinet

A vanity unit is a structure that holds both a sink and a storage area, and you can find out even more about them in our essential guide to bathroom vanities. However, a cabinet acts not only as storage but a way to hide plumbing, which makes bathrooms look much neater and cleaner. Essentially, all cabinets fitted with a sink become vanities, but not all vanities are seen as cabinets. In most cases, it’s the job of the vanity unit to hide plumbing without losing out on any precious storage area. Let’s delve into which vanity unit is right for you...

How to gauge a suitable height?

Most people are unaware that vanity units tend to come in a diverse range of different heights. Because of this large variation, you don’t want to make the mistake of installing one that is not compatible with the size of your bathroom.

One way to work out which vanity unit height is best for you is to check the height of your existing bathroom sink set-up. If this is already comfortable, why change?

Another way to gauge a comfortable height for you would be to visit your kitchen with measuring tape. Normally, the kitchen sink should already be at a comfortable height for you—and this should give you an idea of what height and size you’re comfortable with. In most houses, the bathroom vanity unit and kitchen worktop are of the same height. However, feel free to make any customisations to make it more comfortable for you.

Considerations

Some useful questions to ask are:

• How large is my bathroom?
• How tall are the home occupants (adults and children, if needed)?
• Where is the bathroom located (upstairs, downstairs)?
• How accessible is the plumbing (and any electrics which may be required)?
• How much storage space is needed?
• Which material do you want your vanity unit to be made of?

Depending on how large the bathroom is, smaller bathrooms are best suited for low-profile vanity units, as the hollow space below allows for an illusion of greater depth. Such vanity units include wall-mounted or floating vanity units. Alternatively, the type of bathroom influences the kind of vanity that is ideal. For example, the amount of storage needed for the main family bathroom is vastly different from the amount needed by a downstairs toilet or cloakroom. Hence, you need to plan according to the usage, context of the bathroom and the requirement of the space.

Types of vanity unit heights

Standard bathroom vanity height

Standing at 800mm (around 31 inches or 2.6 feet) tall is the typical bathroom vanity unit height seen in most British bathrooms. These are the standard measurements according to experts and have been used for decades. If you’re living in a place shared with lots of people (be it a family home or even a bed and breakfast), this height is ideal for your space.

This sink is accessible for kids, tall people and average-sized people. Before beginning renovation, take note of the inlets and outlets of plumbing, electrics, other appliances and the proximity of decorative trims. Once everything is finalised, it will be extremely difficult to change or replace any of these components. It’s always better to plan things out in advance to save time and money.

Comfort height bathroom vanity unit

As opposed to the traditional size, which has remained a standard for decades, the comfort height takes into account the fact that heights will vary across the eras. The comfort height stands at 900mm (around 35 inches), which is taller than traditional sinks—giving taller people better accessibility.

With the shift towards taller vanity units, more and more houses are adopting the comfort vanity height for their bathrooms. It is worth considering that this is ideal for medium to tall people, so you might need to place a stool or chair for shorter people to reach as well.

Vessel sink bathroom vanity unit height

Unlike its counterparts, the vessel sink bathroom vanity unit (also known as a countertop basin vanity unit) depends on how high the sink is. Most of the time, a vessel sink is higher than any standard sink which comes built into a unit. The main goal for such vanity units is to give vessel sinks a proper base so that the end user can reach it comfortably. Let’s say your vanity unit sink is about 130mm high—your vessel vanity top will need to be around 670 tall to be suitable for most users.

This vanity is ideal for families with shorter people, such as teenagers, the elderly or children.

Floating bathroom vanity unit height

As the name implies, floating or wall hung vanity units have no physical base rooted to the floor—instead, they are cantilevered by the surrounding walls. This vanity unit gives you ample room for customisation, so you can hang it at a height that’s ideal for your family. No need to conform to a standard, comfort or vessel sink height. This sleek, simple and minimalist style is commonly seen in contemporary and modern bathrooms.

However, the storage space offered by a floating vanity unit is significantly limited as compared to standard, floorstanding vanity units. If you’re able to use the space wisely, however, you can make use of the extra bathroom floorspace.

Other miscellaneous factors to consider for bathroom vanity units

Now that you’re aware of the different heights when it comes to bathroom vanities, you’re halfway towards finding the perfect unit for your bathroom. There are 2 other factors you should take into consideration before installing one in your home.

The height of the splashback behind your vanity unit

This is extremely important as a splashback prevents the water from the sink from coming into contact with the wall, which causes mildew or mould to grow. You’ve probably noticed how public toilets always have tiles or wall panels, right?

Splashing can occur when people wash their hands vigorously or turn the tap on too forcefully, spraying water onto the surrounding walls. A splashback can be built with tile, glass, stone, plastic or any material of your choice. How much area you want to cover can be a cause for concern, however. Whilst 70 to 100mm is sufficient, you can always cover it fully or until the start of the mirror. Regardless of how high your splashback may be, ensure that the main areas of your walls are covered.

The thickness of your countertop

Countertops are an essential part of any bathroom vanity unit, as they protect the rest of the cabinet (usually made from wood) from damage caused by water and more. Countertops can come in various sizes and materials, which can vary according to your own personal preferences. The thickness of the average vanity unit countertop can vary greatly depending on design, but some of our bestselling units come with countertops 20mm thick.

Choosing how thick your countertop is should be done carefully. Make it too thick or thin, and it might ruin the neat look that you are going for. For example, using a thick countertop with sleek-looking vanity would cause the vanity to appear mismatched and out of place.

Conclusion

To choose the perfect vanity unit height, you should keep in mind all the factors we have discussed in this guide, and plan thoroughly before purchasing and installing your vanity.

Whatever height you require, you’ll find the perfect bathroom vanity unit right here at Victorian Plumbing. With prices and designs to suit all budgets and tastes, why not browse our full range of vanity units.