<p>We are about to remodel a hall bathroom. I think sensibilities concerning vanity height have changed since the bathroom was last done 60 years ago. I have found one I love in every way, except it is 36 inches high. DH, the engineer, built a mock up of the sink top to demonstrate just how much taller it will be than the current one. </p>
<p>No one uses this bathroom unless we have guests, but I don’t want to do anything that will make an issue for resale. Seems like a step stool would work for kids. Help me convince DH that times have changed!</p>
<p>When I redo my two upstairs bathrooms, it will be with 36 inch high vanities. Less leaning over to use the sink, and more storage space in the vanities due to the increased height of the cabinet.</p>
<p>I have looked at quite a few new/model homes. All have the higher vanities, and in all bathrooms. Can’t wait to redo the ones in my current home! It especially makes sense for us tall people!</p>
<p>I’m an architect. Vanities used to be set at about 30", but more and more you are seeing them at 36" which works much better for most adults. </p>
<p>Way back in 1966 Alexander Kira and his students at Cornell did a huge study, the results of which they published in their book The Bathroom. They determined that the optimal basin height was 37" for a 5’-4" tall person, and 43" tall for a 6’-2" tall person for handwashing and about 34-36" for face washing.</p>
<p>Our ancient house that is probably 60-70 years old has vanities about 30-31." Just wondering what the “flip this house” experts have to say about vanity heights? I’d think they are very current about such matters. Are the other vanities you’ve looked at also about 36"? If so, that does sound like the new heights. I don’t think I’d mind a slightly taller vanity that is an extra 5-6" taller, especially if it increases resale options.</p>
<p>DH is 6’2" and would like to go to 36in vanity in master bathroom. Since I am only 5’2", I was skeptical. So I have been closely observing height of vanity in hotel rooms. It turns out that even at my height (not quite as short a veryhappy), 36" will be ok. Plan B was to get high heeled slippers.</p>
<p>I’m 5’2" and I hate working at my 36" tall standard kitchen base cabinets, especially using a mixing bowl. I find standard bath vanity height much more comfortable. It’s difficult for me to believe 37" would be optimal for a 5’4" person. Maybe they were all legs :)</p>
<p>yes, we are remodeling the upstairs hallway bath and one girl explained to us that vanities are higher these days. I can’t say she gave an explanation as to why though. LOL.</p>
<p>Unless I was redecorating for someone with special needs, I’d go with today’s standard sizes, as mathmom described in post 5.
In my experience more adults buy houses than children.</p>
<p>^^She says “more and more you are seeing them.” I didn’t read it that those are standard sizes, but rather that height was increasing in popularity. One of my clients is a bath/kitchen designer and it was shorter than 36" that was standard for baths. Maybe mathmom will come back and post what is today’s standard or majority.</p>
<p>We’re (still) undergoing a master bathroom remodel, and I was told that we “had” to make both of our vanities 36" for resale purposes since this is definitely not our forever home. In out next (and, hopefully, last) house, my vanity will be no more than 32" and dh’s vanity will be 38"+. Meanwhile, dh has promised to build a small wood step stool for me that I’ll paint to match either the trim or the cabinets. </p>
<p>I’ve heard quite a few negative comments about low vanities on various HGTV programs (House Hunters, for example.) Clearly, not one person was as short as I am.</p>
<p>DH and I knew a very tall fellow many years ago who renovated a house in Jersey City. Because he was so tall, he had his kitchen counters set at a very tall height. DH and I felt like little kids in his kitchen.</p>
<p>I’ve got standard-height counters, but then I also have a gas cooktop which has burners that add another two inches. When I’m stirring something for a long time, my arm truly gets fatigued. I’ve got a step stool that I bring over to stand on – but then my head bumps into the vent hood. I can’t win.</p>
<p>I’m happy to hear that I won’t be an outlier if we go with the tall vanity. It is actually a furniture like cabinet with 7 inch legs, so it is possible my DH could build a small step stool to store underneath. I am hoping for grandchildren :)</p>
<p>Kira was studying splashing mostly and to a lesser extent the comfort of bending over. VeryHappy, as a 5’-0" person, you probably would prefer a lower height. Kira said you’d have to be 4’-6" before you’d want a 31" height which used to be standard. The problem with most master baths is that both sinks are in the same counter and therefore the same height, but there is no need for them to be at the same height. I’ve seen nice looking designs in large bathrooms where his and her lavs were quite different. I don’t think you should worry too much about resale if you are going to be living somewhere more than five years. That’s about the limit of something staying stylish.</p>