If you are planning a renovation, you will know that there is a lot to consider and think about. Luckily for everyone, there are also a few things that are standard and can take the thinking out of the planning. This includes sizes, heights and location for things such as benchtops, doors and tapware. Of course, there are always exceptions to be made, but generally it makes the most sense to follow standard sizes instead of trying to 'reinvent the wheel'.
That is why I created this standard size cheat sheet to help you design and plan your renovation:
KITCHEN
Benchtops should be at 900mm from the finished floor level
Standard depth for a benchtop is 600mm but in a few cases, it may need to be 700mm instead. For example, you will need more clearance between a gas cooktop and some types of splashback.
Splashbacks (or the clearance between a benchtop and overheads) should be at least 600mm high. However, you may find that most cooktops and rangehoods now require a clearance of 700mm so we always recommend to look at the manufacturer's instructions first.
We recommend a minimum of 1200mm space between an island and your back bench, and at least 1000mm walkway on the sides
To create a seating area at a Kitchen bench, you will need minimum 300mm overhang, but we recommend 350mm where possible to make it more comfortable for longer legs.
We recommend to look at sinks, mechanisms and appliances first and then select the correct cupboard size to suit
LAUNDRY
Benchtops should be at 900mm from the finished floor level
Standard depth for a benchtop is 600mm.
Splashbacks (or the clearance between a benchtop and overheads) should be at least 450mm high. However, we like to make ours 600mm high so that it looks a bit more luxurious
BATHROOM
Ready made vanities and shaving cabinets come in standard lengths: 600, 750, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800mm.
You will need a minimum vanity length of 1500mm to fit a double basin, but we recommend to go with an 1800mm long vanity if possible so that it's more comfortable to use.
If installing a floating vanity, the top of the basin should be at 900mm from the floor. This means that if you have an under-mount basin, the benchtop itself will be at 900mm. If you have an above mount-basin, the top of the basin will the at 900mm and the benchtop will be at around 780mm high depending on the basin height.
For wall-mounted basin taps, we recommend to have them at 1050mm high, which is 150mm above the top of the basin
Enclosed showers should be a minimum of 900 x 900mm, although 900 x 1200mm is a more luxurious size if space allows. We recommend a shower screen height of at least 2000mm.
For walk in showers with a single panel, we recommend a 1200mm wide screen and a walkway into the shower of at least 550mm.
Niches and ledges should sit around 1200mm from the floor - they can be lower, but we recommend no higher. Niches should be at least 300mm high.
Shower roses should be at least 2000mm above the shower base
Shower mixers / taps should be at around 1050mm high
Towel rails should be at least 900mm high
Toilet roll holders are most comfortable at around 700mm high
Toilets should fit within a 900mm wide space for comfort
The most common bath lengths are 1500mm and 1700mm long. For a freestanding bath, keep in mind you need a clearance of at least 100-150mm between the bath and any walls.
ROBES
We recommend for a hanging rail to be around 1600mm high for single hanging or no higher than 1900mm if having another rail below. A second rail should be at around 900-950mm below the top rail.
An open robe needs to be at least 500mm deep so that hanging clothes don't stick out into the walkway. If adding doors to the front of your robe, we recommend a depth of 600mm
For shoe shelves, we recommend a clearance of 300mm for most shoes and 500mm for tall boots
GENERAL
Doors come in standard sizes with most internal doors being either 720 or 820mm wide by 2040 or 2340mm high.
Skirting boards and architraves come in many sizes, but the most common sizes I use (especially for contemporary styles) are 66mm and 90mm wide
I hope this cheat sheet has been helpful for you! If you are planning to build or renovate and want to get in contact with us, you can do so by filling out the client contact questionnaire below,
Hope you have a wonderful week,
Nina xx