What height is your kitchen counter and how tall are you?

[nuliajuk]

...Using the argument that "people have grown since 1950!", which is a euphemism for "now men cook too"...

Anyone have an opinion on what the most comfortable height is?

I think waist height or maybe 1" lower should be about right. When we did our own kitchen reno in an apartment condo some years ago, we set the counter height at 37" and are now wishing we'd insisted on that for our present kitchen. I'm 5'-8", he's about 5'-10" now but used to be 6'0" even.

The height of 35,4" (or 36") dates from the 1920s, and was originated by a home economist named Christine Frederick by using the time and motion studies used in factories at the time. People are taller than they were in the 20s and 30s, although 39" is possibly a little too high for you and your husband.

[skhill]

Inspired by this thread, I've measured my counter height: 35.5". I'm 5'6" and it doesn't feel too low, but maybe I'm just used to it. BTW, my kitchen's last re-do was 50+ years ago. Steel cabinets, formica countertop, and actual linoleum on the floor. It's all held up quite well. Appliances are newer than that, though.

[OakLeaf]

I think waist height or maybe 1" lower should be about right.

That's a good way to look at it. Ergonomically, you want to keep your shoulders relaxed, and that means having the countertop enough below elbow height that you can chop and slice without moving your upper arms. My elbows fall right at my natural waist, but I've been told I have really short humeri and that most people's elbows fall at their hipbones?

[lph]

Yup. I find my shoulders hiking up whenever I need to chop something large like a cabbage or need to put some oomph behind the chopping, which is practically every dinner I cook (lots of veggies). Looks like I'm going to get a separate counter top under the window for my litte T.Rex arms...