Worktop height
UK standard worktop 900mm — designed for 50th-percentile user. Customise: measure user's elbow height standing, subtract 100–150mm for chopping/prep. Common ergonomic mistake — adopting standard when household has unusual heights. Tall cooks (1.85m+) benefit from 920–950mm worktop; short cooks (1.55m or under) benefit from 850–880mm. Different worktop heights in same kitchen valid: 920mm prep zone + 880mm baking zone (kneading dough requires lower surface) + 950mm bar/island for stand-and-eat. Worktop thickness affects cabinet height — quartz 30mm vs 20mm vs 60mm waterfall — adjust cabinet height accordingly.
Hob, sink, oven heights
Hob ideally 30mm below worktop (so pan rim sits at worktop height for stirring ergonomics) — but most installations match worktop for visual continuity. Practical compromise: hob with low-profile pan support equals worktop in feel. Built-in sink rim equals worktop (under-mount or over-mount). Bowl depth: shallow (155–180mm) at standard worktop OK; deep (200–250mm) bowls awkward at low worktops — bend more. Oven: built-in eye-level oven door at 850–950mm centre-line — opens at thumb height. Under-counter oven door opens at knee height (90% of UK installs) — fine if used by single cook but awkward for shared cooking. Microwave drawer: 600–800mm centre-line, accessible from sitting.
Wall units and tall units
Wall unit base 500–600mm above worktop — 500mm if user under 1.7m, 600mm if 1.8m+ (clearance for kettle, mixer). Wall unit height: 720mm standard, 900mm fits to 2,400mm ceiling, 1,000mm fits to 2,520mm London ceiling. Above 1,000mm wall units require pull-down rails (£185–£385) for top shelf accessibility. Tall units: 2,100mm standard (matches wall + worktop); 2,300–2,500mm fits to ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is the dominant London look — eliminates dust-trap gap and integrates services. Open shelving 350–400mm deep, first shelf 500mm above worktop.
