Closet shelf heights vary based on many factors.
When designing a new closet shelf, you should have an idea of standard shelf heights. These heights are not set in stone, and they are not standardized by any agency. However, based on how a closet is designed and what it stores, these heights will come in handy during your drafting phase. Does this Spark an idea?
Bedroom Closets
The standard height of a shelf in a bedroom closet is around 48 inches, which is the height at which the clothing rod is hung. So the shelf over the rod needs to be around 3 inches above it, which offers enough room to remove clothes from the rod without scratching the bottom of the shelf. It is also accessible for most adults as it is near chest high on people of average height, leaving lots of room on top of the shelf to store boxes as well.
Coat Closets
A coat closet hangs longer garments like trench coats, rain slickers and heavy winter coats. Therefore the coat closet rod is hung higher from the floor, usually at 65 inches. In this case the shelf is installed at 68 inches, just above the rod. This height may be adjusted based on the length of your coats, your own height and the height of the doorway. If the doorway is only 72 inches high, the shelf hangs lower to allow more room to access the shelf. It the door is a standard 80-inch doorway, 68 inches provides enough access to the shelf.
Large Bedroom Closets
In larger bedroom closets, accessing the shelf is not an issue because the shelf is set back from the top of the doorway, which is true with walk in-closets particularly, or any closet wider than the standard 27 inches. In this case the shelf is installed anywhere from 45 inches up to 80 inches or more, depending on the height of the closet rod. If the closet has double-stacked rods, one at 45 inches and another at 80 inches, one shelf is installed above the top rod at around 82 inches. The shelf is more difficult to reach, but it provides storage for items not used everyday.
Tall Garment Shelves
If you have longer garments or tall garments that take up more room than the typical 40 inches of vertical hanging space, like dresses and suits, a tall garment hanging rod is probably installed in your closet. This rod is typically hung at 72 inches high, which is enough length for long formal dresses, suits and tall clothing. In this case, the shelf hangs right above the closet rod at around 75 inches. If the closet is not a walk-in, accessing the shelf is difficult, but it must install right above the closet rod.
Additional Shelves
Shelves built into a walk-in closet or standard bedroom closet are installed at least 16 inches from the ground to allow room to store items on the floor. Typically, the shelves are spaced 15 inches apart to provide enough space to store big boxes in between the shelves. The shelving runs all the way up the wall, and usually the last shelf is installed in line with the shelf above the closet rod. If the closet rod is hung at 45 inches, additional shelving may be installed up to 80 inches from the floor. All depends on how well you can access these shelves.
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