The standard bathroom vanity height is 30 to 32 inches for the cabinet, or about 32 to 34 inches once the countertop and sink are on. Newer “comfort height” vanities run 34 to 36 inches to the top of the counter, the same as a kitchen counter, and that is what most adults find easiest on the back. Width is the dimension that actually decides what fits: vanities come in fixed steps from 16 inches to 72 inches, and choosing the wrong step is the most common reason a vanity gets returned.
This guide gives you every number you need before you buy: height, width, depth, sink-to-wall clearances, double-sink minimums, mirror sizing and the plumbing rough-in heights your plumber will ask about. All measurements are in inches because that is how North American vanities are sold, with millimetres where it helps.
Quick answer
- Standard height: 30–32" cabinet, 32–34" to countertop.
- Comfort height: 34–36" to countertop. Best for adults; use standard in a kids’ bath.
- Standard depth: 21" (18–22"). Narrow-depth vanities are 16–18".
- Common widths: 24", 30", 36", 48" single sink; 60" and 72" double sink.
- Clearances: 21" of clear floor in front (30" is comfortable), 15" from sink centre to any side wall, 30" between two sink centres.
Standard bathroom vanity height
For most of the 20th century vanities were built 30 to 32 inches tall because that suited children and shorter adults and matched the sinks of the era. Kitchen counters, meanwhile, settled at 36 inches. The gap is why so many people feel like they are bending over their bathroom sink: the average Canadian adult is 4 to 6 inches taller than the person the old standard was designed for.
| Height type | Cabinet height | Height to top of counter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 30–32" (762–813 mm) | 32–34" | Kids’ bathrooms, shorter users, matching existing plumbing height |
| Comfort height | 34–35" (864–889 mm) | 35–36" | Primary ensuites, adults, anyone with a sore back |
| Vessel-sink height | 28–30" | 34–36" to sink rim | Vessel bowls that sit 5–6" above the counter |
| Accessible | Wall-hung, open below | 34" max to counter, 27" min knee clearance | Wheelchair users; Canadian barrier-free design guidelines |
The countertop matters. A 3/4-inch quartz top adds about 1 inch with the sink lip; a 1-1/4-inch sintered stone slab adds 1-1/2 inches. Every vanity we sell lists the cabinet height and the finished height with the standard top so you can compare properly.
A rule of thumb that works: stand straight, let your arms hang, and measure from the floor to your wrist. Your ideal counter height is within an inch of that. For most adults it lands at 34–36 inches.
Bathroom vanity widths: what each size is for
Width is measured across the front of the cabinet, not including the countertop overhang, which usually adds 1/2 to 1 inch on each open side. Vanities are made in standard widths, so the question is always which step your wall allows, not the exact number.
| Width | Sinks | Where it belongs | Minimum wall length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16"–20" | Single, small | Powder rooms, basement half-baths, condo ensuites | 20–24" |
| 24" | Single | The most common second-bathroom size in Canada; real basin, usable cabinet | 27" |
| 30" | Single | Standard 5×8 family bathroom; counter on both sides of the basin | 33" |
| 36" | Single | The best-selling single-sink size; full drawer bank fits | 39" |
| 42"–48" | Single | Large single-sink with generous counter; primary bath for one heavy user | 45–51" |
| 60" | Double (or single with long counter) | The smallest width where two people can use two sinks at once | 63" |
| 72" | Double | Primary ensuite; centre drawers plus counter outside each bowl | 75" |
The minimum wall length adds 1-1/2 inches of clearance per side so the countertop overhang, the wall texture and any out-of-square corner do not stop the cabinet sliding in. Measure at three heights: floor, counter height and 4 feet up. Use the smallest number.
Sizes in the MyBath range
Aria 24" HDF
$180
Powder rooms and second baths
Livia 30" Solid Wood
$360
The 5×8 family bathroom size
Aria 36" HDF
$420
Best-selling single sink width
Livia 60" Double Sink
$650
Smallest true two-person vanity
Vanity depth: 21 inches is standard, 18 is the compromise
Depth is measured front to back on the cabinet. The standard is 21 inches, which fits a full-size sink basin and gives the drawers useful volume. Countertops overhang the front by 1/2 to 1 inch, so a 21-inch cabinet ends up about 22 inches deep at the counter.
- 18–19" narrow-depth vanities save 2–3 inches in a tight room. The basin gets shallower and drawers shorter, but in a powder room nobody notices.
- 16–17" ultra-narrow is for hallway powder rooms where the door swing is the constraint. Expect a small round or trough basin.
- 22–24" deep appears on some 60–72" double vanities and gives more counter behind the faucets. Check it does not push the vanity into the door swing.
Depth is where most “it doesn’t fit” problems hide. A vanity that clears the wall on width can still block a door from opening fully, or leave less than 21 inches of floor in front of the toilet. Always draw the door swing on your floor plan before choosing depth.
Clearances: the numbers that keep a bathroom usable
| Clearance | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Clear floor space in front of the vanity | 21" | 30" |
| Sink centreline to side wall or tall obstruction | 15" | 20" |
| Between two sink centrelines (double vanity) | 30" | 36" |
| Vanity edge to toilet centreline | 15" | 18" |
| Counter to bottom of mirror or medicine cabinet | 4" | 6–8" |
| Door swing arc | Must clear the vanity fully | Or switch to an outswing or pocket door |
Double-sink vanity sizes
Manufacturers sell 48-inch double vanities. We do not recommend them. Two basins in 48 inches leaves about 10 inches of counter total and puts the sink centres 24 inches apart, so two adults bump elbows. 60 inches is the realistic minimum: two basins, sink centres 30 inches apart, and a strip of counter between and outside each bowl. At 72 inches you get a centre drawer bank and enough surface for everything two people keep out.
If your wall is between 48 and 60 inches, a large single-sink vanity with the basin centred and counter on both sides serves two people better than a cramped double. The 48-inch single-sink is the size built for exactly that wall.
Floating vanity height
A wall-hung vanity is mounted at whatever height you choose, which is its whole appeal. Set the top of the counter at 34–36 inches for adults or 32 inches for a kids’ bath, then work down: a 20-inch-tall floating cabinet with the counter at 35 inches leaves 14 inches of open floor beneath it, enough to see the tile run through and to fit a scale or a step stool. Two constraints apply. The wall needs blocking between the studs at the mounting height, and the drain rough-in has to come out of the wall above the bottom of the cabinet, usually 18–20 inches off the floor.
Plumbing rough-in heights for a vanity
Your plumber will ask for these, and if you are replacing an old vanity they decide whether the new one fits without opening the wall.
| Rough-in | Standard vanity | Floating vanity |
|---|---|---|
| Drain (waste) outlet height, floor to centre | 18–20" | Above the cabinet bottom; typically 20–24" |
| Hot and cold supply stops, floor to centre | 20–24" | 22–26" |
| Supply stops, spacing from drain centre | 4" each side | 4" each side |
| Supply line size | 1/2" stub, 3/8" compression to faucet | Same |
Every freestanding vanity we sell has an open back panel or a cut-out zone so a drain anywhere in the standard range works. Solid wood models come with a cut-out diagram on the product page; check it against your rough-in before ordering a double vanity, because two drains means two positions to match.
Mirror and faucet sizing to match
Choose a mirror 2–6 inches narrower than the vanity so it sits inside the cabinet’s width. A 30-inch vanity takes a 24–28-inch mirror; a 60-inch double takes either one 54–56-inch mirror or two 24-inch rounds centred over each sink. Our LED mirrors list exact widths, and LED medicine cabinets add lit storage where the wall is shallow.
Faucets are simpler. Count the holes in the countertop: one hole takes a single-hole faucet, three holes 8 inches apart take a widespread set, and no holes means a wall-mount. Match the finish to the mirror frame, not the tile. See the full range of bathroom sink faucets.
How to measure for a new vanity: six steps
- Measure the wall width at floor, counter height and 48 inches. Write down the smallest.
- Subtract 3 inches for overhang, wall texture and an out-of-square corner. That is your maximum cabinet width; round down to the nearest standard size.
- Measure depth available from the wall to the door swing arc or the toilet edge, and subtract 1 inch for countertop overhang.
- Note the drain and supply positions from the floor and from the left wall.
- Check clearances: 21 inches of floor in front, 15 inches from sink centre to any side wall.
- Decide the height with the wrist test above, then check the mirror or medicine cabinet still fits under the light.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height of a bathroom vanity?
The traditional standard is 30 to 32 inches for the cabinet, or 32 to 34 inches to the top of the counter. Comfort height vanities, now the more common choice for adults, are 34 to 36 inches to the counter.
Is 36 inches too high for a bathroom vanity?
No. Thirty-six inches to the countertop is the same as a kitchen counter and suits most adults between 5’4” and 6’2”. It is high for children under about ten and for a vessel sink, which adds another 5 to 6 inches.
What size vanity do I need for a small bathroom?
A 24-inch vanity is the smallest size with a genuinely usable basin and cabinet, and it fits any wall of 27 inches or more. Below that, 16- to 20-inch powder room vanities work for hand-washing only.
How wide does a double sink vanity need to be?
Sixty inches is the practical minimum for two people to use two sinks at once. Seventy-two inches adds a centre drawer bank and more counter. Forty-eight-inch doubles exist but leave almost no counter and put the basins 24 inches apart.
How much space do you need in front of a vanity?
A minimum of 21 inches of clear floor, and 30 inches is comfortable. Also allow 15 inches from the sink centreline to any side wall so your elbows clear.
What is the standard depth of a bathroom vanity?
Twenty-one inches for the cabinet, about 22 inches with the countertop overhang. Narrow-depth vanities at 18 inches suit tight rooms; 16 inches is the practical floor.
Shop by size
Small vanities 16–29" · Single sink 30–48" · Double sink 60–72" · Solid wood · All bathroom vanities. Free delivery on orders over $600 in Ontario; shipping across Canada.
