Bed Design Guidelines

1. A lower bed makes a room look larger than a higher bed and creates a less formal
appearance.
2. Most beds are designed so that the top of the mattress is 16″ to 24″ from the floor.
3. For maximum comfort, the bed should be 6″ to 8″ longer than the height of the
person that will be using it.
4. To provide clearance for bed covers, allow 1″ extra length and 1/2″ to 1″ extra
width for the bedframe.
5. Mattress and boxspring dimensions often differ from the “standards” so measure
them before designing the bedframe.
7. Most beds are designed with knock-down joinery to simplify moving and storage.
6. The top of the headboard should be at least a foot above the top of the mattress.
If a footboard is planned, aesthetics are enhanced by making it shorter than the
headboard.
8. Make allowances for wood movement if using solid wood for the headboard. One
approach is to oversize the mortises in the bed posts where the tenons on the
headboard attach. Another approach is to cut a double mortise/tenon and allow one
tenon to float by not gluing it in place.
9. Most headboards, footboards, and sideboards are made from 4/4 or 5/4 material.
The use of thicker material is generally not necessary.
10. Give consideration to a platform bed rather than a conventional bed with a
boxspring. This approach can save money, enable the use of narrower stock for the
sideboards, and provide greater clearance under the bed (boxsprings are often set
close to the floor to put the mattress at a suitable height).

Adult Bed Specifications

Height to top of mattress 16″-24″

Best mattress height for sitting 17″-18″

Best mattress height for changing sheets 24″

Acceptable toe room for platform beds 6″-8″”

Bunk Bed Specifications

Overall height 60″-87″

Height to top of lower mattress 16″-24″

Height to top of upper mattress from top of lower

30″-45″
mattress

Crib Specifications

Mattress height adjustment 31″ to 39″

Spacing between slats 2-1/4″

Height-floor to top of crib 48″

Cradle Specifications

Width x Height 22″ x 36″

Height (top) 22″ average

Height (swing type) 40″ average

Bedroom Storage Specifications

Hanging space for long coats and dresses 58″-64″

Hanging space for jackets and shirts 32″-36″

Clothing storage unit depth 24″

Drawer depth (shirts sweaters towels) 16″-20″

Standard Dimensions of Adult Mattresses

Mattress Width Length

Bunk 30″, 33″ 75″

Single 36″ 75″

Twin 39″ 75″, 80″, 84″

Double 54″ 75″, 80″

Queen 60″ 80″, 84″

King 76″ 80″, 84″

Standard Dimensions of Juvenile Mattresses

Mattress Width Length

Bassinet 18″ 36″

Bassinet 22-1/4″ 38-3/4″

Junior crib 23″ 46″

Junior crib 25-1/4″ 50-3/4″

6-year crib 27″ 51″

6-year crib 31-1/4″ 56-3/4″

Youth bed 33″ 66″

Youth bed 36″ 76″

Standard Thicknesses of Mattresses and Boxsprings

Type Thickness

Inner spring 5-1/2″ to 6-1/2″

Foam 4″ to 7-1/2″
Boxspring 5-1/2″ to 9″

Futon 3″ to 6″

Standard Dimensions of Bedroom Furniture

Item Height Width Depth

Dresser (bureau) 29″-37″ 36″-48″ 18″-24″

Chest of drawers 42″-56″ 32″-40″ 18″-22″

Double dresser 26″-34″ 60″-72″ 18″-22″

Night table 16″-25″ 18″-28′ 16″-22″

Blanket chest 16″-20″ 32″-54″ 14″-22″

Lingerie chest 50″-54″ 22″-24″ 16″-18″

Chair Design Guidelines

1. The occupant should be able to sit in and get up from the chair without difficulty.
The feet should rest flat on the floor without the knees projecting above the upper
leg. A seat height of 16 to 18 inches fits the bill for most adults. Armrests should
support the forearms without raising the shoulders (7″ to 9″ above seat). Half
armrests enable the chair to be drawn up close to a table
2. The depth of the seat should allow clearance from the front edge of the seat to
the back of the occupant’s leg. A seat that is too deep will press against the back of
the legs forcing the occupant to slouch forward. A seat that is too shallow may be
unstable and feel precarious. A seat depth of 15 to 18 inches is recommended for
most adults.
3. The width of the seat often tapers by 2″ to 3″ from the front to the rear to allow
clearance for legs and clothes in front while allowing elbow room in back. Many
chairs have seats that are about 15″ wide in the rear and 18″ wide in the front.
4. For relaxed seating, the seat should slant slightly toward the back (about 5° to 8°)
to keep the occupant from slipping out of the chair. However, an office desk or
typist’s chair often has a flat seat to facilitate leaning forward.
5. The back of the chair is often slanted backwards for comfort – up to 5° for a dining
chair and 10° to 15° for a more casual chair. As the chair back angle increases, the
seat should be tilted further backward to prevent forward sliding and lowered to
prevent the front edge of the seat from pressing against the back of the legs.
6. The seat back should support the lumbar region without being so high as to
interfere with the shoulder blades. A back height of about 12″ to 16″ above the seat
is ideal for most adults. Note that this guideline is often ignored for formal “high-
backed” dining chairs.
7. The lower portion of the seat back (first 4″-8″) should curve out or be left open to
allow room for the buttocks.
Chair Dimensions For Average-Sized Adults
The following dimensions apply to chairs designed for average-sized adults sitting in
an upright or alert posture.

Seat width 16″-20″

Seat depth 15″-18″

Seat height from floor 16″-18″

Slope of seat front to rear 5° to 8° (3/4″ to 1″ drop)

Armrest height above seat 7″-9″

Armrest length (full armrest) 8″ minimum

Armrest width 2″ average

Set back of armrest from front 2″-3″

Seat back height 12″-16″ above seat

Seat back recline angle 0°-5° (formal); 10°-15° (casual)

Chair Dimensions for Children

The following table presents seat heights for children of various ages. Other chair
dimensions can be derived proportionately based on the chair dimensions for adults.
For most elementary school age children, a seat width and depth of 12 to 14 inches,
a backrest height of 9 to 11 inches, and an armrest height of 5 to 7 inches are good
starting points.

Child’s Age (Years) Seat Height

1 to 4 10″-12″

5 to 7 12″-14″

8 to 10 13″-17″

11 to 13 15″-18″

Specifications for Different Types of Seats

(Listed dimensions are based on average-sized adults).
Dining Chair: The seat height averages 16″ to 17″, seat width averages about 15-
1/2″ in back and 18″ in front, and average seat depth is 16″ to 16-1/2″. If armrests
are used, they should be 7″ to 9″ above the seat but able to fit under the table apron.
The average width between armrests at the front of the chair is approximately 19″.
The seat is usually level or has a maximum front to back slope of about 1″. The seat
back is reclined no more than 5 degrees and ranges in height from 12″ to 20″ above
the seat (or higher in very formal chairs).
Desk Chair: Most specifications for a dining chair apply here except that the seat
back often protrudes no higher than the middle of the back – about 14″ to 16″.
Easy Chair: Should provide a more relaxed, reclining position than a dining chair –
seat height is lower (about 16″) with allowance made for compression of seat
cushion. The seat is angled backwards about 10 degrees with a seat to back angle of
95 to 120 degrees. For maximum comfort, the seat back should be no more than 14″
to 16″ above the seat. Armrests are recommended for easy in/out and they average
5″ to 8″ in height and 2″ to 4″ in width.
Sofa/Loveseat: Seat depth ranges from 18″ to 22″ and seat height ranges from 14″
to 18″ (16″ average). The seat back typically rises 15″ to 18″ above the seat and is
usually angled backwards at up to 25 degrees. Upholstered seats generally slope 1″
from front to back. Armrests generally protrude 4″ to 8″ above seat. The overall
width of a loveseat is about 56″ to 60″ – 24″ per person, plus 4″ to 6″ for each
armrest. A full-size sofa measures about 90″ in overall width.
Bar Stool: In general, the seat of a bar stool should be 12″ to 15″ below the top
surface of the bar, but never higher than 30″. For a normal bar that is 40″ to 45″
high, a seat height of 28″ to 30″ is standard. For a 30″ high bar (most tables), a seat
height of 22″ to 24″ is standard. The seat back is typically 10″ to 14″ above the seat.
The seat width ranges from 15″ to 18″ and the seat depth ranges from 12″ to 16″ (16″
to 17″ diameter if the seat is round). A rung 20″ below the seat provides a
comfortable resting spot for the occupant’s feet.
Rocker: In a stationary position, the seat back should tilt back approximately 25
degrees from the vertical with a seat to seat back angle of about 95 degrees. The
seat height in front should be no higher than 16″ to 17″. Standard seat widths and
depths are 18″ to 22″ and 16″ to 18″ respectively. The seat back is higher than most
chairs – about 40″ above the floor. The runners commonly have a horizontal
extension of about 30″ with a curvature radius of 36″ to 38″.
Wood Selection for Chairs

 Use hardwoods for pieces where shocks, abrasions, and other stresses will
occur.
 Use softwoods in larger thicknesses to enable greater penetration of
hardwood pieces (e.g., spindles).
 Do not join softwood to softwood.
 For bent chair parts, select woods such as white oak or ash that can be
steam-bent without fracturing.
 Legs: The legs of a chair are subject to extreme stresses and abrasive
forces. Select a wood such as hard maple that is hard, resists impression,
and does not splinter.
 Stretchers: Abrasion resistance is less of an issue but a hard wood such as
maple is recommended. Bending strength may be important (e.g., feet
placed on the stretcher), so consider white oak or hickory.
 Seat: Many woods will suffice, but soft woods such as pine or poplar are
much easier to sculpt if you are intending to use hand tools (early
craftsmen typically chose soft woods for this reason).
 Back: Use hard woods such as maple, oak or ash for spindles. For longer
spindles, select a resilient wood that allows for movement – hickory is
ideal. Softwoods in thicker dimensions may be used for arms and rails.
 5. A drawer over the knee space can usually be no more than 4 inches deep
because of limiting space between the work surface and the person’s knees.
Drawers behind the knee space or to the side of it are commonly 4 to 10
inches deep.
  6. For aesthetics, deeper drawers should be placed toward the bottom of the
desk and shallower drawers toward the top.
 7. File drawers should be 10 inches deep. The width should be 12 inches for
letter files and 15 inches for legal files (add 1/2″ to width if hanger frames to
be used).

 Computer Furniture
 1. The key design criteria in computer furniture is flexibility since it must
provide for the proper placement of the various computer components (cpu,
keyboard, monitor, disk drives, printer, etc.) in relation to each other and to
the computer operator. Provide for adjustability and modularity in the design.
A workstation may be just a single, flat table although a more functional
design provides three separate levels: one for the monitor, one for the
keyboard, and one for a regular writing surface.
 2. The line of sight angle from the keyboard to the top of the monitor should
not exceed 60 degrees with the top of the monitor at or below eye level. For
those accustomed to using a typewriter, the monitor should be placed closer
to the keyboard.
 3. With fingers resting on the keyboard, the angle between the upper arm and
forearm should be 70 to 135 degrees. Most people find that 90 to 100 degrees
is most comfortable. In general, the closer the keyboard is to the lap, the
more comfortable typing will be. The keyboard height should be adjustable
from 24 to 28 inches. Provide a flat area next to the keyboard and at the
same height to accommodate a computer mouse.
 4. The work surface should be between 20 and 30 inches deep and at least 24
inches wide. For maximum flexibility, the height should be that of a
conventional writing desk, about 28 to 30 inches, with the keyboard resting on
an adjustable shelf.
 5. Seat height should be adjustable from 16 to 20 inches.
 6. Many people prefer a printer stand that is lower than the work surface,
about 18 to 24 inches, to enable easy access to the printer controls and
paper.
 7. Provide ample access holes for wires and heat dissipation.
 Standard Dimensions of Desks

Desk Type Height Width Depth

Children’s desk 20″-22″ 24″-30″ 18″-20″

Computer desk 24″-28″ 24″-60″ 20″-30″

Lap desk 4″- 6″ 20″-24″ 12″-18″

Pedestal desk 28″-30″ 48″-72″ 24″-30″

Rolltop desk 28″-30″ 48″-72″ 24″-30″

Secretary 28″-30″ 36″-42″ 18″-24″

Slant-front desk 28″-30″ 36″-42″ 18″-24″

Table desk 28″-30″ 30″-48″ 20″-30″

Typing table 24″-28″ 36″-42″ 16″-24″

Writing table 28″-30″ 36″-40″ 20″-24″

Kitchen Cabinet Design and Layout Tips

1. The three most used elements of a kitchen are the sink, stove, and refrigerator. To
minimize wasted motion, situate each to form a triangle with a perimeter less than
18 feet.
2. The oven and refrigerator should not be adjacent. The dishwasher should be
located nearby the sink and if possible, position the sink under a window with a light
above it.
3. The number of doors for each cabinet is based on the door width not exceeding its
height. For cabinets between 2 to 4 feet wide, use 2 doors.
4. Use false drawer fronts where drawers not possible (e.g., under sink) for a
consistent look.
5. Allow 18″ of counter space on either side of the range or microwave.
6. Allow 18″ of counter space on door-opening side of the refrigerator.
7. Allow 30″ of counterspace to right of sink, 24″ to left
8. Provide a corridor width or passing space of no less than 36″.
9. Maximum height of a shelf above a countertop is 42″ for an average sized adult.
36″ is optimal.

Standard Dimensions of Wall Cabinets

Depth (25″ deep countertop) 12-1/4″
Depth (30″ deep countertop) 15″

Height with full soffit 30″

Height with no soffit 42″

Height of cabinet above countertop 18″

Height of cabinet above stove top 24″

Height of highest shelf 60″-68″

Width to match base cabinet

Standard Dimensions of Base Cabinets

Cabinet depth 24″

Countertop depth (1″ overlap) 25″

Height from floor to countertop 36″

Splashboard height 4″

Kickspace height 4″

Kickspace depth 3″
Depth of drawer above cabinet doors 4″

Standard Dimensions of Counters

Countertop height 36″

Counter length per person 21″

Depth (one-sided seating) 15″

Depth (two-sided seating) 30″ min

For the physically challenged:

Countertop height 31″

Under counter access width 30″

Under counter access height 29-1/2″

Standard Dimensions of Kitchen Appliances

The dimensions of most appliances used for residential purposes in the U.S. fall
within the ranges given below. Although these dimensions are useful for planning
purposes, obtain actual measurements before starting cabinet construction. In
general, major appliances are designed to fit beneath a 24 inch wide countertop.

Appliance Height Width Depth

Cooktop 2- 3″ 12-48″ 18-22″

Dishwasher 33-35 23-24″ 23-26″

Microwave 13-18″ 21-23″ 14-22″

Range, floor model 35-36″ 19-40″ 24-26″

Range, w/ upper oven 61-68″ 30-40″ 25-28″

Range, drop-in 23-24″ 23-24″ 22-25″

Range hood 5-8″ 24-72″ 12-72″

Refrigerator 55-69″ 24-36″ 26-33″

Trash Compactor 33-35″ 12-15″ 18-24″

Wall oven, single 23-25″ 21-24″ 21-23″

Wall oven, double 39-50″ 21-24″ 21-23″

Wall oven with broiler 38-40″ 21-24″ 21-23″

Shelf Design Guidelines

1. For ease of shelf access, bookcases are generally no higher than 84 inches. Small
bookcases are usually 30 to 42 inches high. The highest shelf in a bookcase should
be as high as an average-sized person can comfortably reach – about 72 to 78
inches. If the shelves will be accessed from a sitting position, the highest shelf
should be no more than 60 inches above the floor. The lowest shelf should be 3 to 4
inches from the floor level.
2. Shelf width or span is determined both by aesthetics and sag considerations. A
fully loaded bookshelf carries a load of 20 to 25 pounds per running foot. The eye will
notice a deflection of 1/32 inch per running foot so that a fully loaded (70-80 pounds)
bookshelf that is 3 feet wide, should sag no more than 3/32 inches. For most shelves
made from 3/4 inch stock, a practical span is 30 to 36 inches.
3. Shelf depth is determined by the size of the items to be stored, generally within
the range of 6 to 24 inches. Shelf depth for a general purpose bookshelf is usually 10
to 12 inches.
4. Shelf spacing will generally range from 7 to 15 inches with 8 to 12 inches being
common for bookshelves. To prevent the case from looking and being top-heavy, use
a smaller shelf spacing near the top and a larger one near the bottom.
5. A well built shelf unit will exhibit minimal side-to-side racking. One of the most
effective means of preventing racking is to add a 1/4 inch plywood back that is
rabbeted and tacked to the shelves. Other methods include a diagonal back brace,
corner blocks, and support cleats on the top and bottom of the unit.
6. In choosing a shelving material, factor in each material’s stiffness and
susceptibility to creep. Solid wood is stiffer than plywood which is stiffer than
particleboard. Particleboard will creep more than other materials so that an unsightly
sag could develop if an excessive shelf span is used.

Maximum No-Sag Spans for Various Shelf Materials

The following table depicts the maximum spans for 10 inch wide shelves supporting
20 pounds per square foot (typical loading for a bookshelf) without noticeable
sagging.

Shelf Material Maximum No-Sag Span

3/8″ Glass 18″

3/4″ Particleboard 26″

3/4″ Plywood 32″

3/4″ Plywood w/ one 1-1/2″ wide support cleat 42″

3/4″ Plywood w/ two 1-1/2″ wide support cleats 48″

3/4″ Yellow pine 36″

1″ Yellow pine 48″

1-1/2″ Yellow pine 64″

3/4″ Red oak 44″

1″ Red oak 52″

1-1/2″ Red oak 78″

Stiffness Ratings for Various Wood Species

Here are stiffness ratings for several woods commonly used for shelves, ranked in order of
decreasing stiffness. Shelf stiffness is measured by the modulus of elasticity (E). The higher
the E value, the stiffer the material, and the less it will sag.

Wood Species Modulus of Elasticity (E)

Yellow Birch 2.01

Douglas Fir 1.95

Hard Maple (Sugar) 1.83

White Oak 1.78

White Ash 1.77

Shortleaf Pine 1.76

Black Walnut 1.68

Yellow Poplar 1.58

Black Cherry 1.49

Red Oak 1.49

White Fir 1.38

Ponderosa Pine 1.26

White Pine 1.24

Western Red Cedar 1.12

Techniques for Increasing Shelf Stiffness

1. Shorten the shelf span or use vertical support pieces.

2. Attach a 1 to 2 inch wide cleat to the front or back of the shelf.

3. Screw case back to back edge of shelves.

4. Use thicker material.

5. Change the shelving material.

6. Employ torsion box construction for the shelves.

Shelf Space Requirements for Various Items

Shelf Shelf
Shelf Storage Item
Spacing Depth

Compact discs 6″ 7″

Stereo equipment 7″ 18″

Children’s books 8″ 8″

Small paperbacks 8″ 8″

General reading 10″ 10″

Video cassettes 10″ 7″

Slide trays 10″ 10″

Magazines 12″ 12″

Photo albums 13″ 12″

Record albums 13″ 14″

Linens,clothes 14″ 18″

Large hardcover 15″ 12″

Standard Dimensions of Bookcases and Shelves

Standing Bookcase

Height: 30″ – 84″

Highest shelf: 72″ – 78″

Depth: 8″ – 24″

Width: 24″ – 48″

Minimum shelf spacing: 7″ – 8″

Maximum shelf spacing: 13″ – 15″

Hanging shelves

Height of unit: 30″ – 42″

Height of base above floor: 36″ – 54″

Depth: 6″ – 16″

Width: 24″ – 36″

Stepback Cabinet

Height of unit: 72″ – 84″

Height of base cabinet: 30″ – 36″

Height of shelves above base: 36″ – 54″

Base cabinet depth: 15″ – 25″

Shelf depth: 10″ – 13″

Width: 36″ – 48″

Methods of Attaching Fixed Shelves

Butt joint Simple, minimal racking resistance

Cleats, quarter
Simple, unattractive, shelf height reduced on ends
rounds

Fairly strong, relatively simple, must cover exposed

Dado
ends

Fairly strong, clean, not exposed, additional work to

Stopped dado
notch shelves

Strongest joint, good racking resistance, close

Sliding dovetail
tolerances required

Fairly strong, clean precise alignment, minimal

Dowels
racking resistance

Fairly strong, simple, clean minimal racking

Biscuits
resistance

Metal brackets Simple, unattractive, ok for utility shelving

Table Design Guidelines
1. In choosing between a round or rectangular (including square) table, keep in mind
that round tables blend in easier with other furniture and also allow easy movement
around them.
2. Most tables designed for writing or dining should be 28″ to 30″ high (29″ is
common) with chair seats 11″ to 13″ lower. The higher the tabletop, the more
uncomfortable and formal the table feels. Provide about 24″ of leg room below the
table (height from floor to bottom of table rail) and at least 12″ for knee clearance
(projection of table top beyond table leg). In figuring seating capacity, allow at least
24″ of elbow room width per person and 12″ to 15″ depth from the edge of the table.
3. Bedside tables should not be more than six inches above the height of the bed.
4. Coffee tables are generally 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the sofa and about the same
height as the sofa seat.
5. End tables should be the same height or a few inches shorter than the armrest of
the sofa. Also, if a lamp is to be placed on the end table, the bottom of the
lampshade should be at eye level when seated.
6. Sofa tables are designed to conceal the back side of a sofa that is not against a
wall. They are usually 2/3 the length of the sofa and about the same height as the
back of the sofa.
7. Additional guidelines exist for desks and tables designed for use as computer
workstations.

Standard Dimensions of Tables

Type of Table Height Length Width/Depth

Card 26″-30″ 30″-36″ 30″-36″

Coffee, round 15″-17″ 36″-42″ diam 36″-42″ diam

Coffee, rectangular 15″-17″ 36″-60″ 18″-24″

Console 28″ 48″-54″ 16″-18″

Dining, rectangular 28″-30″ 60″-80″ 36″-42″

Dining, round 28″-30″ 40″ min diam 40″ min diam

Drafting 32″-44″ 31″-72″ 23″-44″

Drum 30″ 36″ dia 36″ dia

End 18″-24″ 24″-28″ 18″-20″

Hallway/entry 34″-36″ 36″-72″ 16″-20″

Library 28″-30″ 60″-84″ 24″-36″

Night 16″-25″ 18″-28″ 16″-22″

Sewing 26″ any 17″ min

Sofa 26″-27″ 60″ 14″-17″

Workbench 32″ any 26″

Writing 28″-30″ 36″-40″ 20″-24″

Standard Heights of Tables and Seats for Children

Child’s Age Table Seat

(Years) Height Height

1 to 4 20″-22″ 10″-12″

5 to 7 22″-25″ 12″-14″

8 to 10 24″-29″ 13″-17″

11 to 13 26″-30″ 15″-18″

Table Seating Specifications

Here are the minimum dimensions for rectangular, square, and round tables needed
to accommodate the number of people listed in the first column.
No. of (Rectangular) (Square) (Round)
People Width Length Width Diameter

No. of (Rectangular) (Square) (Round)

People Width Length Width Diameter

2 22″-28″ 28″-32″ 24″-30″ 22″-28″

4 28″-36″ 44″-52″ 32″-42″ 32″-42″

6 34″-42″ 60″-72″ 44″-52″ 46″-54″

8 34″-42″ 72″-90″ 48″-54″ 56″-72″

10 42″-48″ 96″-108″ 56″-62″ 72″-84″

Determining Table Size

For square or rectangular dining tables, allow 24″ of elbow room width per person.
For round tables, allow 26″ width per person for a table seating 3 to 6 people and 24″
for a table seating 6 or more people. Add 2″ to all of the above figures if armchairs
will be used. Subtract 2″ for snug seating.
The circumference of a round table equals the width per person times the total
number of seating spaces and the diameter equals the circumference divided by
3.14. For example, in designing a table to comfortably seat 8 people using chairs
without arm supports, the circumference equals 8 times 24 inches width per person
(192 inches) and the diameter equals 192/3.14 or 61 inches. If 22″ of width was
allocated per person, the resultant table diameter would be about 56″ (see table
above).

Reference Reading
The American Institute of Architects produces the “Architectural Standards”
manual which should be available for perusal in your local library. This manual
contains an astounding amount of information related to human ergonomics and
standards for most any type of furniture conceivable. It’s full of great diagrams and
pictures too. This is what the pros consult when they build furniture.
The Woodworker’s Guide to Furniture Design: The Complete Reference for Building
Furniture the Right Size, the Right Proportion and the Right Style. (Garth Graves).
This book provides lots of good material on design standards including a “table of
theoretical heights” to facilitate designing furniture for a target population.