Since the island is the focal point in many kitchens, selecting a new kitchen island is one of the most important purchases that you'll make for your home. Similarly, a kitchen cart can function as the working center for every meal that you prepare at home, making the purchase of a new one equally important to that of an island.

The best kitchen carts and kitchen islands are designed to last for years and years, but in order to enjoy your new cart or island for as long as it is intended to be used, you must shop carefully and select a piece that will be ideal for your needs, not only now, but in the future. When shopping for kitchen islands and kitchen carts, many people begin by selecting the style that they like the best or shop by counter top or base materials before taking other items into consideration. While there is no "right" or "wrong" way to shop for a kitchen island or kitchen cart, it is important that you pay attention to every detail that goes into the piece's design.

One aspect of kitchen islands and kitchen carts that is overlooked far too often is their height. Unfortunately, one of the largest complaints that people have about islands and carts once they get them home is that they are not the perfect size for their needs. With a little planning, it is easy to pick a kitchen island or kitchen cart that is the perfect height for the needs of you and your home.

We created our Buyers' Guide to Shopping for Kitchen Islands and Kitchen Carts by Height to make it easier for you to select the best island or cart for you. By the time you've finished reading the guide, you should have a clear picture of how tall your new cart or island needs to be to function well in your home.

Background on Height

To get started, it's important to make sure you have a clear understanding of what the height of a kitchen cart or island means and what the effects of the measurement are on how you can use your new home furnishing.

The term height refers to the measurement of the distance from the bottom of the wheels on a cart or the base on an island to the piece’s top. For most islands and carts, the top is the counter top; however, if you purchase an island or cart that has a built-in overhead pot rack, the top of the rack is considered the top of the cart. The distance from the floor to the work surface will generally still be included in the descriptions of islands and carts with pot racks and identified as the worktop or counter top height. When you consider the practicality of an island or cart with a pot rack, you'll want to focus primarily on the counter top height, although it is important to make sure that the height of your kitchen ceiling is at least 6 inches taller than the overall height of the island or cart with the built-in pot rack.

The height of an island or cart's working surface has a direct impact on how comfortable it is to use the piece for any purpose. Buying an island or cart that is too low can make the piece difficult to work at, inconvenient for serving and awkward for guests using the piece as a seating area.

After you've decided what the best height will be for your new island or cart, you'll need to look for the measurement in the online descriptions for the various styles. Typically, the height will be the last dimension given and will follow the length and the width. For your convenience, some retailers (including the Kitchen Island Co.) will mark the height with an "H."

How to Begin

Before you even begin to peruse the styles of kitchen islands and kitchen carts that are available from today's top kitchen furnishings brands, you'll need to take what is known as an inventory of your needs. This inventory will help you review all of the ways in which you might use your new island or cart in your home, so that when you begin to consider the available heights, it will be easy for you to select the perfect size.

Before you start shopping, you'll want to think about how often you will use your island or cart for each of the three primary purposes for which they may be used: working, seating and serving. You may only intend to use your cart or island for one of these functions, or your piece may need the ability to do all three. Most of the remainder of this guide will examine the four common height categories for kitchen islands and kitchen carts in terms of their three primary functions. This allows you to quickly determine the best height for your needs.

Discovering Your Ideal Working Height

The final thing that you need to establish before you start thinking about the best height for your kitchen island or kitchen cart is your ideal working height. This measurement corresponds to the level at which it is the most comfortable for you to hold your hands while you perform work.

The best way to determine your working height is to actually have a friend or family member measure you. To do so, Stand at a working surface and either perform some type of task or pantomime working. Make a mental note of how your body feels as you work. If your neck, back or arms begin to ache, step back from the worktop and adjust your arms, so that you are the most comfortable. Once you have found this ideal position, have someone measure from your fingertips to the floor.

Height Category: Under 34 inches tall

The shortest kitchen islands and kitchen carts are under 34 inches tall. For this size category, you'll want to consider the following:

Working: Unless you are much shorter than 5'4", an island or cart in this size category will generally not be ideal for use an everyday work surface; however, if your cart or island will be used primarily for another purpose, a piece of this size may be ideal.

Seating: If you want to offer seating at your cart or island with standard chairs, with chairs that are slightly oversized or with chairs with thick cushions, this size category will likely be the best for you.

Serving: Serving pieces within this size category will stand closer to the height of standard dining and kitchen tables, which can make it easier to shift food.

Height Category: 34 to 35 inches tall

The second shortest kitchen islands and kitchen carts are 34 to 35 inches tall. For this size category, you'll want to consider the following:

Working: If you are under 5'4" tall, this height category will likely be the best for you.

Seating: To seat guests at an island or cart that is 34 to 35 inches tall, you'll need to use very high chairs or low bar stools.

Serving: Pieces that are 34 to 35 inches in height make good serving stations in most kitchens. If you plan to roll your cart up to your dining or kitchen table, a piece in this size category will usually be taller than your tabletop, so you will be unable to slide any heavy items onto the table.

Height Category: 36 inches tall

The second tallest kitchen islands and kitchen carts are 36 inches tall. For this size category, you'll want to consider the following:

Working: For people who are 5'4" to 5'10" tall, a kitchen island or kitchen cart that is 36 inches in height is generally the most comfortable to use for working.

Seating: Seating at a kitchen island or kitchen cart that is 36 inches in height is generally reserved for very tall bar stools.

Serving: Islands that are 36 inches tall are perfect to use for buffet style serving. For carts of this height, you'll usually be able to slide items off of your counter top and onto the cart top, as most counter tops are 36 inches in height. When you reach the table, you will likely not be able to slide the items off the cart top because it will be taller than a standard kitchen or dining room table.

Height Category: Over 36 inches tall

The tallest kitchen islands and kitchen carts are over 36 inches tall. For this size category, you'll want to consider the following:

Working: Normally, an island or cart that stands over 36 inches in height is best used for working by someone who is taller than 5'10".

Seating: If you wish to offer seating at an island or cart that is more than 36 inches tall, you'll need oversized bar stools. Generally, this size category is too large for comfortable seating.

Serving: You can use a an island that is over 36 inches tall to serve buffets, but keep in mind that a cart in this height category will usually be too high to slide heavy items onto both at your counter tops and at the table.