Cutting Table Height?
 

I am getting ready to have a cutting table built but I don't know what height to make it. I am 5'4". What are the so called "rules" when trying to figure this out?

Didn't know there were 'rules'! I'm 5'4" too - mine is 35", but that's just the height it came to when I put my banquet table on to the chair/bed risers I bought, lol!

I'm 5'3" and find the shorter 5" bed risers make a regular table (typical height 28-30") the perfect height for me. My friend who is 5'7" and has longer arms, prefers the 7" bed risers. Before buying the risers I did all my rotary cutting on my kitchen counter. That was a perfect height for me and it's about 36" tall. There are many stores who have the taller (34-36") dining tables available for purchase. My table is in the middle of the room and I can walk around it while cutting. I love it.

What height are you comfortable with now?

Yes, it is what the height that you feel comfortable. Check out your LQS and see what the height is for them since they cut ALL day. Mine is 33" in height which works for me sitting or standing doing rotary cutting.

The table surface should be a couple inches below your waist height so that your arms are just slightly below the 90º level when extended. Here are some good sewing room guidelines.
http://www.sewing.org/files/guidelin...thy_sewing.pdf

Try cutting for an hour or two at your kitchen counter. If that is comfortable for you, then that's the height for you.

I am height challenged as well, stopping at 5'5". Since space for anything in my house is very limited, I found that the dryer top is usually empty and just the right size for my 18x24 cutting mat. It is also the perfect height and I can see all the markings easily with the window right there. I can leave my mat out and never have to "put it away" as it is never in the way of folding clothes.

I am 5'-3" TALL and I have no problem with a standard kitchen counter (36") for chopping veggies, but I find I need some body weight for better control when cutting fabrics and if I have to cut through more than two layers, I prefer 30-33" and have used my desk on occasion.

Maybe I should just change the blades on the rotary cutters more often LOL

I'm 5'3 almost and my table is about 34" tall. I find that height is quite comfortable for cutting.

I'm also 5'4 and my kitchen island is 33 inches tall, perfect for me. (I had it lowered from the standard height when we built the house)

I'm 5'10" and mine is perfect at 42" high

Wile there are some 'rules' as to height, sometimes that isn't enough. Due to arthritis the ehight I use is what is comfortable and not what the rules refer to.

I'd suggest you also try various cabinet heights in a DIY [home depot, lowes, ikea, etc] type store as they will have a variety of heights to try.

I am 5'3" and my cutting "desk" is 30". It's the perfect height for me. Most of my friends prefer taller, but I am uncomfortable with their preferred height because I can't put my weight behind the cut.

I love the height of my kitchen counter (36") so I also used bed risers to raise my cutting table to about that height and I'm just under 5' 5" tall. Try your kitchen counter for a couple of hours and then adjust accordingly. As much cutting as we do comfort is top priority!

We did some remodeling and got the wrong size for the bathroom sink/cabinet. It now serves as a resting shelf for my boobies. I too suggest that you practice cutting on different height tables and see what is best for you. And, measure the height twice before buying!