How High Should Coat Hooks Be? Height and Spacing Guide
For most adults, coat hooks work best around 150 to 170 cm from the floor. That keeps long coats clear of the ground and puts the hooks within easy reach. For children, a second row around 90 to 110 cm lets them hang up their own coats and bags. Space hooks around 15 to 20 cm apart for coats.
Getting the height right makes a hallway easier to use every day. Hooks that are too low leave coats trailing on the floor; hooks that are too high are awkward to reach and look out of place.
This guide explains how to find the right height for your home, how far apart to space your hooks, how to plan a row for the whole family and how to adapt the height room by room. For a wider overview, see our complete guide to coat racks.
Contents
- Quick answer
- How to find the right height
- How far apart should coat hooks be?
- A lower row for children
- Hooks above a bench
- Height room by room
- How to mark out your hooks
- Mistakes to avoid
- FAQ
Quick answer: what height should coat hooks be?
Aim for 150 to 170 cm from the floor to the hooks for adults, and 90 to 110 cm for children.
Go towards the top of the adult range if you mainly hang long coats, and towards the lower end for shorter jackets, bags and scarves. There is no official standard in the UK: these figures are practical guides that suit most households.
How to find the right height for your home
The right height depends on your longest coat, the reach of the people using the hooks and what sits below them.
Start with your longest coat
Measure your longest coat from the hanging loop to the hem, then add a few centimetres of clearance. If a knee-length coat measures 110 cm, hooks at around 160 cm keep it clear of the floor and of any boots below.
Check the reach
The hooks should be easy to reach without stretching. Stand facing the wall and raise your arm with your elbow slightly bent: the height of your hand is a comfortable hook height for you.
Think about the whole household
If the tallest and shortest adults in the house differ a lot, choose a height in between, or add a few single hooks slightly lower for the shorter members of the family.
How far apart should coat hooks be?
Allow around 15 to 20 cm between hooks for coats, and around 10 cm for keys, dog leads and small bags.
Bulky winter coats need the most room: at 20 cm apart, they hang side by side without bunching together. On a coat rack, the spacing is already set, so you only need to choose the width. With single wall hooks, you can adjust the spacing to what you hang.
A lower row for children
A second row around 90 to 110 cm from the floor lets children hang up their own coats and school bags.
- Adult row: 150 to 170 cm, with one or two hooks per adult.
- Children's row: 90 to 110 cm, moved up as they grow.
- Spare hooks: one or two for guests, bags and leads.
Choose hooks with rounded ends for the lower row. Single hooks such as our round wooden peg hooks are easy to move as children grow.
Hooks above a bench
Leave around 100 cm between the top of the bench and the hooks, so long coats hang clear of the seat.
A hallway bench is usually around 45 cm high, which puts the hooks around 145 to 170 cm from the floor. Measure your longest coat to check: if it rests on the seat, raise the hooks slightly.
Height room by room
The same principles apply in every room: hang long items high enough to clear the floor, and keep everyday items within easy reach.
Hallway
150 to 170 cm for coats, with a lower row for children if needed. In a narrow hallway, a piano key coat rack keeps its hooks flat when not in use, so nothing sticks out at shoulder height.
Bedroom
Hooks on the back of a door or beside a wardrobe work well at the same height as in the hallway for dressing gowns, and slightly lower for bags and tomorrow's outfit.
Bathroom
Place towel and robe hooks within easy reach of the bath or shower, high enough for a robe to hang clear of the floor.
Boot room
Heavy coats and bags need sturdy hooks at adult height, with space below for boots and a bench.
How to mark out your hooks
Mark the height with a pencil, check the line with a spirit level, then mark the position of each hook or fixing hole before drilling.
- Measure the chosen height from the floor and make a small pencil mark.
- Draw a light horizontal line with a spirit level.
- Mark each hook position along the line, or hold the rack in place and mark its fixing holes.
- Check what the wall is made of, and look for hidden pipes and cables.
- Drill and fix with fixings suited to the wall.
On plasterboard, standard wall plugs are not enough: see our guide on how to fix a coat rack to plasterboard.
Mistakes to avoid
The most common mistakes are fixing hooks too low, placing them too close together and forgetting what sits below.
- Hooks too low: long coats trail on the floor or on the bench.
- Hooks too close together: coats bunch up and slide off.
- Forgetting the radiator: coats hanging over a radiator block the heat and can be damaged.
- No hooks for children: their coats end up on the floor.
- Skipping the spirit level: a slightly crooked row is noticeable every day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard height for coat hooks?
There is no official standard in the UK, but 150 to 170 cm from the floor is a common guide for adults.
How high should coat hooks be for children?
Around 90 to 110 cm from the floor suits most primary school children. Move the row up as they grow.
How far apart should coat hooks be?
Around 15 to 20 cm apart for coats, and around 10 cm for keys, leads and small bags.
How many coat hooks do I need?
One or two hooks per person, plus one or two spares for guests, bags and leads.
Should coat hooks go above a bench?
Yes, as long as coats hang clear of the seat. Leave around 100 cm between the top of the bench and the hooks.
Can I put coat hooks above a radiator?
It is best avoided: coats block the heat and can be damaged. If there is no other space, leave a clear gap above the radiator.