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Kitchen Backsplash Height: Short, Up to the Cabinets or All the Way Up?

The backsplash is the wall area above the countertop covered with a waterproof material. The covering protects kitchen walls from moisture and grease from the sink and the range. But what’s the best height for it?

The walls where you will be placing cabinets, appliances or furniture can be painted with acrylic paint (which resists moisture better than latex), but you can use the same material as the backsplash to cover all the walls if you prefer.

In case you paint some of the walls, you’ll need a baseboard, which can follow the same material as the flooring.

Let’s see some examples of kitchens with different choices of backsplash heights, pros ans cons of each and how the cabinets impact on the tiled areas.

Short backsplash

All the walls in the kitchen are painted, and just above the countertop there is a short backsplash, usually in the same material as the countertop.

The backsplash should be at least 25 cm / 1 ft tall in order to protect enough the wall. But you can make it taller if you prefer. Taller backsplashes give the kitchen a fancier look (like the first photo above).

Backsplash up to upper cabinets or shelves

In kitchens that have cabinets or shelves above the countertop, it looks good to cover the whole area between them and the countertop.

Again, you can cover the walls above the countertop only. The rest of the kitchen walls can be painted in white.

In small kitchens, the cabinets over the countertop are usually needed. So this is how far up the tiles most commonly go in apartments and small houses.

The limited coated area is an opportunity to choose any covering you like.

First because even if the material is more expensive, the total price won’t heavily increase your budget.

Second because even if it’s colorful or patterned, it won’t be too much information, as it would on a larger wall area.

Kitchen backsplash from countertop to ceiling

Also here, only the walls above the countertops are covered with tiles and the rest painted in white. But as the tiles continue over the shelves, the covered areas are larger.

Tiles on all kitchen walls

Tiles on all kitchen walls make it a large coated area. If this is your choice, watch out for the tile price. The total will have a heavier impact in your budget.

As the other options, you don’t need to cover the walls behind cabinets and appliances. Depending on your layout, this may significantly reduce the tile area and price.

Once you decide your kitchen backsplash height, it’s time to pick the right material.

This article will help you decide if the backsplash should be the same material as the countertop or a different one.

Also check out our articles on types of tiles and other material options for kitchen walls instead of tiles.