For the average person this distance is the ideal balance.
Average height for wall cabinets.
Most shelf space is located in wall cabinets which typically start at 52 aff so not within reach range.
8 inches in height.
With an upper cabinet mounting height of 54.
Typically wall cabinets are available in 30 36 and 42.
Most people use the 18 inch measurement because of the average human height but you can adjust it as necessary to any cabinet height above counter that better suits your height and personal preference.
Washer dryer pairs average 75 inches tall when stacked leaving just 11 inches of space above them in a room with an 8 foot ceiling.
Your height and reach.
These distances are shown to be ergonomicallypractical for anyone over 4 feet tall and optimal for an average user 5 ft.
You can build your cabinets in any way you see fit hanging your wall cabinets at any height above the countertop to accommodate your custom cabinet plans.
A perfectly level floor is rare so adjustments are part of most jobs.
With the standard upper cabinet 30 inches tall and 12 inches deep a 5 ft.
These cabinets fit between the base cabinets and the ceiling.
Wall cabinet height.
Factor in the height of ceilings and trim when determining cabinet size and position.
The 8 inch user will be able to reach all shelves without a step stool.
If we put a full height pantry we will probably arrive at the same proportion of accessible and non accessible but may have a bit more of the latter so this does not help in the proportion of accessible to non accessible.
Most base cabinets are between 34 1 2 and 35 inches tall without the countertop.
Cabinets are sold in standard heights of 30 36 or 42 inches.
Height tends to be limited since the cabinets need to fit between.
The trade off is that for every inch you raise the cabinets you will have more open space to work in but less storage space at an easily reachable height.
This is also true for islands and peninsulas.
Side by side washer dryer pairs stand 33 inches tall and need another 24 inches of clearance for a top loading washer leaving 39 inches above the washer for a cabinet.