Living Room Open Floor Plan
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Key Takeaways

  • Check local zoning laws and building requirements
  • Smaller, private spaces may suit standard height; larger, communal areas often benefit from higher ceilings.
  • Standard house lot sizes vary depending on the area, whether urban, suburban, or rural
  • Match the ceiling height proportionally to the floor space for the best visual outcome.
  • Standard ceiling height requirements in Ontario vary based on the room
  • Vaulted or cathedral ceilings offer a dramatic look but come with trade-offs.
  • Homeowners value 10ft high ceilings on the main floor, 9ft high on the upper floor and 8ft for basements
  • If your ceiling is too low, you can remodel to raise it or use design ideas to make the ceiling appear higher.
  • When choosing the right ceiling height for your home, consider pros and cons, room function, room size, and style.
  • Any ceiling alterations must meet OBC requirements and may require permits.
  • Before modifying ceiling height, check structural implications since ceilings affect framing, HVAC, plumbing, and wiring.

Anytime you are remodeling a home in Ontario or building a new one, it’s important that you know key dimension specifications that your home must comply with so it is built to code. Ceiling height is one of those measurements that should never be an afterthought. If the ceilings in your home do not meet the minimum required height, you may face legal, safety, and financial penalties.

In this blog, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about ceiling height requirements in Ontario, why ceilings are such a key element to consider when building or remodeling, and what you can do if your ceiling is too low.

Why is a Ceiling Height Important?

When people think about how high they want their ceilings to be, they’re usually thinking more about appeal. The height of your ceiling is not just an aesthetic preference. Although it plays a big part in how a room looks, it also plays a fundamental role in the structural design, safety, and functional aspects of a home. This is why the height of ceilings in homes is such a big deal. The minimum height requirement for homes in an area is stated in local building codes and sometimes affects zoning restrictions, particularly for two-story homes. In Ontario, all homes must meet the ceiling requirements listed in the Ontario Building Code for a safe and habitable home.

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Standard Ceiling Heights for Different Rooms

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The Ontario Building Code has minimum requirements for designated areas in a home, including ceiling height, which varies based on the room type.

The ceilings in these rooms must be 2300 mm (2.3 metres or 7 feet 6.5 inches) for at least 75% of the required floor area and at least 2100 mm (2.1 metres or 6 feet 10.5 inches) at any point in the room.

These rooms have a minimum ceiling height of 2300 mm (2.3 metres or 7 feet 6.5 inches)  in at least 50% of the required area or 2100 mm (2.1 metres or 6 feet 10.5 inches) in any area of the bedroom. If any area in the bedroom is less than 1400 mm (4 feet 7 inches) in height, it will not be considered part of the required area.

The minimum height requirement for ceilings in bathrooms or laundry rooms is 2100 mm (2.1 metres or 6 feet 10.5 inches) in any area of the room that would typically require a person to stand.

If you are finishing a basement or building a new home with a basement, your basement will need to have a minimum ceiling height of 1950 mm (1.95 metres or 6 feet 5 inches).

The minimum height for these particular areas in your home is 2100 mm (2.1 metres or 6 feet 10.5 inches).

Choosing the Right Ceiling Height

Now that you know the minimum requirements for ceilings in different areas of a house, the next question we should explore is: how tall should your ceilings be? Remember, the minimal height requirements don’t mean that your ceilings can’t be any higher, they just can’t be any lower. You are free to have higher ceilings if zoning permits.

When deciding the most appropriate ceiling height for a room, here’s what you should consider:

 The Purpose of the Room

Rooms like bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens don’t necessarily benefit much from higher ceilings. These rooms tend to be cozy, intimate spaces, and anything higher than normal ceiling height can take away that sentiment. So if you are building a home, you may want to consider going with the standard ceiling height for these rooms.

For living rooms and dining rooms, you may want a taller ceiling to accommodate the architectural style and the overall look of the home. If you plan on installing large windows in your living room, we recommend going with a higher ceiling to accommodate the windows.

Entryways are another popular area for higher ceilings where decorative elements like a chandelier can be installed for dramatic effect and appeal. If you have a home gym, a higher ceiling may be a great idea so you can fit taller equipment and have more headroom.

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The Size of the Room

The size of the room should be a factor in deciding the height of your ceilings. Generally, rooms that are small in size tend to look old and outdated if they have high ceilings. Conversely, a large room with low ceilings makes the space look tiny and confined. For small rooms like bedrooms and bathrooms, we recommend a standard ceiling, and a higher ceiling for larger rooms.

Ceiling Style

The architectural style and overall design of your home will affect the ceiling type and height. For example, if you have a coffered or flat ceiling, it will be standard height. Vaulted ceilings or cathedral ceilings are two types of ceiling styles that make a room feel and look more spacious because they extend upwards towards the roof line, giving a dramatic look. Cathedral ceiling height can be anywhere from 12 to 20 feet.

 Measuring Ceiling Heights


The easiest way to measure the height of a ceiling is to use a tape measure and place one end on the floor and extend it to the ceiling. This will accurately tell you how high your ceiling height is. If you have a high ceiling like a cathedral ceiling, you will need to take additional measurements and add them together to get the total ceiling height. Some smartphone apps can be used to measure ceilings, however, you may get inconsistent measurements across the different apps.

Pros and Cons of High Ceilings

As with anything, there are both benefits and drawbacks to choosing high ceilings.

Pros:

  • More spacious and open concept design – Rooms with high ceilings feel larger and more luxurious. They also create a more open concept.
  • More natural light – Sunlight can lift the mood of a room. A higher ceiling allows you to install larger windows, making the place look brighter and connecting you to the outdoors.
  • Design aesthetic – Ceilings that ascend into the roofline allow you to install chandeliers or decorative beams that can increase the value of your home and show off your home’s design.
  • Better air circulation – The higher a ceiling is, the more room air has to circulate, which leads to better ventilation and allows you to install ceiling fans or vents.

Cons:

  • Higher construction cost – Higher ceilings require more labour and materials, and will require additional equipment to paint higher areas or install light fixtures. Even when it comes to maintenance, changing lightbulbs and other lighting fixtures, and dusting are more difficult to do with higher ceilings.
  • Reduced energy efficiency – The greater the floor-to-ceiling height is, the more air there will be that needs to be either heated during the winter or cooled during the summer. This can translate to higher utility bills.
  • Sound concerns – Sound carries more easily with high ceilings, particularly if you’re home is an open concept design. To combat this, you may need to soundproof your home.
  • Design challenges – Sometimes rooms with high ceilings can feel empty and need to be decorated in a specific way to balance the openness so it is not too overwhelming. If you’re going for a cozy, intimate feel, it is hard to do that with high ceilings.

What to Do if a Ceiling is Too Low

If you already have an existing home and feel that the ceilings, even though they are standard height, are too low for your liking, there are some things you can do about it. You can remodel your home to raise the ceiling. If you have an attic, you can extend the ceiling into it and have a vaulted ceiling or cathedral ceiling, or you can remove the drywall ceiling so that the joists are exposed.

Another option is to explore ways to make the space feel bigger without actually raising the ceiling. You can use some decorative ideas to make the ceiling appear taller. For example, installing tall mirrors or using the same colour paint for the walls and ceiling.

Altering Ceiling Height

Modifying the height of your ceiling can have a profound impact on the structure and appearance of your home. Although it can be done, there are some things to consider before doing so.

  • Structural impact – Since ceilings are load-bearing elements of a home and are used to conceal beams or joists, modifying your ceiling height will have implications on the structural integrity of your home. It may also affect your HVAC ducts, plumbing, and electrical wiring, requiring them to be modified or moved.
  • Building code compliance – This is specifically in the case of lowering ceilings. Always make sure that your modifications comply with the Ontario Building Code. You’ll also need to ensure that you have a building permit and that inspections are done.
  • Costs – Raising a ceiling generally requires removing certain structural elements of the home, rebuilding the framing, which can be quite costly. You also need to think about the cost of modifying your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical components, and installing new finishes to your ceiling and painting.

Final Thoughts

When you’re planning your home renovation or custom home, the sky’s the limit at NICK’s Developments. Tell us your wishlist, what matters most and we’ll provide you with ideas and designs with floor plans that embody more than the standard ceiling height. Need a foyer that is open to above or a library in the front of the house with cathedral ceilings? Book your discovery consultation and we’ll make it happen.

FAQs

Generally, you can finish a basement that has low ceilings, although you will need to have your contractor lower your basement floor to meet the minimum ceiling requirement of 1.95 metres. The only exception is for ceiling areas in your basement that have obstructions like beams or ducts. However, these areas still need to be at least 1.9 metres in height. Lowering a basement involves digging into the basement foundation and creating additional space. By lowering the floor, you’ll create more space between the floor and the ceiling.

Yes. Homes with higher ceilings tend to have a higher resale value because they are considered more luxurious, and they make rooms look and feel more spacious. Many buyers love high ceilings and typically search for:

  • 9ft to 10ft high main floor
  • 9 ft high upper floors
  • 8 ft to 9 ft high basements

Having low ceilings is often associated with older homes and can make rooms look crammed, which can deter potential buyers. However, implementing some creative design ideas can make rooms with low ceilings more appealing.

Generally, yes. You will need a building permit to adjust the ceiling height of a room, particularly because the ceiling is considered a load-bearing element of the home. Since most ceiling modifications involve a structural change, you will require a permit.

The size of the room, type of ceiling, material and labour requirements, and whether structural modifications will be made are factors that will affect the cost of raising a ceiling.