Ceilings dictate the look and feel of a room.

But whats the standard ceiling height, and whats exceptional?

Open and spacious with tall ceilings will often mean a grander, more expensive home with higher utility bills.

Swiss Chalet

Credit: Andreas von Einsiedel / Getty Images

Its still8 feet, although its increasingly common to see 9-foot ceilings.

Terrell-Mazan says a return to energy consciousness might lead to lower ceilings again.

Ceiling heights and designs are also influenced by the region and era during which a home was built.

Any ceiling over 10 feet is considered a high ceiling, Shipp says.

Sometimes ceiling height can vary within one home to make some rooms seem cozier or more grand.

the second story is often a foot or so shorter than the bottom floor, she adds.

Otherwise, you have to measure for yourself.

Terrell-Mazan carries a tape measure in her car to showings for this very reason.

Most people know their height.

Build a ceiling too high, and youll face a few drawbacks, includingdifficulty cleaninghard-to-reach cobwebs and changing lightbulbs.

A good decorator will haveideas for overcoming this problem.

Also, keep in mind that it can be hard to change a large space with high ceilings.

Terrell-Mazan points out that some buyers might worry about how higher ceilings affect cooling and heating bills.

If thats a concern, ask the seller for copies of their utility bills to get a good read.

Sometimes we will encounter a lower-than-normal ceiling in a basement or an older atypical home construction, Terrell-Mazan says.

In Shipps experience, most buyers prefer a higher ceiling.

Consider a trick of the eye to make your space appear larger for buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

In residential homes, the minimum ceiling height is seven foot tall.

This can cause higher energy bills.

However, since heat rises, these spaces will be harder to heat than to cool.

Higher ceilings can increase the property value of your home because they make rooms feel more spacious.

The extra space also gives you more room to hang decorations along the walls and personalize the area.