Depth of workbench, 24 or 36 inches

[Budweiser John]

I find the most convenient arrangement is a wall bench 30" deep and a 4'x8' work table placed about 3' out from the bench. Ninety percent of the work is done on the table and the bench is used as a staging area to put tools, equipment Etc and thus not cluttering up the work top. The work table is fitted with a vice on one corner, plug strip on both long edges, and has access on all four sides.
Arrangement has worked very well for the last 46 years.
B. John

 

[IslandTractor]

If you have the space, I would go with 36". You can always cut it shorter again, but you can't cut it longer. Though, a 30-32" work bench depth appear to be quite common.

Even if you don't use the full depth as work space, it can be used for other purposes. Small container storage, a tool rack, a row of miscellaneous spray cans, etc.

On edit: I see murhp replied while I was typing.

I inherited a 36" wide workbench (six feet long) and I use it exactly as you describe. Most of the active work area is the first 30 inches or so but I can keep some tools and supplies handy at the back (it has a backplate).

 

[CajunRider]

It depends on the main purpose of the work bench. If you are using it as a general purpose work bench 30-32" is fine. If you are using it as a wood working work bench I would recommend 24" for ease of clamping things.

 

[downsizingnow48]

All my built in work benches are 24" for the same reasons others have said. Height is very important too mine are 40-42". Depends on what work you do and your height though.

 

[bcp]

All my built in work benches are 24" for the same reasons others have said. Height is very important too mine are 40-42". Depends on what work you do and your height though.

I've read several times that benches should be arranged so that your hands are working at elbow height.

Bruce

 

[downsizingnow48]

Yep 42 is elbow height so I use that mostly. Use 40 or even 38 if it is a bench where I might want to put some weight on the work.

 

[Deere Dude]

Yep 42 is elbow height so I use that mostly. Use 40 or even 38 if it is a bench where I might want to put some weight on the work.

Anything over 36" high works for me and for the depth I would make it 36". This works for pushing stuff to the back and still make room for working on the front.

We just bought a house and the bathroom vanities were 30" high. Who in the world would make them at that miserable height, midgets? The first thing I did was got new tops and extended the cabinets up a few inched. Make them for what is comfortable.

 

[Teachu2]

Your size matters, in this case. I'm 6'3, and build mine 40" tall and 36" deep. My stepsons can't reach the back wall....they are 5'8 - 5'10. Top 'em with a 36" solid core door blank. I built a 4x8' one as a walk-around back in my r/c model airplane days. It's now used as a shelf - welders under, storage on top.

 

[Looking4new]

Mine is 40" off the floor and 48" deep x 12' long. My 5 tool boxes are on it at the back wall and the hydro is under the front edge.

 

[s219]

I made the wall-mount bench at my last house 40" deep, which was great to push stuff off to the back out of my way. But I could barely reach the peg-board at the rear for tools.

At my new place, I put a 16" deep bench along a 24' wall with pegboard behind it, which is a great bench for tools, toolboxes, etc. The opposite 24' wall has a 24" deep bench and is used for my miter saw and disc/drum sander. Then in the middle of the shop I built a 48"x96" freestanding table that I can walk around, which also serves as the outfeed table for my tablesaw. The table in the middle has been so much better than wall-mount benches in previous shops, and gives a lot of flexibility. I have built stuff as large as 5x10' barn doors on that table, and the ability to walk around it opens up a lot of flexibility. At some point I want to mount jack-up wheels on that table so I can move it out of the way as needed (tablesaw already has wheels like that).