While pot racks generally are hung over kitchen islands or peninsulas, some designs work equally well over a sink or counter. Kitchen pot racks do not have to actually hang over anything, but if out in the open, you may need to have a higher ceiling to ensure adequate clearance. Wall pot racks work wonderfully in odd areas around cabinets, and in kitchen areas that are too small for an island or hanging rack.





How do I select a hanging pot rack that will work in my home? The best height for the hanging pot rack is approximately 42” above the counter space below. It should be low enough so you can easily move a pan on or off by merely extending an arm but high enough so the rack and pans aren't an obstruction. When determining this ideal height, consider the sizes of the objects you plan to hang. You need to know the following measurements:

A) The height of your ceiling; and
B) The height of the person using the rack and what a comfortable reach is for them.

With this information we can figure an approximate height at which the bottom of the pot rack needs to hang.

Example: We will assume that you are a 5'4" (64”) person. A comfortable reach is typically 6 – 10 inches, so we will add 6” to your height, 64”+ 6” = 70”. This is your reaching height.

Next we figure how much room is normally used for pots & pans? A small, 2-cup pot is about 8" long; a 12" skillet (with handle) is about 21" long so a general rule would be that your pots need to hang at least 8 inches below the bottom of the pot rack for them to be in reach.

So, we add the 8” for pots and pans to your reaching height of 70” and this gives us an 78” height for the bottom of your pot rack.

Assuming your ceiling height is 10’ or (120”), we subtract the 78” and this would give you a 42” area in which to fit your pot rack.

Calculating the rack measurements: Now you need to find a pot rack you like. For our example lets say that you want the oval iron pot rack, that is 18" high. Subtract the 18" for the height of the pot rack from the 42” area you have available and this would give you 24" left over. So you would need to hang the top of the rack @ 24" below the ceiling.

Important note: Suppose the rack is hanging over a kitchen island. In this case you need to reach not only up, but in. You need six inches of clearance on all sides, so you'll need to add to the distance down you need your pots to hang for you to reach them.

MOUNTING: Your pot rack needs to be mounted into solid wood. If your joist runs parallel with the rack, you can mount it by drilling two holes in the same joist. If your joists are perpendicular, however, then you need to find another way to hang it. The easiest way to solve this problem is to use a ceiling plate. A ceiling plate has two eye bolts. They are attached to a plate that has holes drilled in it at the distance apart that your joists are. The ceiling plate is mounted into the ceiling, and the rack hangs from the plate.

Can I make adjustments if my rack is not a perfect fit? A different problem would be having a ceiling that hangs with your pots out of reach (too high) or one where the pots are in your way (too low). Pot racks are generally designed for a 9 foot ceiling. If your ceiling is lower than this, a low-ceiling rack is your best option. They measure 4" and up in height. If your ceiling is higher than this, the rack will need to be lowered. There are two options for this. One is with chain. The advantage with chain is it is flexible; if you are off in your measurement, you can simply take it up a link to make the chain shorter. The other option is extension hooks, which come in different lengths.

Please note that on some pot racks, chain and extension hooks are considered accessories and need to be added to your purchase.

View our wonderful selection of wrought iron pot racks.