Tips for how to select a pot rack and how to hang a pot rack

Hanging pot racks most commonly go over kitchen islands or peninsulas. Other common places are over a sink or counter. Select a size that you are comfortable with taking into consideration your ceiling height. For example, if you have an 8’ ceiling height you don’t want to choose a 20 inch high pot rack because it will hang to low. It’s also a good idea to have at least six inches of clearance on all sides of your countertop so that you’re not bumping into pots and pans but you can still reach in comfortably to remove them. Pot racks do not have to actually hang over anything, although a higher ceiling may be needed in order to ensure adequate clearance of racks in the open. Wall mounted pot racks are terrific between cabinets or below a cabinet. Single beam pot racks and utensil bars are often mounted over stoves or on top of open space where utensils or pots can hang.

Helpful tips for how to hang a pot rack from: www.ironstoneimports.com

Before you begin, always take into consideration that the mounting brackets or ceiling hooks must be mounted securely into the ceiling joists (solid wood). They are generally 16 inches apart but you will need to locate them for the installation. A stud finder is a good tool to help locate the ceiling joists. If you are not very handy, we recommend hiring an experienced handyman or professional carpenter for the installation.

Some pot racks are designed to be hung from just two ceiling hooks and others from four ceiling hooks. If your pot rack is designed to be hung from four ceiling hooks you can always hang it from just two by bringing the extenders or chain toward each other (if your ceiling height permits). Determine what look you want and what your options are after you’ve located the ceiling joists.

You need to know the following:
1) The height of your ceiling.
2) The height of your pot rack measured from the bottom of the pot hook to the mounting point(s) of your pot rack.
3) Your counter or island height (generally 36 inches).
4) The height of the chefs.

As a general rule, a good height for a pot rack that will hang over an island is between 40 inches to 48 inches measured from the countertop to the bottom of the pot rack hook (adjust accordingly up or down for the height of the chef). Remember, it's not necessary to be able to reach the pot hooks on your pot rack. You only need to reach the bottom of the pan to lift it off of the hook.

Example: The ceiling height of your kitchen is 9’ or 108 inches. The pot rack you selected is 12 inches high and your countertop is 36 inches high. Subtract the pot rack height (12”) and the countertop height (36”) from the ceiling height (108”). This will leave 60 inches between the countertop and the bottom of the pot rack hook. Now subtract approximately 2 inches for the ceiling hooks. This now leaves 58 inches. If you want your pot rack to hang at 46 inches between the countertop and the bottom of the pot rack hook, you’ll need to add 12 inch extenders or chain. It may be necessary to move your extenders or chain out to where your ceiling brackets or ceiling hooks are mounted so you will need to adjust the length accordingly for your pot rack to hang at the proper height.