At what height should you fix a coat rack or hook?

No standard sets the height of a coat rack at home: the figures below are usage benchmarks, named as such, and the dimensions found in the model titles of our coat rack collection.

Coat rack height

The usage benchmark places the hooks between 160 and 180 cm from the floor for adults: high enough so that a coat doesn't drag, low enough to hang it without standing on tiptoe. The freestanding coat racks in the catalogue confirm the range: out of eleven models whose title gives the height, it goes from 158 to 186 cm, with a median of 175.5 cm (Hartô Ambroise 158 cm, Metallbude Charles 169 cm, Zuiver Jason 174.5 cm, Ethnicraft PI 184 cm, Karup Design Keeper 186 cm).

Wall coat rack height

For a wall coat rack, measure at hook level, not at the support. The method comes down to an addition: length of the longest coat in the house, including the hook, plus what's underneath (the floor, a bench, a shoe cabinet), plus a few centimetres of margin. Above a 45 cm bench, this almost always leads to 170 to 180 cm. For short jackets and bags, 160 cm is enough.

Hook height

An isolated hook follows the same rule as the coat rack: 160 to 180 cm for a coat. For a bag, a hat or a bunch of keys, go down to 140 to 160 cm, within arm's reach without raising your arm. A series of hooks can also play with multiple heights, as do Muuto's The Dots, which are arranged in a cloud pattern on the wall.

Bathroom hook height

In a bathroom, the height depends on the linen. Usage benchmark: 160 to 170 cm for a bathrobe or bath towel, which mustn't touch the floor or the edge of the bath; 110 to 130 cm for a hand towel, within reach from the washbasin. Place the hook out of direct spray from the shower.

Wall coat rack dimensions

The length of a wall coat rack is calculated from the number of hooks: allow 15 to 20 cm per hook for adult coats. The models in the catalogue range from 40 cm (Hübsch Cosplay, Form & Refine Echo) to 123 cm (String Relief). Above a bench, align the coat rack with the length of the bench or stay slightly set back on each side. Individual wall hooks are gathered in the wall hook collection.

The wall-mounted coat rack

A bar or board that holds several hooks: this is the most legible solution in an entrance hall, because it aligns everything at the same height. Some models add a shelf for hats and keys, such as the Hübsch coat rack with shelf and seven hooks (80 x 12 cm) or the Gazzda coat rack shelves, in 50, 60 and 70 cm. For a large family, String Relief extends to 123 cm.

The hooks

Hooks are mounted one by one: they can be arranged in a line, staggered or in a cluster, and you can add more as the family grows. Their diameter or projection gives an idea of their load capacity: Muuto The Dots range from 2.7 cm for a tea towel to 17 cm for a winter coat, Kartell Jellies from 9.5 to 19 cm. See The Dots hooks.

The freestanding coat rack

It requires no drilling: useful in rented accommodation or against a fragile wall. However, it takes up floor space, 48 x 35 cm for the Hartô Ambroise, 56 cm wide for the Metallbude Charles, and tips over if loaded on one side only: place it in a corner, distribute the coats evenly, and keep the heaviest on the lower hooks. The corner Yamazaki, angled and 160 cm high, leans against both walls.

The clothes rail

For a large family or an entrance hall that serves as a cloakroom, the clothes rail with hangers stores coats without deforming them: HAY Colour Rack at 150 cm, Woud O&O at 159 cm, Karup Design Hongi at 177 cm. It requires 48 to 74 cm of depth depending on the model, far more than a wall-mounted coat rack. See the collection of clothes rails.

How many hooks

Rule of thumb: one hook per household member, plus two for guests and bags. A couple with two children therefore needs six hooks; in winter, when everyone wears a coat and scarf, eight are not excessive. A six-hook coat rack such as Ethnicraft's Utilitile (78 cm) covers this need; beyond that, combine a coat rack with a few individual wall hooks.

What spacing

Leave 15 to 20 cm between two hooks intended for coats: below this, shoulders overlap and you take down two coats to retrieve one. For accessories, 10 cm is sufficient. On a series of wall hooks, align the centres with a chalk line or laser level before drilling.

Wall fixing

A coat rack laden with winter coats pulls hard on its screws. Use fixings suited to the support: plasterboard plugs for a plasterboard wall, nylon plugs for brick or concrete, screws directly into wood for a stud or panelling. On a hollow partition wall, locate a stud for at least one of the screws. Observe the number of fixing points specified by the manufacturer. Models with discreet fixing are in the wall hooks collection.

A child will put things away independently if they can reach the hook without help: the right height is between their shoulders and their raised hand. The ranges below are practical guidelines, to be adjusted to the child's actual height.

Nursery school coat rack height

For a child aged 3 to 6, place the hooks between 80 and 100 cm from the floor. At this height, the hook is at face level for the smallest children: choose hooks with rounded ends and no sharp projections, such as Muuto's The Dots or Nobodinoz's lacquered steel hooks.

Primary school coat rack height

Between 6 and 11 years old, raise to 110 to 130 cm. In a bedroom, a simple solution is to install two rows: one low for now, one higher that will be used in a few years' time, or a wall-mounted coat rack that you move at the same time as the screws.

Nursery coat rack height

Before the age of 3, adults do the hanging: the hooks can remain at adult height, out of reach. If you want the older children to start hanging up their cardigans themselves, lower to 60 to 80 cm, always with rounded hooks.

Coat rack height standard

To our knowledge, no French standard specifies a coat rack height, either at home or at school: the heights chosen in establishments are the responsibility of the fitter and the furniture manufacturer. For collective use, refer to the establishment's specifications. Suitable accessories can be found in the children's bedroom storage collection.

Materials that withstand humidity

Stainless steel (Ferm Living Chanterelle, 6 cm), porcelain (Merigous wall hooks in one, three or four hook versions) and plastic (Kartell Jellies) fear neither steam nor splashes. Solid brass develops a patina over time, which is part of its charm. Oiled wood holds up in a ventilated bathroom, but not in a shower without a window.

Where to place them

One hook per person next to the shower or bath, at 160 to 170 cm, for the bathrobe and bath sheet; one hook near the basin, at 110 to 130 cm, for the hand towel. Behind the door, a row of hooks frees up the walls of a small bathroom. For drying towels flat, a towel rail remains more effective: see the towel rail collection.

Coat rack and bench

The bench is placed under the coat rack, centred on it: you sit down to put on your shoes and stand up facing your coat. The bench is 45 to 48 cm high; above, hooks at 170 to 180 cm allow a long coat to hang without touching the seat. Bench heights and depths are detailed in our bench guide.

A mirror and a console

By the door, a mirror serves to check yourself before going out; our mirror guide gives its hanging height. A narrow console holds keys and post: its dimensions are in our sideboard, chest of drawers and console guide.

How to hide a coat rack

Four solutions, from the simplest to the most radical. Choose a coat rack in the colour of the wall, which disappears when empty. Place it behind the front door or in a recess, out of the line of sight. Keep only the season's coats and store the others. Finally, replace the coat rack with a wardrobe or hallway cabinet. Closed models are in the wardrobe collection, matching benches in the bench collection.

An entrance 110 cm wide, a family of four

Need: six hooks. An 80 cm wall-mounted coat rack with seven hooks and a shelf (Hübsch) fixed at 175 cm, above a narrow 45 cm high bench: long coats remain above the seat, hats go up on the shelf. For children, two The Dots wall hooks at 100 cm beside the bench, allowing them to tidy up themselves.

A rented studio flat, no drilling allowed

A freestanding coat rack 169 to 184 cm tall (Metallbude Charles, Ethnicraft PI) placed in the corner near the door, loaded in a balanced way. In the bathroom, hooks placed on the door or a freestanding towel rack take over.

Oiled wood (oak, ash, walnut): dry cloth, a little oil once a year on hooks that rub. Lacquered steel: damp cloth; a scratch can be touched up with paint. Aluminium and stainless steel: soapy water, dry to avoid limescale marks. Brass: it develops a patina; a brass cleaner will restore its shine if desired. Porcelain and plastic: soapy water. Check the tightening of screws on a heavily loaded coat rack once a year: winter coats eventually loosen a poorly chosen wall plug.

What The Cool Republic orders placed between January and September 2026 show in the Coat racks collection. Shares are counted by number of orders, not quantities, so that a large purchase doesn't weigh more than another.

What's most ordered in 2026

• Colours: black (25%), beige (22%), brown (16%).
• Materials: steel (40%), oak plywood (11%).

Most requested brands

Share of orders: HAY (15%), Hartô (14%), Yamazaki (13%), Ethnicraft Accessories (8%).

Most ordered models since January

• Ambroise natural oak wood wall coat rack, Hartô
• Plane white coat rack, Yamazaki
• Natural concrete coat rack, Bazar Bizar
• Knit caramel steel coat racks, HAY
• L oiled oak storage shelf coat rack, Ferm Living

• Fixing hooks 150 cm above a 45 cm bench: a long coat touches the seat; raise them to 170 to 180 cm.
• Plan as many hooks as people: in winter and with guests, you're two short; count one per person, plus two.
• Spacing hooks every 8 to 10 cm for coats: shoulders overlap; keep 15 to 20 cm apart.
• Screwing a loaded coat rack into plasterboard with nylon plugs: use expansion anchors or fix to a stud.
• Installing pointed hooks at 90 cm in a child's bedroom: that's face height; choose hooks with rounded ends.
• Loading a freestanding coat rack on one side only: it tips over; distribute coats evenly and place it in a corner.