You may not realize at first, but choosing a bookcase requires extra consideration beyond what material and style you like best. Whether you prefer tall, short, wide, or narrow, it's imperative you pick the right bookshelf for your space to ensure a good fit. Let's take a closer look at the different bookcase dimensions and how each size affects their functionality and potential placement in your home.

Before You Begin

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Before making your bookcase purchase, you need to consider what you need it to accomplish. Each of these considerations will affect the bookcase size that will best suit your intended use.

• Use: What you plan on storing on the bookcase can impact the size you’ll need. Will you be storing an extensive book collection or displaying trinkets and decor?

• Location: Same goes for location. Do you have a small space that needs filling or are you in search of a show-stopping centerpiece? Is it for the living room or kid's bedroom?

• Style: Styling a bookcase plays a large role in creating visual harmony. Read How to Style Bookcases for some creative ideas and Bookshelf Ideas for Every Home for inspo on decorating yours.

Bookcase Dimensions

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There are three elements that influence a bookcase's dimensions: height, width, and depth. Each of these factors affects the size and functionality of the shelf, where it can be placed, and what it is best used for.

Bookcase Height

The height of a bookshelf is the vertical measurement from the base to the very top. When shopping, you must take into consideration the height of your ceiling. A good rule of thumb is to keep the bookcase below the midpoint of the ceiling height to maintain a sense of visual balance and keep it proportionate to your room.

Short (Under 36 inches): A short bookcase will work especially well in kids’ bedrooms and classrooms, as it allows them easy access to the shelves without assistance. Small paperbacks fit best on these shelves. You can also place a short bookshelf beneath a window to keep from blocking the light or mount it on the wall to leave room below for other furniture items.

Medium (36 – 84 inches): This more common height will work well in most spaces – whether you use your medium bookcase in your bedroom for your favorite books, in the living room for decor, or home office for files and work paper. A maximum height of 84 inches tall will allow an adult to comfortably reach the shelves without a ladder. If you intend to access your bookcase from a seated position, you want it no higher than 60 inches above the floor. Finally, the lowest shelf should be around 3 to 4 inches from floor to allow for easy access to the bottom shelf

Tall (Over 84 inches): Rooms with high ceilings can more easily accommodate tall bookcases. Since this height does tend to extend beyond normal reach, the higher shelves are best used for displaying decor and other items you don't need to readily access while the lower shelves are good for hardcover and large format books. Etagere and library bookcases offer more decorative and ornate designs that work well for taller measurements, giving them a commandeering presence in your space.

Bookcase Width

This is the horizontal measurement from one side to the other. Since you want to choose a shelf that does not overcrowd the space but rather fits in seamlessly, the width of the bookcase you select is influenced by the size of the room. It is vital to scale the width and height to create the best visual balance and proportion – a taller shelf works with narrow compartments and a short shelf goes better with a wider breadth.

Narrow (Under 20 inches): The best way to prevent overcrowding in a small room is with a narrow bookcase. This is the most space-saving option with many narrow bookcases designed as corner shelves to fit into the 90° slot where the two walls meet. You can place yours in the kitchen to be used as a spice rack, in the bathroom for storing bath products, on a landing near stairs, and almost anywhere with an awkward and hard-to-fill space.

Standard (20 – 50 inches): This is the most common bookcase size you can find and will fit most spaces and applications. If you aren't looking for something with precise measurements and need something to simply do the task – a standard bookcase will do the trick. Don't be fooled though, there are plenty of added extras – drawers for papers and other items, doors to hide the contents out of sight, and adjustable shelves so you can alter the configuration to match your preferences.

Wide (Over 50 inches): A large room with an empty wall would do well with a wide bookshelf. Similarly, low ceilings and wide bookshelves are a good combination. The top of a low and wide shelf also provides a useful surface for placing a television or sound system. Wide shelves are also good for library spaces and displaying extensive collections.

Bookcase Depth

The depth is the measurement from the back to the front of the shelf and directly affects the functionality and aesthetics. While most of the other dimensions impact the room proportions and accessibility, the depth directly determines the size of the items (especially books) that will fit on the shelves.

Shallow (Under 10 inches): This is another good bookcase for a smaller room or space and is best used for small paperback books, children's books, notebooks, trinkets, and little decor items you want to show off. Shallow bookcases are often used in high-traffic areas since they don't jut out too much and block the path or doorway. Many ladder shelves are quite shallow in depth too.

Standard (10 – 20 inches): The bookcase depth is typically standardized at 12 inches, making it suitable for storing a range of items in a variety of locations. General reading books fit well here but as the measurements increase, so can this bookcase size start to fit larger format art and photo essay books.

Deep (Over 20 inches): This is probably one of the more versatile sizes since it allows you to store almost anything you please. While it is a little too deep for many smaller books, large format and hardcover books will fit just fine. Cube bookcases in particular provide multiple compartments that can be used to house music records, record players, and other electronics. Storage bins will fit the deep shelves, giving you the chance to stash clothes and other items you want out of sight. A deep shelf can also work in the kitchen for both cookbooks and small kitchen appliances too.

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With these bookcase dimensions, you are now better equipped to select the one that will fit your space and perfectly store whatever you need.