Appropriate Table Height

Standard table height which right around 30 inches. Not bad for adults good for kids.
David

I made mine 43" - I think it is a perfect layout height for me.  The benchtop and the lowest level of track are at that height.  Partly this was choice:  I had built an earlier N guage layout at 36" and felt that was not high enough for me.  43" has worked out to be ideal for me.  It's up high and visible and the highest level of several track levels is at about 55" or just nicely below eye level  . . . 

And partly 43" was necessity.  I built my current O-guage layout on top of my N gauge layout which varied from 36 to 47".  I didn't want to spend weeks tearing it up so I just mashed down some scenery, moved "up" by a bit over 7 inches (building support columns and posts throughout, every 12", then put a new benchtop over that, boxed in the sides, and filled the interior with insulation and expanding insulation foam to quiet the noise. 

At 43" nominal height small and even some medium size kids definitely can't see much.  But right now my grandkids have to be held when watching the trains and it doesn't matter.  I've designed an eight-foot long "viewing aisle" in the middle of the U on my layout (trains run on both sides) that will fold out, raising the floor by 16" - then fold away completely out of the way under the skirt when no kids are around.  I'll build that next year or so, since soon at least one will be too big to hold.

Mine is 37" perfect for me to get under the table.

Mine is 50", perfect for my 6'2" frame, to get under when I have to.

Our museum has a stack of inexpensive plastic step stools at the door for the little kids to stand on so they can see. I think our layouts are around 42", if I remember correctly. My home layout is at 35", mainly so it is below the window sill. 

My garage layout was 48" high, my current inside layout is 36".

I found there was not much benefit using the 48" height when having to get under the layout because I wear bifocals.  At 48" I had to constantly move my head up and down to see what I was doing.  The 36" height allows me to lay on the carpeted floor and reach the underside of the layout when I need to.

The good thing of using 48" is less waste of material if you buy 8' boards cut in 4' sections.

At 36" high I can reach all my track (the layout is 24" to 36" wide), I had to have an access hole to reach part of my 48" garage layout.

My main level is at 40 1/2" and the upper level is 48 1/2", which has worked out very well. I think it is a good compromise heighth.

Art

Find a height for kids where they can view everything, while they will not be able to reach across to distrupt the operation of trains and pick-up items.

Andrew

You might consider putting the height at 24" or 30" but also placing a transparent flexiglass "wall" around the layout.

George

My table is at 45". I don't want to have to bend to do track and scenery work. It also allows me to work under the table pretty easy on a rolling mechanic's chair. 

A tall table makes it hard for a little kid to look at the trains, but a stool or a captain's chair is an easy solution.

For your situation, 30" - 35" should work fine.

I completely agree with this. 

I think its probably somewhere in the 40-42" range, although a rogue step stool will foil that plan in a hurry.

If you plan on putting plexiglass in front of it, then you can go a little lower. Even at 40" I'd use plexiglass that was at least the height of the trains. 

All sorts of people go to public events, and not all of them are going to be respectful of your stuff, what it costs, or the effort you put into it.

I have a table for my grandchildren that is 30" high. Somewhat difficult to work under but great for them. BTW, I believe post-war American Flyer generally recommended that height. My main table is 37" high.

The problem with step stools is that you have to move them. and if you invite a bunch of children over, you have to have enough of them.

Gerry

Thanks for all of your input.

X2000