{"id":2247,"date":"2021-07-10T09:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-10T13:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=2247"},"modified":"2024-03-15T12:59:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T16:59:14","slug":"minimum-space-around-kitchen-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/minimum-space-around-kitchen-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimum Space Requirements Around A Kitchen Island (With Examples!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Islands are incredible multi-purpose features that are a popular choice for any modern kitchen. But they do require space. So, if you\u2019re looking to add this iconic feature to your new-look kitchen, how much room do you need to build a kitchen island?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While kitchen islands can be smaller, the minimum base size is 24 inches wide by 40 inches long<\/strong> (32 inches by 48 inches including seating). In addition, there should be a minimum of 36 inches of clearance between the island and other cabinets\/objects. This means your kitchen needs to be at least 9 feet wide by 10 feet long to accommodate a small, but still practical island. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n There\u2019s no doubt that islands can be excellent additions to kitchens, but the great tragedy is that not every kitchen is big enough for an island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without enough space to move around, an island can make your kitchen feel claustrophobic, and even if you opt for a smaller island, it may end up being so small that it doesn\u2019t serve the practical purpose that it\u2019s intended to. So, read on to find out how to determine if your kitchen is big enough for an island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the average kitchen island will only take up about 40 by 80 inches of actual floor space, you want to have enough room to move around the kitchen, particularly if many people live in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the kitchen is such a central, commonly used room for everyone in the house, an island can make your once cozy space feel very, very cramped. The general rule of thumb is that your kitchen island should take up somewhere between a tenth and a fourteenth of your overall floor space.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, if you want to construct an average-sized island of 40 by 80 inches, your kitchen\u2019s size needs to be at least 220 square feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the standard dimensions along with picture examples to help you plan out the perfect kitchen island size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n Since the standard width for a base cabinet is 24 inches wide, the minimum width your kitchen island can be is 24 inches (and there will be no seating on that side because there will be no overhang).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The length of your island can be completely customized to your space, however, because you can combine any number of different width base cabinets to come up with the perfect length for your space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, our kitchen is 12 ft wide by 13 ft long, so we made our kitchen island 78 inches long. (It is made up of an 18-inch trash can base cabinet, a 36-inch base cabinet, a 12-inch standard base cabinet, and a 12-inch overhang.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If our kitchen was a foot shorter, we would have left out the 12-inch standard base cabinet to make it fit the space we had.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kitchen islands are best suited for kitchens that are open on 2 sides. (In the pictures above, I’m assuming the left and bottom are “open” to the living room and\/or dining room.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if your kitchen has cabinets on three sides (or a wall\/obstacle on the third side), it is much harder to fit a kitchen island because there is not enough space for there to be a good walkway around the island.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your kitchen is big enough, though, you can fit an island that is longer and has the seating only on one end with legs to support it. With this type of island, the overhang is much longer (usually 24 inches) and must be supported by legs. <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While this option isn’t typical, it just goes to show that you can customize an island any way you want to make it best fit your kitchen and functionality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now let’s talk about minimum space for seating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common dimension used for kitchen islands is 80 inches long by 40 inches wide, with a standard height of 36 inches (or 42 inches for an island with a bar top).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The minimum recommended clearance between an island and other objects is between 36 and 42 inches. This will allow for plenty of room to move around. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, a good rule of thumb to go by with seating is to allow 24 inches of space per person.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we discussed above, if there isn’t enough room for the island, the seating, and the clearance space, then there is not enough room in your kitchen for an island.<\/p>\n\n\nQuick Navigation: Ultimate Kitchen Island Sizing Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How Much Room Do You Need For A Kitchen Island?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Standard Kitchen Island Sizes<\/strong><\/th> Dimensions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Minimum aisleway around the island<\/td> 36 inches<\/td><\/tr> Minimum countertop depth for seating (overhang)<\/td> 8 inches<\/td><\/tr> Minimum distance between refrigerator and island<\/td> 36 inches<\/td><\/tr> Average width for a kitchen island<\/td> 40 inches<\/td><\/tr> Average kitchen island size for 10×10 kitchen<\/td> 36 inches wide x 40 inches long<\/td><\/tr> Average kitchen island size for 12×12 kitchen<\/td> 42 inches wide x 48 inches long<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What Is The Standard Size Of A Kitchen Island With Seating?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Standard Kitchen Island Seating Sizes<\/strong><\/th> Recommended Island Dimensions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> kitchen island size for six stools<\/td> 144 inches long (or 120 inches long for 5 seats with one seat on the end)<\/td><\/tr> kitchen island size for five stools<\/td> 120 inches long (or 96 inches long for 4 seats with one seat on the end)<\/td><\/tr> kitchen island size for four stools<\/td> 96 inches long (or 72 inches long for 3 seats with one seat on the end)<\/td><\/tr> kitchen island size for three stools<\/td> 72 inches long (or 48 inches long for 2 seats with one seat on the end)<\/td><\/tr> kitchen island size for two stools<\/td> 48 inches long<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n