Standard Kitchen Window Sizes: Chart in Feet, Inches & cm

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Kitchen Dimensions Guide · 2026

Standard Kitchen Window Sizes: Charts in Feet, Inches & cm, Plus Sink Window Height

Every common kitchen window size in feet, inches, centimetres and millimetres — with the heights that decide them, from the countertop to the ceiling.

Feet, inches & cm Sill & head heights UK & metric
The Short Answer

Standard Kitchen Window Sizes: Chart in Feet, Inches and cm

The most common kitchen window is about 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall — 36 × 36 inches, or 91 × 91 cm — centred over the sink. It is the size that fits between a sill a few inches above the countertop and a window head level with the doors.

That is also a sensible recommended kitchen window size to start from. Kitchen windows are not one fixed size, because where the window sits decides how big it can be. A window over a counter is limited by the counter below and the cabinets either side; a window on an open wall can be much taller. This chart gives the standard kitchen window size for each type, width first and height second.

Window typeWidthHeightIn feetIn cm
Over-sink window30–48 in30–42 in2½–4 ft × 2½–3½ ft76–122 × 76–107 cm
Standard wall window (double-hung)24–36 in36–60 in2–3 ft × 3–5 ft61–91 × 91–152 cm
Small / cottage window18–24 in18–36 in1½–2 ft × 1½–3 ft46–61 × 46–91 cm
Picture / feature window48–96 in36–60 in4–8 ft × 3–5 ft122–244 × 91–152 cm
Garden (box) window36–48 in36–48 in3–4 ft × 3–4 ft91–122 × 91–122 cm
Pass-through / serving window36–60 in24–36 in3–5 ft × 2–3 ft91–152 × 61–91 cm
Backsplash window (counter to cabinets)24–72 in12–18 in2–6 ft × 1–1½ ft61–183 × 30–46 cm

Width × height. Sizes are typical ranges for new windows in North American homes; the metric sizes most of the world builds to are further down.

Heights

Kitchen Window Height: From the Floor, the Counter and the Ceiling

Most confusion about kitchen window height comes from mixing up two numbers: how tall the window is, and how high it is installed. The second one decides the first.

Kitchen window height diagram Elevation of a kitchen sink wall: counter at 36 inches, window sill at 42 inches, upper cabinets from 54 inches, window head at 80 inches and ceiling at 96 inches. Window about 36–38 in tall Ceiling96 in / 244 cm Window head80 in / 203 cm Upper cabinets54 in / 137 cm Window sill42 in / 107 cm Countertop36 in / 91 cm Floor
Typical heights on an 8-foot kitchen wall. Widths are not to scale.
WhatHeight from floorIn feetIn cm
Countertop36 in3 ft91 cm
Standard backsplash (if not full height)4 in above counter—10 cm
Window sill40–42 in3 ft 4 in – 3 ft 6 in102–107 cm
Bottom of upper cabinets54 in4 ft 6 in137 cm
Window head (8 ft ceiling)80 in6 ft 8 in203 cm
Window head (9 ft ceiling)84–96 in7–8 ft213–244 cm
Ceiling96 in8 ft244 cm
The sill sits 4 to 6 inches above the counter. On a standard 36-inch counter that puts the bottom of the window 40 to 42 inches (102–107 cm) above the finished floor, high enough to clear a 4-inch backsplash and keep water and splashes off the sill.
The top lines up with the doors. In a house with 8-foot ceilings, window heads usually sit at 80 inches (6 ft 8 in), the same height as interior doors. From a 42-inch sill to an 80-inch head leaves about 38 inches, which is why 36-inch-tall windows are the everyday kitchen size and the average kitchen window height. With 9-foot ceilings, heads are often raised to 84 inches or more, and taller windows fit.
Windows that go right to the counter. For a full-height look, the sill can drop to the countertop itself, with the glass starting about 1 inch above it and no backsplash below. It needs a water-resistant sill, usually the same stone as the counter, and a window that can take the odd splash.
Over the Sink

Kitchen Window Over the Sink: Size, Height and Width

The window over the kitchen sink is the one most people are measuring for. Make it at least as wide as the sink and centre it on the faucet, not on the wall — a window a few inches off the tap looks wrong from every angle.

SinkWindow widthIn feetGood window types
24 in bar or prep sink24–30 in2–2½ ftSingle casement or awning
30 in single sink30–36 in2½–3 ftCasement, awning or small slider
33 in double sink36–48 in3–4 ftSlider, twin casements or a garden window
36 in sink36–48 in3–4 ftSlider, twin casements or a garden window
42–48 in sink or long run48–72 in4–6 ftTwin or triple window, picture centre with casements

A typical over-the-sink window is 36 to 42 inches tall. For bowl sizes, see our guide to the standard double bowl kitchen sink size.

Standard sink window height. The sill goes 40 to 42 inches from the floor, or 4 to 6 inches above the counter; in metric, about 100–110 cm from the floor. Check that a tall pull-down faucet does not block the crank or lock of a window that opens.
Pick a window you can open over the sink. Reaching across a sink to lift a double-hung sash is awkward. Casement and awning windows with a crank, or a slider, are far easier over a sink. A garden window, which projects about a foot outside, adds a sunny shelf for herbs.
How big can a window over a sink be? As wide as the run of wall between the upper cabinets, and as tall as the sill-to-head space allows. A triple (3-panel) window — a fixed centre with a casement on each side — is the usual way to fill 6 feet or more. No window at all? See our kitchen sink decor ideas without a window.
Size Codes

Window Size Codes: What 3030, 3040 and 4030 Mean

Window makers and building plans often use a four-digit code instead of inches. The first two digits are the width in feet and inches, the last two the height: a 3040 is 3 ft 0 in wide by 4 ft 0 in tall, or 36 × 48 inches. It is the quickest way to answer “what is a standard kitchen window size in feet?”

CodeWidth × heightIn feetIn cm
203024 × 36 in2 × 3 ft61 × 91 cm
204024 × 48 in2 × 4 ft61 × 122 cm
303036 × 36 in3 × 3 ft91 × 91 cm
304036 × 48 in3 × 4 ft91 × 122 cm
305036 × 60 in3 × 5 ft91 × 152 cm
403048 × 36 in4 × 3 ft122 × 91 cm
404048 × 48 in4 × 4 ft122 × 122 cm
503060 × 36 in5 × 3 ft152 × 91 cm
603072 × 36 in6 × 3 ft183 × 91 cm
Rough opening vs window size. The code usually describes the rough opening in the wall. The window itself is typically about ½ inch smaller in each direction so it can be levelled and shimmed: a 45 × 45 in opening takes a window of about 44½ × 44½ in. Brands such as Andersen and Pella use their own naming, so always check the maker’s size chart before you order.
Window styles and their usual kitchen sizes. Casements are narrow and tall (18–36 in wide); awnings are wide and short (24–48 in wide, 18–36 in tall) and suit backsplash strips; horizontal sliders suit wide openings (36–72 in); double-hung windows are 24–36 in wide on open walls; picture windows are fixed and can be as large as the wall allows.
Double, triple, corner and ribbon windows. Two or three units joined (“mulled”) together cover long runs; a ribbon window is a long, low row, often 12–24 in tall, run above the counter or cabinets. Corner windows need the cabinets planned around them — see our corner kitchen cabinet dimensions.
Pass-Through

Pass-Through and Serving Window Dimensions

A pass-through, service or serving window links the kitchen to a dining or living area. Its bottom edge sets everything: at counter height it doubles as a serving ledge; raised to bar height, it hides kitchen mess.

Typical size. 36 to 60 inches wide and 24 to 36 inches tall (91–152 × 61–91 cm). Wide enough to pass a tray through, and tall enough to see across without the opening swallowing the wall.
Sill height. At countertop height, 36 in (91 cm), the kitchen counter runs straight through. For a raised ledge that screens the kitchen, 42 in (107 cm). A ledge or shelf on the dining side is usually 10–12 in (25–30 cm) deep.
Restaurant and café pass windows are wider, commonly 4 to 6 feet, so several plates can wait at once. An opening in a load-bearing wall needs a properly sized header above it.
UK & Metric

UK and Metric Kitchen Window Sizes (mm, cm and m)

Most of the world, including the UK, South Africa, India, Australia and the Caribbean, builds in metric. The logic is the same — a worktop, a sill a little above it, and a head at door height — with rounder numbers.

WhatIn mmIn cm
Worktop height900–920 mm90–92 cm
Window sill above the floor1,000–1,100 mm100–110 cm
Sill with a tall splashback or tap1,200–1,300 mm120–130 cm
Window head (door height)2,100 mm210 cm
Over-sink window height900–1,050 mm90–105 cm
Over-sink window width900–1,200 mm90–120 cm
Standard kitchen window size in metric. An over-sink window of about 1,200 mm wide by 1,050 mm tall (1.2 × 1.05 m) is typical, with the sill 1.0–1.1 m above the floor. UK window makers commonly list widths such as 630, 915, 1,200 and 1,770 mm and heights of 900, 1,050 and 1,200 mm.
Sill at 1.2 or 1.3 m? A sill 120–130 cm above the finished floor leaves a deeper splashback below it, which suits tall taps, a shelf under the window or a window that needs privacy from the street. It also means a shorter window, around 800–900 mm, under a 2.1 m head.
Measuring

How to Measure a Kitchen Window

Measure the rough opening or the inside of the existing frame, not the glass. Glass is always smaller than the window, and ordering to the glass size is the classic expensive mistake.

  1. Width: measure inside the frame at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest.
  2. Height: measure at the left, centre and right, and again use the smallest.
  3. Square: measure both diagonals. If they differ by more than about ¼ inch, the opening is out of square and the installer needs to know.
  4. Placement: note the sill height from the finished floor and from the countertop.
  5. Record both units if you are ordering from a metric maker, and write down which measurement is which.
RockSeed blue handheld laser distance measure with backlit screen
Measuring Pick

RockSeed Laser Distance Measure

★★★★ 4.4 (22,458 reviews · #1 Best Seller in Laser Distance Meters)
  • ±1/16 in accuracy
  • 165 ft range
  • Feet, inches & metres
  • Area & volume
  • $

A laser measure turns window measuring into a one-person job: switch between feet, inches and metres, and it also works out area, handy for the 8% glazing rule below. Two bubble levels help you measure straight, the backlit screen stores 20 readings, and it is splash-resistant to IP54.

Heads up: a laser is ideal for heights and room sizes; for the inside of a window frame, a tape measure is still simpler.
Check RockSeed Laser Measure Price on Amazon
The Rules

Minimum Size, Building Codes and Where Not to Put a Window

How much window a kitchen needs. In the US, the International Residential Code asks habitable rooms, kitchens included, for glazing of at least 8% of the floor area, with 4% openable for ventilation. A 10 × 12 ft kitchen (120 sq ft) would need about 9.6 sq ft of glass — a little more than one 3 × 3 ft window.
Does a kitchen need a window? Not always. The same code lets mechanical ventilation and adequate electric lighting stand in for windows, which is how interior and apartment kitchens are built. Kitchens also do not need an egress window, so there is no minimum opening size beyond the glazing rule. Short on daylight? See our kitchen without a window ideas. Local codes vary, so check yours.
Avoid a window right behind the cooktop. Curtains or blinds there are a fire risk, and reaching across hot burners to open a window is unsafe. If you must, keep it well above the cooking surface and use no fabric treatments.
Finishing Touches

Curtains, Rods and Privacy for Kitchen Windows

A regular kitchen window over the sink is usually covered with a short curtain, a blind or film, not floor-length drapes. Measure the window, then size the rod and fabric from that.

Rod width. Extend the rod 3 to 6 inches beyond the frame on each side, so a 36-inch window takes a rod of about 42–48 inches and the curtain can clear the glass when open.
Curtain size. Café curtains cover the lower half; tiers and valances sit at the top. Over a sink, keep fabric to the sill or just above it so it stays dry, and choose washable fabric that copes with steam.
YaFex black adjustable metal curtain rod with round finials
Curtain Rod Pick

YaFex Adjustable Curtain Rod, 32–144 in

★★★★★ 4.6 (4,732 reviews · #1 Best Seller in Single Window Rods)
  • Fits 24–136 in windows
  • 1 in steel rod
  • Holds 50 lb
  • 2.5–3.5 in clearance
  • $

An adjustable rod that fits windows from 24 to 136 inches wide, so one product covers a small sink window or a long run. The 1-inch all-metal rod holds up to 50 lb, and adjustable brackets set it 2.5 to 3.5 inches off the wall so curtains clear the frame. Several shorter sizes are on the same listing.

Heads up: it ships in nine segments that screw together, rather than one or two pieces.
Check YaFex Curtain Rod Price on Amazon
Dwersty white frosted privacy window film roll with installation tools
Privacy Pick

Dwersty Frosted Window Privacy Film

★★★★ 4.3 (5,331 reviews · 10K+ bought in the past month)
  • Static cling
  • Blocks up to 95% UV
  • Reusable
  • Many sizes
  • $

For a street-facing kitchen window, frosted film gives privacy day and night while still letting in soft light, with nothing to hang over the sink. It clings with soapy water rather than glue, peels off and re-sticks, and has a printed grid on the backing for cutting. A scraper, knife and spray bottle come in the tube.

Heads up: it will not stick to already frosted or textured glass, and each piece is 17.5 inches wide, so larger windows take two widths or a wider size from the listing.
Check Dwersty Window Film Price on Amazon
FAQ

Kitchen Window Size FAQs

What is the standard kitchen window size?+
About 36 × 36 inches (3 × 3 ft, 91 × 91 cm) over the sink, which is the most common single size. Over-sink windows generally run 30–48 in wide and 30–42 in tall; windows on open walls are often 24–36 in wide and 36–60 in tall.
What is the standard kitchen window size in feet?+
Roughly 3 ft wide by 3 ft tall over a sink, with common sizes running from 2½ to 4 ft wide. Window codes describe this directly: a 3030 is 3 ft × 3 ft, a 4030 is 4 ft wide by 3 ft tall.
How high should a kitchen window be above the counter?+
4 to 6 inches above the countertop, which puts the sill 40 to 42 inches (102–107 cm) above the floor on a standard 36-inch counter. That clears a 4-inch backsplash and keeps water off the sill.
What is the standard height of a window above a kitchen sink?+
A sill 40 to 42 inches from the floor, with a window 36 to 42 inches tall, topping out around 80 inches in a house with 8-foot ceilings. In metric, a sill of 100–110 cm with a head at about 210 cm.
How wide should a window over a kitchen sink be?+
At least as wide as the sink, centred on the faucet. A 30-inch sink suits a 30–36 in window, a 33- or 36-inch sink a 36–48 in window, and longer sinks a twin or triple window of 48–72 in.
What is a standard kitchen window size in cm and mm?+
About 90–120 cm wide and 90–105 cm tall over a sink (900–1,200 × 900–1,050 mm), with the sill 100–110 cm above the floor and the head at around 210 cm.
What is the typical kitchen window sill height in the UK?+
Around 1,000–1,100 mm from the floor, sitting a little above a 900–920 mm worktop. Sills at 1,200 mm or more are used where a taller splashback or tap sits under the window.
What size should a kitchen pass-through window be?+
36 to 60 inches wide and 24 to 36 inches tall, with the bottom at countertop height (36 in / 91 cm) or raised to 42 in (107 cm) for a screening ledge. A serving shelf is usually 10–12 in deep.
Does a kitchen need a window?+
Not necessarily. US residential code asks for glazing of 8% of the floor area in habitable rooms, but allows mechanical ventilation and adequate electric lighting instead. Check your local code before building.
What is the minimum size for a kitchen window?+
There is no fixed minimum, because kitchens do not need an egress window. The practical floor is the glazing rule — about 8% of the floor area — and for a window that opens, 4% of the floor area openable.
What type of window is best for a kitchen?+
Casement, awning and sliding windows are the most suitable over a sink or counter, because they open with a crank or a slide instead of a long reach. Double-hung windows suit open walls, and fixed picture windows suit large feature walls where you only need light.
Can I install two kitchen windows side by side?+
Yes. Twin or triple windows joined together are the usual way to cover a long sink wall. The wall needs a header sized for the full opening, so plan it with a builder if the wall is load-bearing.
The Bottom Line

Choosing Your Kitchen Window Size

Start with the heights, not the window. On a standard kitchen wall, a sill at 40–42 inches and a head at 80 inches leave room for a window about 36 inches tall — which is why 3 × 3 ft (91 × 91 cm) is the size most kitchens end up with.

Over the sink, go at least as wide as the sink and centre it on the faucet. On open walls, taller double-hung or picture windows fit. In metric, think 1,200 × 1,050 mm with a sill around 1.05 m.

Measure the rough opening, not the glass, check the maker’s size chart, and plan any wide opening with a proper header.

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