What Are Suitable Kitchen Dimensions?

Kitchens can be classified into small, medium, and large categories according to their sizes.

A small kitchen measures less than 70 square feet, while a mid-sized kitchen covers 100 square feet of space.

Large kitchens have a size of more than 200 square feet.

What are the standard kitchen dimensions?

an image of kitchen dimension

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association of America (NKBA), average kitchen dimensions in feet are about 13 ft. by 13 ft.

Which is equivalent to approximately 4 m x 4 m kitchen dimensions in meters.

You can convert this value to get kitchen dimensions in cm or kitchen dimensions in mm.

Which are 400 x 400 cm or 4000 x 4000 mm, respectively.

In the U.S., the average kitchen size for a single-story home is about 161 square feet.

For multi-story homes, the kitchen size is averaged at 174 square feet. {Source}

Related Reading: Design Rules Of Kitchen – Click Here.

What is the minimum size of a kitchen?

70 square feet and above would be considered an average for small kitchens as defined by the NKBA.

This size of the kitchen is designed for small homes, flats and condos.

What is considered a full kitchen?

A kitchen with a minimum of a cooking range, sink, oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator is defined as a full kitchen.

What are the three types of kitchens?

Types of kitchens can be described based on their sizes.

According to the statistics of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the mean sizes of kitchens built in new homes are taken in proportion to the total area of the house:

  • For homes with less than 2,000 square feet, the kitchen size is 195 square feet
  • For homes having 2,000 to 2,900 square feet, the average kitchen size is 288 square feet
  • For homes with 3,000 square feet and above, the kitchen size is 424 square feet on average

What are the kitchen dimensions with an island?

If your kitchen ideas list includes an island, then be mindful that your kitchen should have relatively ample space.

The standard size of a kitchen island is around 40 by 80 inches (or 1 by 2 meters), but it is essential to leave enough room around it.

Kitchen experts say that to add an island to your kitchen layout comfortably.

You should have at least 150 square feet or 14 square meters of space in your kitchen.

What are outdoor kitchen dimensions?

The first step in designing an outdoor kitchen is to determine the size of your kitchen area.

The size will decide how the outdoor kitchen should be designed and what features to include.

A small outdoor kitchen is 10 linear feet and has only a few basic amenities such as:

  • Grill
  • Stovetop
  • Sink
  • Storage.

A minimum of 36 inches is required as a kitchen countertop workspace.

The essential type of outdoor kitchen is 13 linear feet.

With a minimum of 48 inches of counter space, the essential kitchen includes a refrigerator and all the amenities of the small kitchen.

Mid-sized outdoor kitchens (16 linear feet) have a workspace of 72 inches with additional refrigeration and storage options.

Large types of outdoor kitchens (greater than 20 linear feet) have a minimum of 156 inches of workspace.

They include all four work zones (storage, preparation, cooking, and washing) with complete amenities. {Source}

What are mud kitchen dimensions?

A mud kitchen for kids is a small outdoor setup that comprises just the basic features such as

  • Work surface
  • Sink
  • Shelves.

You can build a mud kitchen starting with a standard-sized basin (22 inches by 33 inches), then make the rest of the parts around it.

What are galley kitchen dimensions?

A galley kitchen should have a width of 7 to 12 feet with at least three feet of space between opposing countertops.

The three feet length between two rows of countertops is the minimum space best suited for single-occupancy kitchens.

4 to 5 feet of space between countertops is considered ideal.

What are U-shaped kitchen dimensions? 

U-Shaped kitchens have a continuous layout that places countertops, cabinets, and other fixtures along three connected walls of the kitchen in a U shape.

U-Shaped kitchens have average widths ranging from 9 to 12 feet (or 2.7 to 3.7 m).

These kitchens should be designed with a total area of approximately 107 square feet (10 square meters).

What are modular kitchen dimensions?

Modular kitchen units come in pre-determined dimensions, which are considered industry standards.

But you can choose dimensions that suit your ergonomics and work them out by consulting your kitchen manufacturer.

The following are some standard measurements for modular kitchen units;

  • For countertops, the standard height is 36 inches (or 0.92 m), while the depth is 25 inches or 30 inches.
  • The base cabinet should have a standard depth of 24 inches (61cm). Some manufacturers give a depth of 12 inches to fit the base cabinet where the space is small.
  • The wall cabinet’s standard depth is 12 inches (30 cm), whereas its height comes in 12, 30, and 36 inches.

Related Reading: Standard Dimensions Of Kitchen Base Cabinet – Read More.

What is the 5-zone kitchen?

A five-zone kitchen is built around the five purposes of a modern kitchen, i.e.,

  • Food preparation,
  • Housing of consumables
  • Non-consumables
  • Cooking
  • Cleaning

Let’s consider each zone in a little more detail.

Cooking zone

It includes the stovetop and oven, which may be two pieces of equipment or combined into a single unit.

Make sure to keep the utensils within arm’s reach of the cooking zone and give plenty of space around them. 

Cleaning zone

The cleaning zone is often positioned as going from left to right, from dirty to clean.

It lets a person move from the waste bin to the sink and then to the dishwasher with all three items placed in a sequence.

This zone also allows you to access water, so keeping it beside your preparation and cooking zones is a good idea.

Consumables zone

This is the area where you store your food.

It includes your refrigerator and pantry.

Which should be kept side by side for easy access, saving you from the hassle of going back and forth during cooking.

Non-consumables zone

This zone serves as the storage area for utensils, usually located between the dining area and the cooking zone to allow for easy serving.

Open shelves or glass-door cabinets can make this zone a style statement.

Preparation zone

It is generally a kitchen island with plenty of workspaces.

This zone should give you convenient access to items like:

  • Mixing bowls
  • Knives
  • Cutting boards

Which are used in preparing food.

What are the 5 basic kitchen layouts?

an image of basic kitchen layout

Basic kitchen layouts refer to the ready-made templates you can use to design your kitchen.

These layouts help you develop more ideas for designing your unique kitchen.

One-Wall Kitchen Layout

A kitchen plan where all cabinets, countertops, and appliances are placed along a single wall is said to be the one-wall layout.

This layout can function equally well for small spaces and huge kitchens.

Corridor or Galley Kitchen Layout

In situations where the space is limited (such as in small homes, condos, and apartments), the corridor style is often the only type of layout possible.

This design has two opposing walls along which the kitchen amenities can be placed parallel.

L-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The L-shaped layout is highly functional and versatile for kitchens with a large and square floor plan.

This layout includes two L-shaped walls holding all the cabinets, countertops, and kitchen appliances.

Double-L Design Kitchen Layout

It is a greatly evolved kitchen layout that allows the construction of two workstations in the same space.

In this type of kitchen, there is enough room for two persons to work simultaneously on separate workstations.

U-Shaped Kitchen Design Layout

It can be considered a corridor-shaped plan with the addition of one end wall with a countertop and kitchen services.

The other remaining wall has the doorway into the kitchen.

This setup allows for a great workflow as it best suits applying the kitchen triangle rule.

What size is a standard kitchen cupboard?

A kitchen cupboard or a tall cabinet is typically designed to be 12-inches, 24-inches, and 36-inches wide.

Being a stand-alone unit, it can be easily adjusted in any available space and functions as your kitchen pantry.

What are standard kitchen cabinet sizes in the UK?

According to the UKMA website, kitchen cabinets are designed to be 60 cm deep and have multiple 10 cm or 15 cm widths.

Wall-mounted units usually have a depth of 30 cm. {Source}

How much worktop space do you need in a kitchen?

Domestic kitchens need at least three separate counters, around four feet long.

It may be called the 3×4 rule.

These worktop spaces serve three primary functions of the kitchen:

  • Food prep
  • Cooking
  • Cleaning.

Can a small kitchen have an island?

For a small kitchen, square islands can be a practical solution.

In small kitchens, the island could feature a sink or a stovetop, the central kitchen appliances.

How much space should be between the countertop and stove?

A 30-inch stove must have a 31-inch space, allowing for a half-inch gap between your countertop and stove on either side.

What is the average width of a kitchen island?

The island should be no less than 1 x 1 meter or 40 by 40 inches in a small kitchen.

Related Reading: Size Of Kitchen Island – Click Here To Learn More.

The Bottom Line

The information provided above is to help you get inspiration for your kitchen design.

It would be best if you coordinated with an architect or a kitchen design expert to sketch out the best plan for your kitchen.

In this way, you will get the most modern and functional kitchen.

Which not only makes the most of all the available space but also makes cooking an enjoyable task for you.