Knowledge Builders

how big should a kitchen be

by Margarete Schmeler Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Diverse statistics are provided from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA):

  • Overall, average kitchens in the U.S. are about 151 square feet in single-story homes, 174 square feet in multi-story homes.
  • In homes under 1,500 square feet, the average kitchen is 103 square feet.
  • In homes over 4,000 square feet, the average kitchen is 238 square feet.

Once you understand that the average size of a kitchen is only 10 percent to 15 percent of the home's overall area (in square feet), this means that the kitchen in the average size home should be between 240 and 360 square feet in size.Sep 9, 2021

Full Answer

How to make a kitchen look bigger?

How to Make Your Kitchen Feel Larger 1. Replace solid cabinet doors with glass ones. Glass fronts lighten the look of cabinetry and allow the eye to travel through to the back, which helps the kitchen seem more expansive. Just don’t clutter the interiors with bric-a-brac — you’ll defeat the purpose.

What is the typical size of a kitchen?

180 to 440-square-feet is the kitchen size for most new home designs. 225-square-feet is the overall national average for a kitchen as it relates to average kitchen size. 175 to 200-square-feet is the average size of a kitchen and dining area that has been combined. As functionality is increased, so does the size of the kitchen area.

How to measure a range for your kitchen?

When measuring your space, please see the below steps to help you with this process:

  • Pick one corner in your space and measure each wall. ...
  • Measure to all door and window openings from the outside of the trim molding. ...
  • Measure the height of the ceiling in two spots in the space from the floor to the ceiling. ...
  • Please measure to the center of all plumbing fixtures and appliances in the space, measure from a wall to the center of them. ...

More items...

How to sell a house with a small kitchen?

  • Looks, feels and smells clean and fresh
  • Looks and feels spacious and light. There’s plenty of room inside cupboards and closets.
  • Is tasteful and good looking — there are no glaringly bad or out-of-date features
  • Looks welcoming; it’s easy to envision using and enjoying the space
  • Shows signs of life but is not messy

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What is a reasonable size for a kitchen?

180 to 440 Square Feet: is the range of kitchen size options you'll often see in new home designs. 225 Square Feet: a figure from Pi Consulting this is more in line with the overall national average for kitchen size as it relates to the average home size.

How big is a normal size kitchen?

Overall, average kitchens in the U.S. are about 161 square feet in single-story homes and 174 square feet in multi-story homes. In homes under 1,500 square feet, the average kitchen is 103 square feet. In homes over 4,000 square feet, the average kitchen is 238 square feet.

Is a 10x10 kitchen small?

The 10x10 kitchen layout is a standard dimension that cabinet retailers use to help you estimate and compare the cost of new cabinets for your kitchen. The 10x10 represents the square footage of a kitchen, 100 square feet in total—the size of most small to average kitchen layouts.

What size is considered a big kitchen?

What Can Be Considered a Large Kitchen? On the other end of the spectrum, a large kitchen is one that measures around 720 square feet. You can most often find these in houses that are at least 4800 square feet total.

What is considered a medium sized kitchen?

Medium size kitchens are typically 100-200 square feet. They are the perfect size for everything you want; big enough to not feel cramped, and small enough to still feel cozy. Many of our designs transformed the kitchen into a place for family and friends to gather.

What size is a normal kitchen in a tiny house?

What Is The Average Size Of A Tiny Home Kitchen? Tiny homes are between 200 to 700 square feet. The average tiny home kitchen is 70 square feet.

Can I put an island in a 10x10 kitchen?

L-Shaped 10x10 Kitchen With Island For a more open floor plan, you can opt for a small center island that doesn't occupy as much floor space. Alternatively, if your kitchen size allows for it, you can install a large island that takes away floor space but adds functionality.

Is a 10x12 kitchen small?

A 10-by-12 kitchen is a small area with limited floor space. Numerous remodeling options include actually expanding a small kitchen's physical size, increasing its efficiency, improving the aesthetics and making it feel and look more spacious.

What is the best kitchen layout?

Galley. This efficient, “lean” layout is ideal for smaller spaces and one-cook kitchens. The galley kitchen, also called a walk-through kitchen, is characterized by two walls opposite of each other—or two parallel countertops with a walkway in between them.

Can a kitchen be too big?

So, the answer to the titular question is: yes, kitchens can be too big. Not everyone needs every built-in appliance and dining nook going, but not everyone needs the bare bones of a functional kitchen, either.

How do you plan a kitchen layout?

7 Kitchen Layout Ideas That WorkReduce Traffic. ... Make the Distance between Main Fixtures Comfortable. ... Make Sure the Kitchen Island Isn't too Close or too Far. ... Place the Sink First. ... Always Put the Stove on an Exterior Wall. ... Keep Vertical Storage in Mind. ... Create a Floor Plan and Visualize Your Kitchen in 3D.More items...•

How much clearance do you need for a kitchen?

So the standard advice is that if you have a kitchen with one cook working in the kitchen at any one time then you need 42 inches (107cm) of clearance between two runs of units. If your household is the ‘one cook at a time’ variety it’s all too easy to go for 42 inches of clearance.

How wide should a kitchen door be?

Kitchen dimensions - Doorway Area. The doorway to the kitchen should be at least 34 inches wide (86.5cm). The door swing should not be in the way of appliances or work areas. If the door swing is taking up too much space you could put a pocket door in instead, or remove the door altogether.

How tall is a kitchen counter?

A kitchen eating counter is at the same height as the countertop. So it’s 36 inches (92cm) high. Each person needs 24 inches (61cm) width and 15 inches (38cm) depth to eat comfortably. I think 15 inches is the absolute minimum. There’s often other stuff that goes on at the kitchen eating counter like surfing the web on your laptop or doing a bit of paperwork or homework. For offices a desk is at least 30 inches deep (76cm) and the ‘work area’ part of the desk is 16-20 inches (40 – 50cm).

How many feet are in a kitchen triangle?

Each leg of the kitchen work triangle must be 4 feet (1.2m) or more and not more than 9 feet (2.75m). If you add up the legs of the kitchen triangle this should not be more than 26 feet (7.9m). As you might have read on my kitchen triangle page, I like to think more in terms of kitchen polygons.

How deep should an office desk be?

For offices a desk is at least 30 inches deep (76cm) and the ‘work area’ part of the desk is 16-20 inches (40 – 50cm). It’s just something to think about. If your eating counter is part of a double depth island then you’ll probably have additional room anyway.

How deep should a counter top be?

A continuous counter top surface of 36 inches (92 cm) and 24 inches (61cm) deep next to a sink is required. This can be combined with the 36 inches sink clearance area in smaller kitchens.

Where should a dishwasher be placed?

Many kitchen guidelines specify that the dishwasher should be placed near the sink. This makes sense because it allows all dirty dishes to be set down in one location near the sink and perhaps pre-rinsed before going into the dishwasher. What many other guidelines don't point out is that the location of the dishwasher in relation to the cutlery and crockery storage locations is also important. It's a great advantage if you can unload the dishwasher and put away the cutlery and most of the crockery without walking too far.

What is the average kitchen size?

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), average sizes of kitchens in new homes tend to be proportionate to the overall footprint of the home itself: 3  1 Homes under 2,000 square feet: average kitchen size, 195 square feet 2 Homes 2,000 to 2,900 square feet: average kitchen size: 288 square feet 3 Homes 3,000 square feet plus: average kitchen size 424 square feet

How many square feet were there in a kitchen in 1900?

Residential Kitchens Over the Years. Before 1900: Average home size was about 850 square feet, and the kitchen, on average, occupied about 70 square feet. Appliances, including stoves, were huge free-standing appliances that took up most of the space; much of the food storage was done in separate pantries.

What is the goal of a commercial kitchen?

When the time comes to start planning the layout of your commercial kitchen, the goal is always to create a space that not only encourages efficient operations in the Back of House (BoH ), but also maximizes areas in the Front of House (FoH). Achieving this requires a delicate balance: a kitchen big enough for your staff to work safely and comfortably to serve your guests, but not so large that it wastes space otherwise put to better use for other purposes.

Do foodservice businesses need space?

Following this methodology, most foodservice businesses find they have enough room to carry out activities effectively, without taking up unnecessary space. A rule of thumb is just that, though. It should not be used as the final word. Every operation is different and will have unique needs.

Standard Kitchen Dimensions

The first thing to determine before any other building or remodeling project is the measurement of the space. The measure will differ from one household to the other depending on different factors, including the size of your house, if you are building or remodeling an existing kitchen in an old home, or the layout you will go for.

Minimum Aisle Width

There are two aisle dimensions to consider, and that is work and walkway aisles. A work aisle is where you do the work in the kitchen: the cutting, the peeling, and the cooking. On the other hand, a walkway aisle is a space you utilize for walking or moving around in the kitchen.

Small Kitchen Dimensions

Smaller kitchens are what you could see on smaller homes or kitchen apartments. There are a few benefits to smaller kitchens, and it is not only that it works for the place.

Medium Kitchen Dimensions

Mid-sized or medium-sized kitchens are the closest to the size of the standard kitchen. A kitchen this size could reach 100 square feet, and for this kitchen size, you could fit a decent-sized kitchen island with breakfast stools on one side.

Large Kitchen Dimensions

You often see larger kitchens in bigger houses, and they are also more often what home cooks and bakers want. Large kitchens have a measurement of around 200 square feet, and this is only an estimate. Some larger kitchens could go more prominent, especially if a dining table is incorporated, a breakfast nook, or a large pantry.

Kitchen Layout Sizes by Type

Since you have decided how big or small you want your kitchen to be, it’s time to determine how you want it to look. You do that by choosing and deciding your kitchen layout.

What is The Minimum Size of a Kitchen?

A room can qualify as a kitchen if it has some primary appliance and storage option that helps us prepare the food we eat.

How much space do you need for a kitchen?

For an open food prep area, 36" of free space is ideal. A minimum of 12" should be allowed by your stove and 18" by your sink.

How wide should a kitchen work area be?

Your walkways and kitchen work aisles must be wide enough to accommodate the cook as well as allow at least one person to get by them if need be. A work aisle, which would be the space between the sink and kitchen island for example, should be a minimum of 42". If you know you will need to be able to fit two cooks at once in the same space, up it to 48" wide. A walkway leading to another space or doorway, but doesn't interfere with food prep, should be 36" wide at the least.

How deep should a bar stool be?

A regular barstool would be much too high. As far as typical countertop depths, a cabinet is 24" deep and a countertop is typically 25" deep, which provides a small lip and helps protect your cabinets from spills and damage. The space beside your appliances and sink is important as well.

What is a work triangle in a kitchen?

These are the three areas that most people travel back and forth to while in the kitchen and you want them to be only steps away from each other for convenience.

What is the busiest place in your home?

Your kitchen is the busiest place in your home and it must be functional for you and your family. Every inch of space is important and you want to make sure all areas are taken into account.

How big is a kitchen island?

An average kitchen island size is around 3 x 6 feet. This can, of course, become larger or smaller based on the space you’re working with. But that size typically offers the structural size you need from your island, while not being obstructive to the kitchen and its flow.

How long should an island be for a kitchen?

According to Bob Vila, “Your island will need to be at least nine feet long to comfortably accommodate both a sink and a cooking range. Seven feet is needed for either a cooktop or a sink area.

Why do we need kitchen islands?

Kitchen islands make for a great way to have extra space for all food prep needs. So, when debating on sizes, think about how much space you have on your counters now, and how much more would be helpful for your daily tasks.

What is a portable kitchen island?

This is where portable kitchen islands come into play. They also tend to be on the smaller side, since they are meant to be portable.

How far away should an island be from a counter?

To function properly, the island needs to be 30 inches away from your counter space. To determine the size of a kitchen island, factor in the size of the kitchen, what its main purpose will be, and the overall layout of the kitchen. As you plan and dream up your perfect kitchen, determining the ideal size of your island can be a little tricky.

Do kitchen lights drop down in the center?

If you plan to have hanging kitchen lights that drop down in the center of your kitchen, you will also want to consider how those will look with the chosen height of the island. This will purely be for aesthetic purposes, but it can look a bit off if the height is too disproportionate.

Can an island be used as a kitchen?

Kitchen islands are sometimes pictured as a small structure that offers some extra counter space but not much else. These islands can function as a full kitchen on their own. You can opt for an oven to be built in, sinks, a mini-fridge underneath, or any other appliance that will fit within the space of the island.

What is expected seating in a kitchen?

Kitchen seating clearance is flexible and can be adapted to your needs. Expected seating is at a location such as a breakfast bar or an in-kitchen eating table; it does not apply to dedicated dining rooms .

How wide is a walkway in a kitchen?

Walkways carry traffic through a kitchen. Walkways do not service kitchen work areas, as would work aisles. The recommended minimum width for walkways is 36 inches. Walkways can be as wide as you wish.

How far should a dishwasher be from the sink?

Dishwasher Spacing and Placement Recommendations 1 From the dishwasher to the sink should be 36 inches maximum. The intent is two-fold: first, to make sure that the cook can easily move dishes from the sink to the dishwasher; secondly, to ease under-counter hookups between sink and dishwasher. 2 From the dishwasher to the nearest base cabinets or other obstructions should be 21 inches minimum. The intent is to give the dishwasher door plenty of room to open.

What is a kitchen landing area?

A kitchen landing area is a countertop space that allows you to place, or land, items from the sink, refrigerator, cooking surface, and oven service areas. The countertop is adjacent to these areas. For example, if a stove has no nearby landing area, the cook may be tempted to place a hot pan that she has just removed in a close but unsafe spot, perhaps on top of the fridge or on the floor.

How many inches on the side of a sink?

Sink landing area: 24 inches on one side and 18 inches on the other side, minimum. Refrigerator landing area: 15 inches on the handle side of the fridge. Cooking surface landing area: 12 inches on one side and 15 inches on the other side, minimum.

What is a kitchen work triangle?

The kitchen work triangle is a design concept that recommends that you place your three most important work areas—sink, refrigerator, and stove —in a triangular fashion. While the kitchen triangle concept has been around for many years, it works well and you can always rely on it if you are ever stymied about the direction of your kitchen design.

How long is a kitchen triangle?

The kitchen triangle can have many variations, as long as: The three legs of the triangle total 26 feet or less; No leg is longer than 9 feet; and. No leg is shorter than 4 feet. None of these are hard-and-fast measurements since code does not apply. The idea is to generally keep distances within these limits.

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1.Average Kitchen Sizes: 2022 Standards | Marble.com

Url:https://marble.com/articles/average-kitchen-sizes

23 hours ago Think of a standard 107 square feet kitchen with a length of 10.2 feet or 3.15 meters and a width of 10.6 feet or 3.2 meters. 5 feet or 1.53 meters of area in the minimum should be allowed for movement and working space.

2.Kitchen Dimensions - House Plans Helper

Url:https://www.houseplanshelper.com/kitchen-dimensions.html

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3.The Ever-Changing Average Kitchen Size

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4.What Is the Average Size of a Commercial Kitchen? - Sam …

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5.Kitchen Layout Dimensions (Size Guide) - Designing Idea

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6.Important Kitchen Dimensions – Start Planning - cabinets

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7.A Guide to Kitchen Island Sizes: How Big Should it be?

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8.Kitchen Space Distance Recommendations - The Spruce

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9.Videos of How Big Should A Kitchen Be

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