Kitchen Design Guidelines

Below a summary of the kitchen design guidelines for minimum clearances and traffic flow from NKBA:

- Doorways should be at least 32 in wide and not more than 24 in deep; when two counters flank a doorway entry the minimum 32 in-wide clearance should be allowed from the point of one counter to the closest point of the counter on the opposite side.
- Walkways should be 36 in wide.
- Work aisles should be at least 42 in wide in one-cook kitchens, and at least 48 in wide in multiple-cook kitchens.
- The work triangle should be no more than 26 ft, with no single leg of the work triangle shorter than 4 ft nor longer than 9 ft.
- If two or more people cook at the same time, a work triangle should be placed for each cook.
One leg of the primary and secondary triangles may be shared, but the two should not cross one another.
- No major traffic patterns should cross through the work triangle.
- No entry, appliance or cabinet doors should interfere with another.
- In a seating area, 36 in of clearance should be allowed from the counter or table edge to any wall or obstruction behind it if no traffic will pass behind a seated diner.
- If there is a walkway behind the seating area, 65 in of clearance total, including the walkway should be allowed between the seating area and any wall or obstruction.

Categories: Kitchens Remodeling