Kitchen Layout Checker

Will your kitchen work, not just fit? Enter your aisle widths, landing space and work-triangle distances and see each one rated against the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines.

1. Layout and cooks

Cooks working at once

2. Aisles and walkways

in
in
in
in

Measure between finished surfaces, such as counter edge to counter edge. Include appliance doors only if they open into the aisle.

3. Countertop landing areas

in
in
in
in
in

4. Dishwasher

in

5. Work triangle (center to center)

ft
ft
ft

Results

CheckYouGuidelineResult

Pass = meets the NKBA guideline. Tight = a little below it but workable (this tool's own tolerance, not a code number). Fail = well below the guideline.

How this kitchen layout checker works

Almost every number here is a design guideline from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), not building code. The International Residential Code only says a dwelling needs a kitchen area with a sink (R306.1); it sets no aisle widths, landing areas or work triangle. So there is no "code minimum" column below, only the NKBA target.

MeasurementNKBA guidelineTight ifFail if
Work aisle, one cook42 in or more36–41.9 inunder 36 in
Work aisle, two or more cooks48 in or more42–47.9 inunder 42 in
Walkway36 in or more32–35.9 inunder 32 in
Island clearancesWork side: same as work aisle. Other side: walkway, 36 inas aboveas above
Landing beside sink24 in one side, 18 in the otherwithin 6 inmore than 6 in short
Landing beside cooktop15 in one side, 12 in the otherwithin 3 inmore than 3 in short
Landing at refrigerator15 in12–14.9 inunder 12 in
Dishwasher to sinkwithin 36 in36–48 inover 48 in
Each triangle leg4 ft to 9 ftwithin 1 ft outside that rangemore than 1 ft outside
Triangle total26 ft or less26–28 ftover 28 ft

The "tight" and "fail" cutoffs are this tool's own tolerances, so you can tell a near miss from a real problem. The NKBA publishes the guidelines in several editions and the wording on landing areas differs between them, so confirm the numbers with your designer. A kitchen can miss one or two and still work well. For wheelchair-accessible kitchens use the ADA numbers instead (for example 40 in between opposing counters in a pass-through kitchen, 2010 ADA Standards 804.2.1).

One-wall kitchens often cannot meet the 4 ft minimum leg because everything sits on one line; the triangle is still checked, but treat it as a rule of thumb there. The diagram is drawn to scale from your three leg lengths.

A planning check, not a plan review. Your designer, contractor and building department decide what applies to your home.

Sources

Estimates only — not engineering, legal or code advice. Check requirements with your local building department and a licensed professional before you build.

Common questions

How wide should a kitchen aisle be?

The NKBA recommends a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook and at least 48 inches when two or more cooks work together. A work aisle is the space between counters, appliances or an island where you actually cook. Walkways that are not part of the work area should be at least 36 inches wide.

What is the kitchen work triangle?

It is the straight-line path between the sink, the cooktop or range, and the refrigerator. The NKBA guideline is that each leg is between 4 and 9 feet and the three legs add up to no more than 26 feet. With this tool's defaults (5, 6 and 5 feet) the total is 16 feet, which passes.

How much countertop landing area do I need?

The NKBA guidelines call for about 24 inches of counter on one side of the sink and 18 inches on the other, 15 inches on one side of the cooktop and 12 inches on the other, and 15 inches of landing space beside the refrigerator (or across from it). The guideline wording and edition can differ slightly, so confirm with your designer.

How close should the dishwasher be to the sink?

The NKBA recommends that the nearest edge of the dishwasher is within 36 inches of the edge of the cleanup sink. Closer is better for rinsing and loading dishes.

Does the building code set kitchen clearances?

Mostly no. The International Residential Code only requires that every dwelling have a kitchen area with a sink (R306.1). Aisle widths, landing areas and the work triangle are design guidelines from the NKBA, not code. Accessible kitchens follow the ADA, which calls for 40 inches between opposing counters in a pass-through kitchen (2010 ADA Standards, 804.2.1).

What if my kitchen is too small to meet every guideline?

Many real kitchens miss one or two. A result marked tight means the number is a bit below the guideline but usable. The guidelines are targets for comfort and safety, so a small kitchen can still work if you plan around the weak spot, for example by choosing a smaller range or moving the fridge.

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