How big is the average kitchen
Introduction
When you're planning the layout of your new kitchen, it's important to understand how much space you need. The average kitchen is 200 square feet and has a rough footprint of 40 by 20 feet. If you want to create an efficient workspace, however, it's critical that you plan carefully before starting construction. Here are some tips for making sure your new kitchen has enough room:
The average kitchen has about 200 square feet of floor space.
If you think about it, the size of your kitchen is probably smaller than you might think. The average kitchen has about 200 square feet of floor space and is used for cooking, dining, cleaning and storing food. This may not seem like a lot but consider that the average person spends about 40 hours per week in their kitchen! So if you're looking to find out how big your kitchen should be, let us help you determine how many people will be using it at any given time as well as how many meals they plan on making within its walls!
Counter space for one person should be 88 inches wide and at least 16 inches deep; for two people, it should be 125 inches wide and at least 22 inches deep.
The amount of space you need is based on how many people will be using it. If you'll be cooking for just yourself, the counter should be at least 88 inches wide and 16 inches deep; if you'll be cooking for two or more people, your counter should be at least 125 inches wide and 22 inches deep. Make sure there's enough room to move around safely: A kitchen that's too cramped can make even simple tasks difficult to accomplish.
You should have 24 inches of counter space on either side of the stove.
You should have 24 inches of counter space on either side of the stove. This is the recommended distance, but it’s also the minimum distance. The maximum length varies by stove type, but it’s generally around 44 inches.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends a minimum of 30 inches between your range and sink to allow plenty of room in which to move while washing dishes or cooking (you can read more about their guidelines here). The International Residential Code also suggests that you have at least this much space when using gas stoves—they recommend 36 inches for liquid-fueled stoves and 48 inches for electric ones.
These are general rules based on research into how people tend to use their kitchens; however, there are exceptions to every rule! If you're interested in learning more about how big your kitchen should be based on its function and specific layout (and if any special considerations apply), be sure check out our article "How Big Should My Kitchen Be?"
To make it easy to use your microwave, you should leave 18 inches between the base cabinet of your range and the bottom of a wall oven, or 30 inches between the base cabinet and a cooktop.
It's a good idea to leave at least 18 inches of space between the base cabinet of your range and the bottom of a wall oven, or 30 inches between your microwave and any other appliance. This way you'll have room for moving around in the kitchen without bumping into anything. If you're going to put a microwave above your range, it's smart to leave 18 inches between the base cabinet and the bottom of the microwave hood. If you're going with under-counter installation, keep 30 inches clear between this area (which is where most microwaves tend to be placed) and any other cooking unit like a cooktop or wall oven.
If you place the microwave on top of your stove or keep it under a wall-mounted cabinet, you need to leave at least 18 inches between the bottom of those cabinets and the countertop.
If you place the microwave on top of your stove or keep it under a wall-mounted cabinet, you need to leave at least 18 inches between the bottom of those cabinets and the countertop. That's because people need space to open up their microwaves and pass dishes in and out of them. They also need room for cleaning tasks like wiping down the door and popping out crumbs that have fallen into crevices. Finally, if there is any kind of electrical problem with your appliance (like a burned out light bulb), you'll want adequate clearance so that a person can get their hand inside easily enough to change it.
Leave 36 inches in front of a refrigerator or dishwasher so that you have room to open doors.
If you have a refrigerator or dishwasher in your kitchen, leave 36 inches in front of it so that you have room to open doors. You can also leave 36 inches between the refrigerator and the wall or between the dishwasher and the wall.
You need to allow 24–30 inches between a built-in oven and a cooktop so you can easily remove hot items from both appliances without bumping into each other.
To ensure you're giving yourself enough space, you need to allow 24–30 inches between a built-in oven and a cooktop so you can easily remove hot items from both appliances without bumping into each other.
Many manufacturers recommend at least 36 inches of clearance between an oven and any wall surface. This allows for adequate ventilation, as well as for storing items such as baking sheets on the oven racks when not in use (which reduces the risk of damage). For best results, leave at least 24 inches between your built-in oven and any wall surface if possible—even more if it's a corner unit that takes up more room than usual.
The ideal height for cooking surfaces is 36–40 inches above the floor, depending on your height and how often you cook.
It's ideal for the height of your cooking surfaces to be 36–40 inches above the floor. If you're short, or if you have other people in your kitchen who are shorter than average, this can be a problem. If it's too high, then there might not be enough room to work comfortably without hitting your head on the surface—and that's not fun!
You want a comfortable working height so that you don't have to stoop over or bend down when using any of your appliances.
Planning your kitchen design is important before starting construction
Draw a plan of your kitchen on paper.
Include all appliances you need and their exact dimensions, as well as the cabinets, counter space, storage space and lighting.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, it’s important to take into account the size and layout of the room. Take measurements before starting construction so that you know what kind of appliances will fit where.
