Guides / Layout · Updated
Kitchen island layouts, drawn to scale
Aisles, walkways and stool room from the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, the industry's published standard. Each plan is checked with our island calculators. Counters are a 24 in cabinet with a 25⅝ in top.
Estimate for planning only, not professional advice. Check the manufacturer’s instructions, your local code and a licensed professional before you buy, build or install. Use at your own risk. Terms.
Short answer
The smallest island that leaves room to cook needs 9 ft 0 in of floor between the counters, about 13 ft 3 in wall to wall. Add stools and it grows to 10 ft 7 in between the counters, because the stools need knee room under the top and 44 in behind them.
The smallest island: a prep counter, no stools
- Cabinets and counters
A 4 ft island with 42 in work aisles on both sides and 36 in to walk round each end, the least that leaves room to cook.
| Island | 48 × 24 in (4 × 2 ft) |
|---|---|
| Aisles | 42 in each long side, 36 in at each end |
| Floor between the counters | 10 ft 0 in × 9 ft 0 in |
| Kitchen, wall to wall | about 13 ft 3 in wide with counters on both walls |
An island with two stools, one cook
- Cabinets and counters
- Overhang, 15 in
- Stool, 24 in each
Stools need 15 in of knee room under a 36 in counter and 44 in behind them for someone to walk past, so the seating side sets the room size.
| Island | 60 × 39 in (5 × 3¼ ft) |
|---|---|
| Aisles | 44 in each long side, 36 in at each end |
| Seats | 2 at 24 in each; counter stools with a 24 to 26 in seat |
| Floor between the counters | 11 ft 0 in × 10 ft 7 in |
| Kitchen, wall to wall | about 14 ft 10 in wide with counters on both walls |
An island with three stools, two cooks
- Cabinets and counters
- Overhang, 15 in
- Stool, 24 in each
Two people cooking want 48 in aisles. That also covers the 44 in behind the stools, so both sides get 48 in.
| Island | 84 × 39 in (7 × 3¼ ft) |
|---|---|
| Aisles | 48 in each long side, 36 in at each end |
| Seats | 3 at 24 in each; counter stools with a 24 to 26 in seat |
| Floor between the counters | 13 ft 0 in × 11 ft 3 in |
| Kitchen, wall to wall | about 15 ft 6 in wide with counters on both walls |
The rules behind the sizes
| Work aisle, one cook | 42 in between counter fronts |
|---|---|
| Work aisle, two cooks | 48 in |
| Walkway | 36 in |
| Each seat | 24 in of counter |
| Knee room at a 36 in counter | 15 in of overhang |
| Behind the stools | 32 in if no one passes, 36 in to edge past, 44 in to walk past |
These are guidelines, not code. Your town may have its own rules for clearances.
Plan your own
Put in your floor in the island fit calculator, count stools and stool height with the island seating calculator, and see every clearance on one page in the kitchen clearance chart.