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Calculators / Layout

Will an island fit in your kitchen?

Measure counter front to counter front both ways. You'll get the biggest island that still leaves room to cook, and a side-by-side check on the one you want.

These are example numbers. Put in yours.

Your floor

in

The way the island runs long. Counter front to counter front, or to the wall. 14 ft is 168 in.

in

Across the island, counter front to counter front. Measure from the doors, not the toe kick.

Your island

in

Countertop size, overhang included.

in

24 in cabinets plus 12 in of overhang for stools is 36 in.

Who cooks at once

Your island fits

Up to 96 x 36 in

Your 72 x 36 in island fits with room to cook. You could go as big as 96 x 36 in.

Biggest island
96 x 36 in
Long sides
42 inneed 42 in
Ends
48 inneed 36 in

long sides = (120 - 36) ÷ 2 = 42 in each

ends = (168 - 72) ÷ 2 = 48 in each

need 42 in work aisles (one cook), 36 in walkways

biggest = (168 - 2 × 36) x (120 - 2 × 42) = 96 x 36 in

Your island, side by side

  • Long sides, eachWork aisle. Needs 42 in for one cook.
    42 in

    Room to cook and open doors.

  • Ends, eachWalkway. Needs 36 in.
    48 in

    Room to walk around.

Door swing

A dishwasher or oven door drops about 26 in into the aisle. With 42 in you'd have 16 in left to stand beside it. Don't put a dishwasher across from the range.

Centered

We centered the island. Slide it over and one side gains what the other side loses.

Stools

Stools on the island? Anyone walking behind them needs 44 in from the counter edge.

Two cooks

Fine for one cook. Two people working at once want 48 in.

How we work it out

We take the clear floor, subtract the island, and split what's left between the two sides. Then we check each side against the NKBA numbers.

each side = (clear width - island depth) ÷ 2

each end = (clear length - island length) ÷ 2

The long sides face your counters, so they're work aisles. NKBA wants 42 in for one cook and 48 in when two people cook at once. The ends are walkways, and those need 36 in. Under 36 in anywhere, we say no.

biggest island = (length - 2 × 36) x (width - 2 × work aisle)

Measure from cabinet doors and appliance fronts, not the wall. A dishwasher door open blocks about 26 in of aisle, so keep it away from the spot where you stand at the range or sink.

Where the numbers come from

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