Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Gather your friends and family to cook, eat and chat around a perfectly proportioned kitchen island
Anne Ellard
24 July 2019
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the kitchen island is the heart of the kitchen – a central hub where people gather to prepare food, to eat and chat. Therefore, it’s important that it is as functional and practical as it is beautiful. This comprehensive list of key measurements to consider when designing your island bench will ensure it will fit your space and suit your needs perfectly.
Every architect will tell you that an island bench should be in proportion to the space around it, at a suitable working height for you, and is something that your family and guests can easily move around.
Find an architect near you on Houzz to customise measurements to your kitchen
Find an architect near you on Houzz to customise measurements to your kitchen
Space around the island
To avoid traffic jams and poor flow it is very important to plan for adequate room around your island, and this space should be the first thing you consider when planning your kitchen island.
Plan for at least 900 millimetres of space between the island and fixed items – other benchtops in the kitchen, walls or pieces of furniture. This will allow enough room for people to move around the island without having to turn sideways.
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To avoid traffic jams and poor flow it is very important to plan for adequate room around your island, and this space should be the first thing you consider when planning your kitchen island.
Plan for at least 900 millimetres of space between the island and fixed items – other benchtops in the kitchen, walls or pieces of furniture. This will allow enough room for people to move around the island without having to turn sideways.
My Island Home: 10 Kitchen Islands for Families
Where people usually stand to work at the island or in other parts of the kitchen facing the island – think of the stovetop and sink, and also where appliances, such as the dishwasher and fridge, open into the space – you will need to plan for even more space where possible.
The ideal space between the working areas of the island and other benches is 1,000 to 1,200 millimetres, although 900 millimetres will suffice in a one-cook kitchen.
The ideal space between the working areas of the island and other benches is 1,000 to 1,200 millimetres, although 900 millimetres will suffice in a one-cook kitchen.
Space behind diners
If your island is positioned so that the seating side of your island has a wall, another benchtop or other pieces of furniture behind it, you should keep the following measurements in mind to ensure diners have adequate room to push back their chair or stool to stand up. Depending on your layout, you may also need adequate room for someone to walk behind a seated person.
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If your island is positioned so that the seating side of your island has a wall, another benchtop or other pieces of furniture behind it, you should keep the following measurements in mind to ensure diners have adequate room to push back their chair or stool to stand up. Depending on your layout, you may also need adequate room for someone to walk behind a seated person.
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The minimum chair/stool pull-out distance behind a seating area to a wall or other objects is 600 millimetres – this is if the area behind will not be used as a walkway. A minimum of 900 millimetres of space will allow another person to edge behind a seated diner, and a minimum of 1,100 millimetres will provide comfortable walking space behind a seated diner.
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10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Kitchen
Height of the island
The most common height for benchtops in the kitchen is about 900 millimetres from the finished floor level, however, bench heights of up to 950 millimetres, and even higher, are also popular. Low benchtops are a common cause of back pain, so try to aim for a bench height of about 920 millimetres, or whatever height is most comfortable for your family – 900 to 950 millimetres is a comfortable height when using bar stools.
If the occupants of your home vary a lot in height then design an island bench (that is a single level) to suit the standing height of the main cook.
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The most common height for benchtops in the kitchen is about 900 millimetres from the finished floor level, however, bench heights of up to 950 millimetres, and even higher, are also popular. Low benchtops are a common cause of back pain, so try to aim for a bench height of about 920 millimetres, or whatever height is most comfortable for your family – 900 to 950 millimetres is a comfortable height when using bar stools.
If the occupants of your home vary a lot in height then design an island bench (that is a single level) to suit the standing height of the main cook.
7 Easy-Care Kitchen Benchtops to Make Your Life a Breeze
The height of your island can also be designed in two levels, with the working area set at a comfortable height for standing food-preparation work and the dining area lower or higher to accommodate chairs or bar stools, depending on your preference.
If you would like to incorporate table-height dining into your island, make the table 750 millimetres high. Regular dining chairs will then be suitable for use.
Don’t forget to take the thickness of your benchtop into account when specifying the height of your kitchen island. Benchtop materials vary from stainless steel, which is only a few millimetres thick, to average-thickness laminate at around 33 millimetres, all the way up to 40-millimetre-thick granite benchtops.
If you would like to incorporate table-height dining into your island, make the table 750 millimetres high. Regular dining chairs will then be suitable for use.
Don’t forget to take the thickness of your benchtop into account when specifying the height of your kitchen island. Benchtop materials vary from stainless steel, which is only a few millimetres thick, to average-thickness laminate at around 33 millimetres, all the way up to 40-millimetre-thick granite benchtops.
If you have chosen varying benchtop materials in different areas of your kitchen, keep in mind that the difference in thickness between the materials should be kept to a maximum of three millimetres. Try to keep surface levels within two millimetres of each other, unless you are drastically changing heights, for example, with the addition of a dining-table-height bench.
About 1,100 millimetres is the optimal height for a raised dining area at your island, as shown here. Raising the seating area at the island can also be a clever way to hide the main work area of the island bench from the rest of the room. Bar stools are suitable for use at a bench of this height.
About 1,100 millimetres is the optimal height for a raised dining area at your island, as shown here. Raising the seating area at the island can also be a clever way to hide the main work area of the island bench from the rest of the room. Bar stools are suitable for use at a bench of this height.
Depth of the island
Standard depths for kitchen island benches range from 600 millimetres to 1,200 millimetres. The depth you need will depend on whether your island will be used from both sides – as a dining area as well as a food-preparation area – and if appliances such as stovetops and dishwashers are being housed in the island. There is also generally an overhang of 20 millimetres between the edge of your benchtop and the front of any base cabinets in the island.
Standard depths for kitchen island benches range from 600 millimetres to 1,200 millimetres. The depth you need will depend on whether your island will be used from both sides – as a dining area as well as a food-preparation area – and if appliances such as stovetops and dishwashers are being housed in the island. There is also generally an overhang of 20 millimetres between the edge of your benchtop and the front of any base cabinets in the island.
Space between diners
It’s important that any diners at your island are comfortable – you don’t want them squashed beside each other with no elbow room.
Allow for at least 600 millimetres width per person when seated at an island. This will ensure each diner has sufficient room to eat their meal free from others’ elbows on their plates.
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It’s important that any diners at your island are comfortable – you don’t want them squashed beside each other with no elbow room.
Allow for at least 600 millimetres width per person when seated at an island. This will ensure each diner has sufficient room to eat their meal free from others’ elbows on their plates.
Out-of-the-Ordinary Kitchen Islands Designed to Dazzle
Leg room
An island can be a great place to gather for breakfast or even dinner. The depth of leg room required under the benchtop overhang for diners to sit comfortably at your island will depend on the height of the benchtop itself. If your bench is 750 millimetres high (regular table height), aim for 450 millimetres of leg room underneath.
You will need to consult your kitchen designer or benchtop supplier to determine how big of an unsupported overhang you can have based on your chosen benchtop material – concrete, for example, will require extra support underneath if there is a significant overhang.
An island can be a great place to gather for breakfast or even dinner. The depth of leg room required under the benchtop overhang for diners to sit comfortably at your island will depend on the height of the benchtop itself. If your bench is 750 millimetres high (regular table height), aim for 450 millimetres of leg room underneath.
You will need to consult your kitchen designer or benchtop supplier to determine how big of an unsupported overhang you can have based on your chosen benchtop material – concrete, for example, will require extra support underneath if there is a significant overhang.
If your island benchtop is all the same level at the typical 900 millimetres high, aim for 300 to 400 millimetres of leg room where seating is placed. If you have an 1,100-millimetre-high servery benchtop, you can also aim for 300 millimetres of leg room, but if your bar stools have heel rests then 200 millimetres of leg room should suffice.
These measurements let your legs fit comfortably beneath the benchtop when seated and also mean your stools can be stored under the benchtop when not in use.
These measurements let your legs fit comfortably beneath the benchtop when seated and also mean your stools can be stored under the benchtop when not in use.
Space around island fittings
If you are planning to have your sink or stovetop located in your island bench, ensure they are positioned a minimum of 300 millimetres from the edge. Aim for 600 millimetres of landing space to one side and 450 millimetres to the other, where possible.
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If you are planning to have your sink or stovetop located in your island bench, ensure they are positioned a minimum of 300 millimetres from the edge. Aim for 600 millimetres of landing space to one side and 450 millimetres to the other, where possible.
10 Creative Kitchen Islands to Escape To
Room for a moveable island
If you have a small kitchen, or a narrow galley kitchen that’s just too small to fit a permanent fixed island, consider having a small island unit on wheels.
A moveable island will give you the opportunity to have the extra bench space and storage you crave, without cramping the kitchen. Design the moveable island bench so it can easily be wheeled into the main workspace when you need it, and can sit against a vacant wall when not in use.
If you have a small kitchen, or a narrow galley kitchen that’s just too small to fit a permanent fixed island, consider having a small island unit on wheels.
A moveable island will give you the opportunity to have the extra bench space and storage you crave, without cramping the kitchen. Design the moveable island bench so it can easily be wheeled into the main workspace when you need it, and can sit against a vacant wall when not in use.
Your turn
Do you have an island in your kitchen that you and your family love to gather around? We would love for you to share your photos with us in the comments section.
More
Need more practical advice? Read more kitchen design stories here
Do you have an island in your kitchen that you and your family love to gather around? We would love for you to share your photos with us in the comments section.
More
Need more practical advice? Read more kitchen design stories here
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@Helen Evans-Turner,
Hi Helen,
I haven't but as my pictures show above, I have stainless and wood but varying thicknesses on purpose as the wood is the overhang and I like the height variation for interest.
My niece is living in a house at present that has the same material but the work area is 900mm high I'm guessing and she has a lower section on the side in a semi wrap around with normal seating height that would be about 700mm and it looks great, seats about 3 chairs and is used instead of having a table as the room is quite small.
Hi Anne (or anyone else pls :-) )
We have a Cooktop bench of 900mm height, does it make sense for us to make the Island bench 920mm in height for it to stand out please?
The island bench has dimension of 3m x 1.05m
thanks all
Hi Gilbert,
I have a bench that is 900mm high and wide with a further raised timber section for bar stool seating so overall width is now 1400mm, so I can't reach across it easily. I decided to raise the timber so it didn't look too wide and boring, it adds characher but it is not designed to be a work area, just seating and eating.
I don't have a cooktop nor a sink as I had a friend with a sink in her island and it always looked messy to me with water splashed and dishes in the sink, so that sealed the deal for me and I opted to have my cooktop against a wall so it was easy to fit the rangehood this way too. I do have some pics in this thread.
I think island benches now are a "fashion" statement and look amazing without anything, especially a rangehood perched above it for me looses some appeal. I do all my prep work on it and can make multiple dishes because of the available area. I have a few plants and a cutting board at one end and that's it but trust me, your island will stand out because of its size.
I would be concerrned if you raise the bench to 920mm, it might not be so user friendly as 900mm is really considered the "perfect" height for most average height people.
If like me you are not that tall, 900mm is a little too high for me but I live with it. It also depends on whether this will be your "forever" home because trying to sell a home with unusually high benchtops, even 20mm could be difficult?
Perhaps speak to your kitchen guy or company, they do so many annually they would know if it is an acceptable idea?
Good luck.
Cheers, Barbara