8 Standard Kitchen Measurements, You Must Know

The kitchen has a special place in all Indian homes. It is like the stomach of the house that satiates the soul of the inhabitants. To be able to fulfill its function affluently, it becomes pertinent that the kitchen is designed properly. Dimensions play a major role in the swift functioning of a kitchen. A layperson might wonder about the specific dimensions that should be kept in mind while conceptualizing a kitchen. There is an array of dimensions that are at play in a kitchen, but to relieve you of all the confusion, the following are the 8 standard kitchen measurements that you must know when designing your dream kitchen –

1. Height and Depth of the Countertop

A countertop is an element that is the most used in the kitchen, hence to know about its standard measurements becomes rather important. Though there are standard dimensions for the countertop based on the average human height, there could be slight variations depending on the average height of the household. The height and depth of the countertop are important factors, as these dimensions determine the comfort of the user while working in the kitchen. The height should be such that the user doesn’t strain their back while preparing and cooking the meals. The depth should be adept to aid in easy working as well as accommodation of the appliances in the kitchen.

According to the standards, the height for the countertop is – 850 to 900 mm and the standard depth of the countertop is – 600 mm. For an island countertop (an option that must be considered in the case of large kitchens), the ideal dimensions are 1200 x 900 mm, to accommodate ease of working.

You must check out Unusual Kitchen Counter-Tops Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind

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2. Kitchen Aisle Width

The width of the kitchen aisle is one of the most important measurements to keep in mind while designing the kitchen. This is for the simple reason that the aisle sees the most movement in the kitchen. If the aisle has a narrow width then it becomes difficult for the user to work swiftly and efficiently in the kitchen. Therefore, the minimum aisle width to be considered while designing a kitchen is 1020 mm and can go up to 1200 mm.

The aisle width also comes into play when one has to open the cabinets to keep or take things out from the cabinets. Additionally, if the kitchen has parallel countertops, it is best to keep the aisle width as 1200 mm for easy movement and swift working.

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3. Clearance Between the Countertop and Overhead Cabinet

Overhead cabinets help in increasing the storage and working space of the kitchen. But where is it that we install the cabinet? Or, what is the minimum clearance that should be considered between the countertop and the overhead cabinet? The minimum clearance should be 600 mm. This clearance is apt to accommodate the backsplash with minimal wastage during construction. Apart from the backsplash, the clearance gives a visual appeal as well as some breathing space above the countertop.

Looking to provide flawless lighting under overhead cabinets, read this.

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4. Depth of Overhead Cabinet

While the overhead cabinets reach up to the ceiling level to give a neater appeal to the kitchen interiors, but the internal design is based on the requirements of the user. The key dimension to remember when it comes to providing overhead cabinets is the depth of the cabinet. The overall depth of these cabinets should be in the range of 300 to 375 mm.

The reason that the depth of these cabinets is less is to prevent the user from getting their heads hurt while working in the kitchen. This dimension helps in receding the cabinet by a good 300 mm to avoid any mishaps and at the same time give a rhythmic appeal to the overall kitchen decor. However, if the overhead cabinets are planned over kitchen appliances, then the depth can go up to a maximum of 600 mm or match the depth of the appliance or appliance rack to achieve a clean look.

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5. Distance Between Hob and Chimney

One of the most important measurements that one should know while designing a kitchen is the distance between the top of the hob and the bottom of the chimney. This is an important dimension to know as the distance between the two elements can alter the way the fumes are exhumed from the kitchen while cooking. The ideal distance should be in the range of 660 – 750 mm. To maintain the performance of the chimney one should adhere to this range of dimensions (keeping in line with the clearance measure specified by the chimney seller).

Also read, 10 Best Kitchen Hobs and 10 Best Kitchen Auto-Clean Chimney to help you in purchasing the right hob and chimney models for your kitchen.

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6. Depth of Kitchen Cabinets

The depth of the under the counter cabinets are aligned with the depth of the countertop. These can be receded marginally depending on the requirements of the users. The ideal depth of the under the counter cabinets is 600 mm. The dimension is standardized keeping in mind the range of reach of the user comfortably.

To know about the various materials used for kitchen cabinets and selecting the right one, read this.

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7. Kitchen Work Triangle

A kitchen work triangle is a combination of dimensions that should be kept in mind when designing a kitchen. The triangle ensures smooth working of all kitchen related functions vis-à-vis preparation, cooking and washing. The rule of thumb is that the perimeter of the kitchen triangle must ideally be 8 m (not more), irrespective of the layout of the kitchen.

Try to get the triangle right and you will be able to work in the kitchen with ease.

By Peter Oreilly - drawn myself, CC0, Link

8. Sink Clearance

As important as the sink is to the kitchen, giving a standard clearance on either side is equally important. The clearance adjacent to the sink can be used to keep soiled utensils on one side and the clean on the other, or any permutation and combinations that the user wants. With the variety of sinks available in the market today, the function of the sink has evolved from a mere element to wash utensils. Depending on the model of the sink chosen the sink clearance can be considered.

By standards, the measurements to follow for sink clearance are 920 mm on one side and about 450 mm on the other (which is primarily used for draining purposes and can be combined with the draining board of the sinks), depending on the layout of the kitchen. However, if one is short on space, the draining board or the drying rack can be stacked above the sink too.

Looking to buy kitchen sinks, read our article, 10 Best Kitchen Sinks to make your choice easier.

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The standard measurements aforementioned are the most important according to me out of a bunch load of standard dimensions. It is important to adhere to the standards as they help in achieving a well proportional and functional kitchen, thus making it a well-balanced space without compromising on the functionality of the space. The standards are baseline measurements based on the average human anthropometrics and ergonomics but can be altered marginally depending on factors like – the users, their requirements and the availability of area for the kitchen space.

These standard measurements will hopefully make the kitchen design journey a little easy for you, but in case of any suggestions, please feel free to post your comments.

Also, take a read of the most important 10 Things Not To Do While Remodelling Your Kitchen

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