Adding an island is a perfect way to increase your kitchen’s functionality and countertop space. If you are installing a new island in a kitchen that previously didn’t have one, the natural next question is: how much space do you need around a kitchen island? Having the right space ensures your island fits with your design and doesn’t block important areas. Read on to learn more about kitchen islands and space considerations.
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Space Planning For Kitchen Islands: Why It Matters
The kitchen has some key components that will always be present, which include countertops, an oven, a fridge, and a sink. When doing updates, you need to make sure there is adequate space around kitchen islands to fit these other elements.
Spacing matters because your kitchen needs to remain a functional space, and too little space impacts functionality. Think of it this way: say you install an island and there is not enough space between the island and cabinet space. A narrow corridor between the two can impede foot traffic and cabinet doors can be blocked by other parts of the architecture.
The empty space around kitchen elements to allow movement and use is called clearance. A cramped kitchen is not only frustrating to use but can also pose a safety hazard. That is why making precise measurements is incredibly important when designing your kitchen or adding updates.
How Much Space Do You Need Around a Kitchen Island?
Traditional wisdom states that the recommended clearance for kitchen islands is two by four feet or no more than 10% of the kitchen’s total floor space. Given that the average kitchen is about 160 square feet, that means that the average kitchen island comes in at about 15 to 16 square feet in total. In terms of height, the typical kitchen island space requirements are about 36 inches tall with no seating and 42 inches tall with seating.
The industry standard is that you need at least 36 inches of space around each edge of the kitchen island. Three feet of clearance is enough so that you can comfortably walk between the island and countertops and should provide enough clearance for cabinet doors.
When planning the island layout in your kitchen, remember that seating needs a bit more clearance so you can comfortably move behind someone who is sitting. For islands with seating, make sure you have at least 44 inches of clearance behind the side with chairs.
Putting it all together, if your kitchen is 110 inches wide, then your island should be no more than 36 inches wide, as that leaves 36 inches of clearance on either side of the fixture.
One easy method of measuring your kitchen space is to put a temporary “table” in the island space to get a feel for its dimensions. You don’t even have to use a real table—you can just cut a cardboard sheet that is the right length and width. You can place the cardboard cutout on chairs or stacks of books to estimate the height. The makeshift table will help you get a feel for what works for the island’s dimensions.
Kitchen Island Workspace
Kitchen islands are also usually a place for seating and food prep, so you need to ensure the workspace and seating space are large enough.
The ideal sitting space for an individual is about 24 inches, or two feet, so an island that can fit two people should be at least 48 inches long. Depending on how tall your island countertops are, you need between 15 and 12 inches of knee space beneath so you can sit comfortably.
The amount of necessary workspace depends on what other elements your island has. For instance, if your island has an additional sink or a range stove, you need clearance space around those elements. The ideal kitchen island clearance on either side of a sink or range stove on an island is 15 inches and 12 inches, respectively.
Kitchen Triangle Standard
Another method of determining the ideal space for your kitchen is known as the “kitchen triangle.” According to the kitchen triangle idea, there are three core components of a usable kitchen: a fridge, sink, and cooktop. These three elements should be arranged in a triangle shape where no leg is less than four feet long and no greater than 9 feet long.
If your kitchen island doesn’t have a cooktop or sink, then it should not jut out into the triangle by more than 12 to 18 inches. If you are putting a sink or a cooktop on your island, then make sure it fits into the general triangle shape.
Other Space Considerations
There are a handful of other spacing considerations when installing a kitchen island.
Receptacles
Kitchen islands should have an outlet or two in case you need to plug in an appliance, like a mixer or a toaster. Like all the other electrical outlets in your house, island outlets need the right amount of space around them for safety reasons.
First, every outlet on your island needs to have ground-fault circuit interruption protection. The island itself should have one outlet for the first nine square feet and an additional outlet for every 18 square feet. If your countertop were 27 square feet, it would need at least two outlets.
Also, kitchen island outlets need to be at least two feet above the ground.
Lighting
Most kitchen islands will have functional lighting that makes the space more usable. Regardless of what kind of lighting you have, you need to ensure there is enough clearance space between them and the ceiling.
Recessed lights are not an issue because they go directly into the ceiling, but hanging or pendant lights need enough clearance above the island so they don’t interfere. We recommend at least 36 inches of clearance between the island countertops and any hanging lighting.
Ventilation
Ventilation space is only a concern if your island has a cooktop integrated into it. The two main options for island ventilation are an overhead range hood and a downdraft fan with floor venting. Range hoods need to have at least 28 to 36 inches of clearance above the heat source. Fortunately, you can often combine a range hood with lighting options to kill two birds with one stone.
Downdraft venting is a bit more complex because you may have to cut into your home’s concrete foundation slab to install it. A downdraft range hood needs about 30 inches of space between the top of the cooktop and the bottom of the island.
What About a Mobile Island?
If you are tight on space and don’t have enough to install a standalone kitchen island, you can always try a movable kitchen island. Movable islands typically have smaller dimensions than stationary islands, but they are mobile and can be stored out of the way when not in use. Most movable islands also have built-in cabinets for additional storage space. However, one downside of mobile islands is they can’t house fixed appliances, such as stoves or outlets.
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Now that you know the answer to the question, “How much space do you need around a kitchen island?” take the next step. Contact Kitchens By Woody’s online or give us a call today at (304) 814-2268 to discuss styling a kitchen island for your home!
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