How wide should a kitchen be?

[NotWithMyShoes]

What’s a normal width between units. We have one row (cooker, fridge, cupboards along the wall and then a central unit (sink, dishwasher) that splits the kitchen from dining area.

There is 1m between the two, if I open the dishwasher, the drawer opposite would bash into it. It feels narrow and is very awkward with two people in it. We could maybe push 5-10cm into the dining area. Would this make a noticeable difference?

You prompted me to measure my kitchen! I don't have units on both sides, it's a long U shape with a wall opposite most of the units and that's about 135cm between the wall and units. I wouldn't like it to be much narrower than that.

Kitchen design websites say 1.2m minimum, and ideally 1.4m.

Could the middle section be shallower, meaning you could push it further into the dining area?

My designer says 1100mm is optimal because you can reach everything on a pivot and a step. Any more and you need an extra step.
I hadn’t thought about it. I have 1400 in my current kitchen and since she pointed it out the extra half step has been a constant irritation.

But my new kitchen is designed to be a one chef space, with lots of island space to keep helpers out from under my feet. If you want two adults working together you probably need at least 1400mm

Another thing to think about is separating zones, so if one adult is unloading a dishwasher, the other isn’t behind them prepping food or cooking. It might be too big a job to move a cooker or dishwasher but sometimes rearranging cupboards can help- we moved the cupboards where the plates were kept for this reason because we constantly crossing paths and in each other’s way. It made a big difference without costing anything.

I have a small u-shaped kitchen with 120cm space between one stretch of units and the other. It’s comfortable, I can open a cupboard door or pull a drawer fully out and still have ample standing space, and I think much less than that would feel squashed (and particularly so if I was larger.)

I think you'd notice the improvement if you changed it 110cm especially round the dishwasher but that's still a little tight.

Have you considered other compromises in the dining area that could help you nudge the kitchen out a bit more? Eg built in seating or a bench on one side of the table, positioning one of the table ends up against a wall, replacing table with a narrower one?

A dishwasher door is around 600 mm when down and a single cupboard could be similar when open. Therefore 1200 is best.

When you mention a dining area, how wide is that? I would much rather have a bigger eat in kitchen with space to move around rather than a bigger dining area. Building in a bench seat saves space too. What is the size of the kitchen and dining area added together?

I've been recently looking at new kitchens, from what I understand, the optimal distance is 120cm. The absolute minimum is 90cm but anything under 100cm will feel tight.

Interesting what a pp said about them having 140cm and the constant extra half step they have to take being annoying.. I will definitely be considering that now when doing my planning!

Interesting. I am about to update my kitchen. (Need to measure!). It is a galley kitchen so no choice really. Plumbing on one side so that cannot be moved. Wondering if i can make do with shelving instead of top cupboards?

Ours is 88 cm between the worktop edges. Less when you consider the appliances stick out a few cm. But there's not really any choice in our house, that's the size of the room. The dishwasher is at the end of the U so it's fairly easy to access.

For one person it's fine, but two people can't get past each other unless you're both skinny.

Shelving will not be much narrower than cupboards but it can feel more spacious. Do you like cleaning?

I always think some dining and kitchenware can be stored in built in furniture that matches the kitchen in the dining area. Floor to ceiling drawers, shelves and cupboards. Do you need instant access to casserole dishes, salad bowls etc all the time? I think a streamlined approach to kitchen/diners works when the kitchen is small because dining area walls are often neglected.

Mine is a galley kitchen and the gap is 108cm ( just measured it! ) .... 2 in the kitchen is fine....3 is a crowd 😁

1000mm from wall units to island feels fine in ours. I laid it out at 1200 / 1400 but it felt too much. Ours are mainly pan / regular drawers, and you can have them fully open on either side without touching.

There’s also the issue of walking around the kitchen between units. 1200, if someone has a saucepan with boiling water, is safer. You also need bending room!

I'm kitchen planning at the moment and allowing 1100mm between worktops, mostly to allow sufficient circulation space in the rest of the room (total width 4.4m).

Currently have 1200mm between worktop and table which feels very generous - until someone pushes a chair out. Which is why we're getting an extension!