Kitchen Work Triangle

UNDERSTANDING A STANDARD KITCHEN DESIGN RULE

Your lifestyle should determine the functionality of your kitchen, not the other way around. The “work triangle” is a suggestion for good space planning.

The “work triangle” is space between the sink, the cooktop, and the refrigerator. The suggested guidelines for work triangles:

  • The sum of the work triangle’s three sides should not exceed 26 feet, and each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet.
  • The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches.
  • If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.
  • No major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle.

The goal of the work triangle is provide the cook with an efficient work space. It aims to keep all the major work stations near the cook and also to ensure that they are not placed so close that the kitchen becomes cramped. The work triangle is also designed to minimize traffic within the kitchen so the cook isn’t interrupted.