Kitchen Work Triangle

If you started off in an apartment or have lived in more than one home, you’ve probably noticed that some kitchens are far more functional than others. What makes one kitchen more functional than another? A well-designed kitchen feels bigger. More open. Intuitive. You’re not tripping over each other trying to get to the stove or refrigerator. What’s the real secret?

Enter the Kitchen Work Triangle

The kitchen work triangle refers to the triangle formed between the placement of the sink, refrigerator and stove.  These three points are the key areas where all of the action is.  Put these three points too close together and there’s no room to work.  Put them too far apart and it becomes a frustrating area to work in and enjoy.

The University of Illinois School of Architecture studied this concept extensively in the late 1940’s and coined the phrase “work triangle”.  In today’s world of design there are 5 work triangle principles that are used as commonly accepted practices.

Designing an Effective Kitchen Work Triangle:

• No leg of the work triangle should be less than 4 feet (1.2 m) or more than 9 feet (2.7 m).
• The sum of all three sides of the triangle should be between 13 feet (4.0 m) and 26 feet (7.9 m).
• Cabinets or other obstacles should not intersect any leg of the triangle by more than 12 inches (30 cm).
• If possible, there should be no major traffic flow through the triangle.
• A full-height obstacle, such as a tall cabinet, should not come between any two points of the triangle.

How does your kitchen stack up? Grab a tape measure, take some measurements and post your thoughts in the comments below.

Obviously, the size of a kitchen dictates what’s actually feasible, but even in a smaller kitchen there’s usually a way to make a work triangle. Ultimately, the final decision is up to you because no principle can be an exact fit for every home.  However, being aware of the work triangle is certainly something to keep in mind as you design the kitchen of your dreams.

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