Standard kitchen dimensions compared
As checked on 28 October 2026, US kitchens are built around a 36 inch (91 cm) worktop on 24 inch (61 cm) deep cabinets. UK kitchens are close: a worktop at about 900 mm on 560 mm deep units. The table gives every main size in both markets.
| Measurement | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Worktop height | 36 in (91 cm) | About 900 mm (35 in) |
| Base cabinet height | 34½ in (88 cm) cabinet, without top | 720 mm box, 870 mm on legs |
| Base cabinet depth | 24 in (61 cm) | 560 mm unit, 600 mm worktop |
| Wall cabinet depth | 12 in (30 cm) | 300 mm (12 in) |
| Worktop to wall cabinet | 18 in (46 cm) | About 490 mm (19 in) |
| Tall cabinet height | 84–96 in (213–244 cm) | – |
| Worktop overhang | 1½ in (38 mm) | About 20 mm (¾ in) |
| Knee space at a 36 in counter | 15 in (38 cm) per seat | – |
| Breakfast bar overhang without legs | – | Up to 300 mm (12 in) |
| Counter stool seat | 22–26 in (56–66 cm) | – |
| Bar stool seat | 28–30 in (71–76 cm) | – |
| Work aisle | 42 in (107 cm), 48 in (122 cm) for two cooks | – |
| Walkway | 36 in (91 cm) at least | – |
| Sink cabinet | 33 in (84 cm) for a 30 in sink | 60 cm unit for a 53 cm sink |
| Cooktop to hood | 24 in (61 cm) at least | 650 mm over gas, 500 mm over induction |
| Backsplash | About 4 in (10 cm), or 18 in full height | Short upstand about 120 mm (4¾ in) |
| Island pendants above worktop | 30–36 in (76–91 cm) | 70–80 cm (28–32 in) |
Source: National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Kitchen Planning Guidelines; KraftMaid, Cut My, DIY Kitchens, EGGER, IKEA, Kraus, Caesarstone, VT Industries, Bosch UK, Visual Comfort and Tala guides. A dash means no single figure was checked. Checked October 2026.
Read each row as a starting point, not a rule. The guides below explain each size and when to change it.
Worktop height is 36 inches in the US and about 900 mm in the UK
A standard US worktop sits at 36 inches (91 cm): a 34½ inch cabinet plus a 1½ inch top. In the UK it is about 900 mm. The comfortable height for you is about 4 inches (100 mm) below your elbow. Our guide to the standard kitchen countertop height compares the heights, the parts that build them and the seating heights.
Cabinet sizes are 34½ in base boxes, 12 in deep wall cabinets and 84–96 in tall units
A US base cabinet is 34½ inches (88 cm) high and 24 inches (61 cm) deep. A wall cabinet is 12 inches (30 cm) deep. A tall cabinet runs 84 to 96 inches (213–244 cm). UK units are 720 mm high, 870 mm on their legs, with 300 mm deep wall units. Our guide to standard kitchen cabinet sizes compares every height, depth and width in the US and the UK, and shows what the size on the label covers.
Upper cabinets hang 18 inches above the worktop, 450 to 500 mm in the UK
The bottom of a US upper cabinet sits 18 inches (46 cm) above the worktop, which is 54 inches (137 cm) from the floor. UK wall units start 450 to 500 mm (18–20 in) above the worktop. Over the hob (cooktop), leave at least 24 inches (61 cm) to a hood and 30 inches (76 cm) to a cabinet that can burn. The ceiling sets how tall the cabinets can be. Our guide to upper cabinet height compares the US and UK heights and shows how to set yours.
Worktops overhang 1½ inches, and 15 inches where people sit
A standard worktop overhangs the cabinet doors by about 1½ inches (38 mm) in the US and 20 mm in the UK. To sit at a 36 inch (91 cm) counter, NKBA asks for 15 inches (38 cm) of knee space, and 12 inches (30 cm) at a 42 inch bar. Stone that hangs out further needs brackets or legs. Our guide to countertop overhang compares the US and UK overhangs and shows when to add support.
A kitchen island with seats is about 40½ inches deep
A kitchen island with seats on one side is about 40½ inches (103 cm) deep. That is a 24 inch cabinet, a 1½ inch edge and 15 inches of knee space. Each seat adds 24 inches (61 cm) of length. In the UK, a breakfast bar can overhang up to 300 mm without legs. Our guide to kitchen island size adds the length for a hob or sink and shows the room an island needs.
A counter takes a 22 to 26 inch stool, a bar a 28 to 30 inch one
A counter is 36 inches (91 cm) high and takes a stool with a seat 22 to 26 inches (56–66 cm) high. A bar is 42 inches (107 cm) high and takes a 28 to 30 inch (71–76 cm) seat. Leave 10 to 12 inches (25–30 cm) between the seat and the top. Our guide to counter height vs bar height adds the knee space and the room each stool needs.
A kitchen sink is about 3 inches narrower than its cabinet
A kitchen sink is about 3 inches (8 cm) narrower than the cabinet under it. A 30 inch sink needs a 33 inch (84 cm) cabinet. A 33 inch sink needs a 36 inch (91 cm) one. In the UK, a 53 cm (21 in) sink fits a 60 cm unit. Our guide to kitchen sink size adds the bowl depth and the 24 and 18 inches of worktop to leave either side.
A range hood sits at least 24 inches above the cooktop
NKBA plans at least 24 inches (61 cm) between the cooktop and a hood or other protected surface above it. In the UK, Bosch asks for at least 650 mm (25⅝ in) over a gas hob and 500 mm (19¾ in) over induction. Our guide to range hood height adds the usual range, island hoods and how wide the hood should be.
A backsplash is about 4 inches high, or 18 inches up to the wall cabinets
A short backsplash is about 4 inches (10 cm) high, and a full-height one fills the 18 inches (46 cm) up to the wall cabinets. In the UK, laminate upstands are about 120 mm (4¾ in) high and a full splashback fills about 490 mm (19¼ in). Behind the hob, it runs up to the hood. Our guide to standard backsplash height adds the materials that can go behind a hob.
Island pendants hang 30 to 36 inches above the worktop
Pendant lights hang 30 to 36 inches (76–91 cm) above an island, says lighting maker Visual Comfort. UK maker Tala says 70 to 80 cm (28–32 in). Two suit a smaller island and three suit larger ones, spaced evenly along the middle. Our guide to pendant light height over an island adds spacing and pendant size.
Leave 42 inches of floor in front of the worktop
NKBA plans a work aisle at least 42 inches (107 cm) wide for one cook and 48 inches (122 cm) for two. A walkway where nobody works can be 36 inches (91 cm). These gaps decide whether an island fits. Our guide to the space around a kitchen island shows each gap, and the kitchen island size calculator tests your own room.
The layout comes first, so start with how to choose a kitchen layout.
How to check your kitchen dimensions in 6 steps
Measure the room and the finished surfaces, not the boxes, as our room planning guides explain.
- Measure each wall from corner to corner, and mark doors, windows and pipes.
- Measure your elbow height: a comfortable worktop is about 4 inches (100 mm) lower.
- Set the worktop height, then add 18 inches (46 cm) for the bottom of the wall cabinets.
- Measure the worktop runs, as in our guide to measuring kitchen countertops.
- Add up the worktop area with the countertop area calculator.
- Check the floor: 42 inches (107 cm) in front of every worktop, 48 inches (122 cm) if two people cook.
Before you order, ask your fitter to check the room and your appliance manuals.
Common problems with kitchen dimensions, and how to fix them
Most problems come from one size changed without the ones around it.
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Your back aches at the worktop | The worktop is far from 4 in (100 mm) below your elbow | Change the plinth or legs to raise or lower it |
| Appliances will not fit under the wall cabinets | The gap is less than 18 in (46 cm), or about 490 mm in the UK | Hang the wall cabinets higher, or use shorter ones |
| People bump into each other | The aisle is under 42 in (107 cm), or 48 in for two cooks | Make the island smaller, or choose a peninsula |
| Knees hit the island | Less than 15 in (38 cm) of knee space at a 36 in counter | Add overhang, with brackets where the top needs them |
| The sink will not drop in | The sink is wider than the cabinet allows | Pick a sink about 3 in (8 cm) narrower than the cabinet |
Source: NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines, KraftMaid, DIY Kitchens, EGGER and Kraus. Checked October 2026.
Quick questions
- Are standard kitchen dimensions the same in the US and the UK?
Not quite. The US works in inches and the UK in millimetres, and the standards are close but not identical. Each guide gives both units and says which market each figure comes from.
- Do I have to use the standard sizes?
No. Standards tell you what cabinets and appliances are made for, which keeps a kitchen cheaper and easier to fit. Each guide says when a different size is worth it, for example a worktop height set to your own elbow.
- What is the minimum clearance between a worktop and wall units?
Not one fixed rule, but 18 inches (46 cm) is the US standard, which puts the cabinet bottom 54 inches (137 cm) from the floor. In the UK the gap is usually about 490 mm over a 40 mm worktop.
- How much floor space does a kitchen need in front of the worktop?
Not less than 42 inches (107 cm) where one person cooks, says NKBA, and 48 inches (122 cm) for two cooks. A walkway where nobody works can be 36 inches (91 cm).
- Is a kitchen island a standard size?
No. An island is sized to the room around it. With seats on one side it is about 40½ inches (103 cm) deep, and each seat takes 24 inches (61 cm) of length.
- How do you measure kitchen cabinets?
Only measure the cabinet box, not the worktop on it. A US base cabinet is 34½ inches (88 cm) high and 24 inches (61 cm) deep before its 1½ inch top. Widths go up in 3 inch steps.