Does your kitchen pass the work triangle test?
The classic guideline: the distances between fridge, sink and cooktop should add up to no more than about 26 feet (8 m), with each leg between roughly 4 and 9 feet. Under that, cooking flows; over it, you walk more than you cook. It is a comfort guideline, not law, and islands bend it in interesting ways.
The numbers behind the rule
- Total of the three legs: no more than about 26 ft (8 m).
- Each leg: roughly 4 to 9 ft; shorter and you trip over yourself, longer and you hike.
- No tall obstacle should cut through a leg; a walkway may cross it.
Measure yours in the planner
Drag your fridge, sink and cooktop into the free kitchen planner and it sums the triangle live, flags it when it grows past the guideline, and checks the walkways at the same time. Planning a sink in the island? Read what island plumbing costs first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the work triangle outdated?
The label is old, the physics is not: your feet still travel between cold storage, water and heat every meal. Modern kitchens with two cooks or a separate prep zone use work zones instead, but a triangle that measures 30 feet still means a lot of walking, whatever you call it.
Where does an island fit in the triangle?
An island with the sink or cooktop usually shortens the triangle, which is why it works so well; an island as a pure obstacle between the three points lengthens every trip. The planner measures it either way, live, while you drag.
What are the walkway rules around the triangle?
Keep about 42 inches between opposing counters for one cook, 48 for two. Tight walkways break a good triangle in practice; there is a separate guide on kitchen walkway width.