EDITABLE KITCHEN PLAN
Kitchen with island layout
An L-shaped working kitchen with an extra preparation island. Check what fits with this free, editable floor plan before moving or ordering furniture.
5.1 × 4.5 m inside the walls · 16.7 × 14.8 ft
Open this layout in the planner →
Why this arrangement works
Larger rooms with space around all four island sides
The island stays out of the triangle
Fridge, sink and cooker remain on the L-shaped run. The island sits to the right of their route, so it does not force a detour between work centres.
Space on every side
The 180 × 90 cm island has 140 cm to the back run, 135 cm at the fridge, 130 cm to the right wall and 160 cm to the entrance wall.
A dry preparation island
Keeping the sink and cooker on the wall runs leaves the island clear for preparation. The dishwasher stays beside the sink; no island plumbing or hob extraction is assumed.
Work triangle: 2.56 m + 1.34 m + 1.30 m = 5.20 m, measured between appliance centre-fronts. In the preview, F is the fridge, S the sink and H the hob/oven. Gold marks preparation space.
WORKED EXAMPLE · REVIEWED 16 OCTOBER 2026
Read the dimensions before copying the layout
The example room is 5.1 × 4.5 m (16 ft 9 in × 14 ft 9 in): the L-shaped working kitchen with a longer back run and a 180 × 90 cm (71 × 35 in) island.
The island has 140 cm (55 in) to the back run, 140 cm (55 in) to the side run (135 cm (53 in) at the fridge), 130 cm (51 in) to the right-hand wall and 160 cm (63 in) to the entrance wall.
The sink, cooker and fridge stay on the wall runs, so the island is a dry preparation surface with no plumbing or extraction to plan.
These are the distances in this example, measured from the starter plan. Your room, units and appliances will differ, so measure them in your own plan.
How it compares with the NKBA guidelines
| Check | NKBA guideline | This example | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aisles round the island | 1,067 mm (42 in) one cook; 1,219 mm (48 in) two | 130–160 cm (51–63 in) on every side | Meets both |
| Work triangle | Each leg 1.2–2.7 m; no leg into an island by more than 305 mm | 2.56 + 1.34 + 1.30 = 5.20 m, clear of the island | Meets |
| Walkway past the island | 914 mm (36 in) | 130 cm at the narrowest | Meets |
Guidelines from the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines: recommendations, not regulations. Check your own appliances, door swings and the people who will use the kitchen.
Adaptation A: add stools
Seating needs knee space: NKBA suggests 15 in (381 mm) deep at a 36 in high counter, so extend the worktop about 38 cm past the island. On the entrance side that leaves 122 cm (48 in) behind the counter edge, more than the 1,118 mm (44 in) NKBA suggests where people walk behind diners. On the right-hand side it leaves 92 cm (36 in): room to edge past (914 mm) but not to walk past. Put the stools on the entrance side.
Add bar stools on the entrance side and measure from the island edge to the wall.
Adaptation B: a 4.5 m wide room
Narrow the room to 4.5 m and, with the island in the same place, the gap to the right-hand wall falls to 70 cm (28 in), below the 914 mm walkway. A 120 × 90 cm island in the same position restores 130 cm (51 in) on that side.
Move the right-hand wall in, select the island and change its width until every gap is at least 107 cm.
Common mistakes with a kitchen with an island
- Sizing the island before the aisles: check the gaps first, then use what is left.
- Putting the hob on the island without planning the extraction above it.
- Forgetting that stools and the people on them need space behind the island.
Planning from scratch? Follow how to plan a kitchen, step by step, or compare all five layouts on the kitchen planner.
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Plan this kitchen with real kitchen ranges, worktops, wall tiles, floors and paint, check door swings and clearances, and download scaled PDF drawings for your fitter. $11 / £9 / €9.50 a month, tax included.
Questions about the kitchen with an island
How much space do you need around a kitchen island?
NKBA guidance suggests at least 1,067 mm (42 in) where one person cooks and 1,219 mm (48 in) where two or more do, and at least 914 mm (36 in) on sides that are only walked past. This example has 130 to 160 cm on every side.
What size room do you need for a kitchen island?
Work it out in each direction. With a run of 60 cm units, a 1,067 mm work aisle, a 90 cm deep island and a 914 mm walkway on the far side, you need about 3.48 m (11 ft 5 in). If there are units on both sides of the island, allow two work aisles.
Can a kitchen island have a sink or a hob?
Yes, but a sink needs water and a waste pipe run under the floor, and a hob needs extraction above or below it. This example keeps both on the wall runs so the island stays a clear preparation surface.
What to check in your room
This needs a generous room. Seating is not included: stools and people need additional space, so a smaller room may work better with the L-shaped example.
Furniture is represented by generic catalogue items at the dimensions below. These are our worked examples, not retailer room designs or product replicas. Check your actual furniture, door openings and access space.
Changing a wall does not automatically rearrange or resize the furniture. Adjust the walls and individual items to suit your room.
What opens in the planner
| Item | Width × depth | Width × depth |
|---|---|---|
| Corner Base Unit | 90 × 90 cm | 35.4 × 35.4 in |
| Sink Unit · single bowl | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Dishwasher | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 3 drawers | 50 × 60 cm | 19.7 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 3 drawers | 50 × 60 cm | 19.7 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 1 drawer, 1 door | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 1 drawer, 1 door | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Cooker | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 1 drawer, 1 door | 70 × 60 cm | 27.6 × 23.6 in |
| Fridge Freezer | 60 × 65 cm | 23.6 × 25.6 in |
| Base Unit · 1 drawer, 1 door | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Base Unit · 1 drawer, 1 door | 60 × 60 cm | 23.6 × 23.6 in |
| Kitchen Island | 180 × 90 cm | 70.9 × 35.4 in |
| Window | 100 × 5 cm | 39.4 × 2.0 in |
| Door | 90 × 5 cm | 35.4 × 2.0 in |
Planning references
These sources inform the dimensions or planning principles. The example room sizes and furniture arrangements are our own.
Plan your own kitchen
Use the free kitchen planner to draw your room to scale, try this layout against the others and download a scaled PDF for your fitter. Check the numbers as you go with the kitchen cabinet sizes, worktop height and work triangle and clearances guides.