Generally, Island is a centrally located countertop in a kitchen that allows the access from all sides. It is used primarily for the food preparation and for the storage of appliances needed for cooking. Therefore, it is an elegant solution to the problem of finding usable workspace in a typical home kitchen, which has adequate width.
Getting a perfect Kitchen Island can be tricky, but if one pays attention to detailing, it is going to be a cakewalk. Here are the standard Kitchen Island dimensions, which will give you clarity on the space required.
Minimum Size of Kitchen Island
Kitchen Island is an additional counter, which has multiple uses and it is only recommended for kitchens having minimum dimensions of length 4.50 meter (14’-9”) and width 3.60 meter (11’-9”). This dimension can accommodate an island of 1.20 meter (4’) long and little more than 0.60 meter (2’) wide.
Therefore, an island is not a feature to be incorporated in small kitchens. While it is better to plan only kitchen platform in the periphery of kitchen wall, if Kitchen Island is a must, then one can opt for movable islands. These foldable and portable islands can be used only when it is necessary.
Height of Kitchen Island:
The Island countertop is usually placed at waist level or higher, with some drawers for storage of utensils-crockery, food preparation tools etc. Dimensions of Kitchen Island vary according to its use i.e. as a Kitchen counter, breakfast bar or table, service table, etc.
Generally, an Island is used as a counter and in this case, its height should be same as kitchen counter or platform 0.85m to 0.90m (2’-9” to 3’-0”), so that the person who is going to use it can cook comfortably without any back problem.
If it is used for service purpose, then the height of the island table should be 0.75 meter (30 inches) as it is comfortable for kneading and rolling out atta(dough) or chopping ingredients.
Width of Kitchen Island:
The width of the Kitchen Island too varies depending on its purpose. An island should be at least 1.20 meter (4 feet) long and a little more than 0.60meter (2 feet) wide or deep. However, one factor to remember here is that there should be adequate space for the people to move and work around the island comfortably.
If it is used as a breakfast bar, then two parallel widths should be considered-one is 0.60 meter (2 feet) for counter and additional 0.30 meter (1 foot) as a breakfast bar. Therefore total 0.90 meter (3 feet) width should be considered.
Space Required around Kitchen Island:
Ideally, there should be enough space for a person when there is someone standing at the island and working, therefore space should be such that two people can stand side by side across the gap or pass through comfortably. At the same time, the space should also be enough to cater to people having mobility problems. That means, the space around the kitchen Island should give enough room for passing a wheelchair or walking frame.
Therefore standard clearance around kitchen island or any two parallel counters or cabinets should be minimum 1.20 meter (4 feet), and if there is only single counter then minimum 0.9 meter (3 feet) is necessary.
Ultimately, always remember that when it comes to Kitchen Islands, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Clarity is the key, so before getting a Kitchen Island, know the purposes it will serve in the house. It is only keen planning that can prevent your Kitchen Island from becoming a kitchen disaster!
Since you are reading about kitchen island, you might be interested in knowing more about it. So, here are some more interesting articles related to it that might be helpful to you in designing island kitchen –