The seven kitchen layouts are one-wall, galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, G-shaped, peninsula and island. Room width sorts them: a galley or U needs 7 ft 9 in wall to wall for two facing counters and NKBA’s 42 in aisle; an L fits a 10 × 10 ft room; a peninsula a 12 × 12 ft one; and an island or a G about 13 × 13 ft.
The seven layouts side by side
| Layout | Room in our plan | Counter | Work triangle | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-wall | a 15 ft wall | 6 ft 9 in | a line | studios, open plans, basements |
| Galley | 9 × 12 ft | 15 ft 9 in | 16 ft 3 in | narrow rooms, one cook |
| L-shaped | 10 × 10 ft | 7 ft 9 in | 16 ft 10 in | square rooms, a table in the kitchen |
| U-shaped | 10 × 10 ft | 13 ft 3 in | 17 ft 5 in | the most counter in a small room |
| G-shaped | 13 × 13 ft | 15 ft 3 in | 17 ft 8 in | a U plus seating |
| Peninsula | 12 × 12 ft | 11 ft 8 in | 15 ft 8 in | seating where an island won’t fit |
| Island | 13 × 13 ft | 14 ft 6 in | 18 ft 5 in | open plans, two cooks, seating |
Counter is the counter frontage beside and between the appliances, not counting the sink and range. NKBA’s target for a whole kitchen is 158 in (about 13 ft 2 in); its work triangle limit is 26 ft, with each leg 4 to 9 ft. Every plan here was laid out by our kitchen layout planner and passes each NKBA minimum it checks.
How to choose
- Measure the width. Under 7 ft 9 in wall to wall, two facing counters won’t leave a 42 in aisle: use one wall. A standard fridge facing a counter needs about 9¾ in more.
- Count the free walls. Doors and windows decide where runs can go. An L needs two walls without a door near the corner; a U needs three.
- Place the sink. Under the window or on the plumbing wall, with the dishwasher beside it, then put the range and fridge on other walls or at the far ends of the run.
- Add an island only if the room is about 12 ft across or more. It needs a 42 in aisle on each side you work from, and 36 to 44 in behind any stools.
The seven layouts, drawn
- Work triangle: 22 ft 1 in
- Counter: 6 ft 9 in
1. One-wall
Everything in a row, with nothing to walk around. It takes the least floor, but NKBA’s landing areas need a long wall: 15 ft with full-size appliances, 13 ft with 24 in ones. One-wall kitchens by wall length.
- Narrowest aisle: 47¼ in
- Work triangle: 16 ft 3 in
- Counter: 15 ft 9 in
2. Galley
Two parallel runs with the aisle between: 57 in here, 47¼ in at the fridge door. The work triangle is short: 16 ft 3 in. Galley kitchen layout.
- Work triangle: 16 ft 10 in
- Counter: 7 ft 9 in
3. L-shaped
Two walls meeting in a corner, the other two left free. Tight at 10 × 10 ft (a 36 in fridge is 1 in short), comfortable from 10 × 12 ft. L-shaped kitchens.
- Narrowest aisle: 59¼ in
- Work triangle: 17 ft 5 in
- Counter: 13 ft 3 in
4. U-shaped
Three walls of counter and the most storage for the floor. Each appliance gets its own wall, and the legs need a 42 in aisle between them. U-shaped kitchens.
- Narrowest aisle: 43½ in
- Behind the stools: 48 in
- Work triangle: 17 ft 8 in
- Counter: 15 ft 3 in
5. G-shaped
A U with a peninsula off one leg, closing most of the fourth side. More counter and a place to sit, but it needs a second aisle in front of the peninsula: 43½ in here.
- Narrowest aisle: 42 in
- Behind the stools: 36 in
- Work triangle: 15 ft 8 in
- Counter: 11 ft 8 in
6. Peninsula
A counter that juts into the room from a wall or a run, open on three sides. It needs no aisle at its attached end, so it fits where an island doesn’t. Kitchen peninsula.
- Narrowest aisle: 42 in
- Behind the stools: 38¼ in
- Work triangle: 18 ft 5 in
- Counter: 14 ft 6 in
7. Island
A free-standing counter with floor all around. Every side you use needs its aisle or walkway, which is why islands start at about 13 × 13 ft with an L. Kitchen layouts with an island.
Every plan on KitchenInch
31 measured plans: the ones that pass every check first, then the near misses, smallest room first. Pick a layout to filter; each plan opens in the planner with the room filled in, ready to change.
8 × 10 ft · Galley · passes every check
8 × 10 ft · L-shaped · passes every check
8 × 10 ft · U-shaped · passes every check
10 ft × 8 ft 3 in · Galley · passes every check
9 ft 10 in × 9 ft 10 in · L-shaped · passes every check
12 ft × 8 ft 3 in · Galley · passes every check
10 × 10 ft · L-shaped · passes every check
10 × 10 ft · L-shaped · passes every check
10 × 10 ft · Galley · passes every check
10 × 10 ft · U-shaped · passes every check
13 × 8 ft · One-wall · passes every check
12 × 9 ft · Galley · passes every check
12 × 10 ft · Galley · passes every check
10 × 12 ft · L-shaped · passes every check
15 × 8 ft · One-wall · passes every check
12 × 12 ft · Peninsula, 2 stools · passes every check
14 × 12 ft · L-shaped with an island, 3 stools · passes every check
13 × 13 ft · L-shaped with an island, 2 stools · passes every check
13 × 13 ft · Peninsula, 2 stools · passes every check
13 × 13 ft · G-shaped, 2 stools · passes every check
16 × 12 ft · U-shaped with an island, 2 stools · passes every check
16 × 13 ft · One-wall with an island, 3 stools · passes every check
8 × 8 ft · One-wall · 4 checks short
7 × 10 ft · L-shaped · 1 check short
8 × 10 ft · L-shaped · 1 check short
10 × 8 ft · One-wall · 3 checks short
8 × 10 ft · U-shaped · 1 check short
12 ft × 7 ft 9 in · Galley · 2 checks short
12 × 8 ft · One-wall · 1 check short
10 × 10 ft · One-wall · 4 checks short
14 × 8 ft · One-wall · 2 checks short
Questions people ask
What is the most efficient kitchen layout?
For walking, the one with the shortest work triangle: in our plans the peninsula (15 ft 8 in) and the galley (16 ft 3 in), against NKBA’s 26 ft limit. For counter per square foot of floor, the galley (15 ft 9 in in 9 × 12 ft) and the U (13 ft 3 in in 10 × 10 ft).
What is the best layout for a small kitchen?
An L in a square room, a galley in a narrow one, and a U once the room is about 8 ft wide. Plans from 7 × 10 ft are on small kitchen layouts.
How do I draw a kitchen layout?
Measure the room, door and window, then draw the counters 25½ in deep along the walls you’ll use and the appliances in them. The planner draws it to scale for you and checks every gap.
Can a kitchen have two islands?
In a big room. A work island and a seating island need about 17 ft 7½ in across with NKBA’s aisles; see kitchen layouts with an island.
Sources
- NKBA’s free Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards: work aisles (42 in for one cook, 48 in for two), walkways (36 in), the work triangle (each leg 4 to 9 ft, 26 ft in all), landing areas beside the sink, cooktop and fridge, the dishwasher’s place and standing room, and seating clearances. This is the older free edition; the paid 5th edition (June 2026) may change some numbers.
- Caesarstone: the standard depth of kitchen countertops, 25½ in (24 in cabinets plus a 1½ in overhang)
- Wolf Classic Cabinetry product specifications: base cabinets 34½ in high and 24 in deep, stock widths 9 in and 12 to 42 in in 3 in steps (45 and 48 in by special order), wall cabinets 12 in deep
- Samsung “Will it fit” sheets for a counter-depth (28¾ in to the door front) and a standard-depth fridge (34¼ in to the door front); the planner adds 1 in behind, as KitchenAid’s guide asks
- 24 in and 18 in models: GE JAS640 24 in electric range (24 in opening, 25⅞ in deep without the handle), Whirlpool WRT112CZJ 24 in refrigerator (27 13/16 in deep with the doors, 1 in behind, 2¼ in on the hinge side next to a wall) and the Bosch SPE53C52UC 18 in dishwasher (a 17¾ to 18 in wide, 24 in deep opening)
Checked 19 October 2026. The plans are drawn and measured by our planner; room sizes are wall to wall.