A kitchen island adds convenience to the modern kitchen. Are you thinking of remodeling but don't know if the kitchen island you have planned will be wide enough? We are also curious about this and have done plenty of research to find you the answer.
A kitchen island should have a width of 42 inches or be at least three feet wide. Depending on your kitchen's size, you might even want to make your island closer to four or five feet wide, but again, this depends on how much space you have to work with.
As we begin, we will cover all things kitchen islands and discuss how wide one should be. Whether you want to build your dream kitchen from the ground up or need a refresh, we've got an idea for you. With that said, let's get right into this post!
What Is The Average Width Of A Kitchen Island?
Typically, a kitchen island will have a width of around two to three feet. In smaller-sized kitchens, you can expect to have your island be closer to two feet wide while larger homes will have islands ranging from three to seven feet across.
Of course, every space is different, but if you can go bigger with your kitchen island, we recommend it.
What Is A Good Size For A Kitchen Island?
Ideally, your kitchen island should be around four feet long and at least two to three feet wide. As we mentioned, if your space allows for a bigger island, try building one closer to five feet long and four feet wide.
Having your island be big enough to sit around or prepare a meal is essential, so size does matter. That said, you should still be able to enjoy a mid-sized kitchen island with a width of three feet, so don't worry if that is all your space can fit.
What Is The Minumum Width Of A Kitchen Island?
Try not to go smaller than two feet. Anything smaller than two feet wide will not be helpful for cooking or dining, which defeats an island's purpose.
Even if you are working with a smaller kitchen in an apartment or condo, making your island usable and wide enough to enjoy is vital.
How Tall Should A Kitchen Island Be?
Height-wise, we think a kitchen island should be around 36 inches tall. Depending on how high your kitchen's counters are, you want your island to be similar in height.
If anything, as long as your kitchen island is at a comfortable seating level, it should be fine.
Should A Kitchen Island Be The Same Height As The Counter?
Although there is no set rule for this, we do recommend keeping your kitchen island close in height to your counters. Not only will this create an aesthetically pleasing look in your space, but it will also make using your island more comfortable.
With that said, if your island is slightly taller than your counters, this should be fine and is an excellent idea for bar seating.
How Far Should A Kitchen Island Be From The Counter?
When it comes to placement, we recommend keeping your kitchen island between 42 and 48 inches away from your counters. Doing this will give you enough room to walk comfortably between the two areas and even make room for another chef.
Furthermore, having your island and counters be a few feet apart will allow for seating, which is perfect for apartments. Even in bigger kitchens, adding more room to walk and sit is a great way to utilize your space and make it feel more welcoming.
Does My Kitchen Need An Island?
Although a kitchen doesn't technically require an island, we think they add value to a space. Not only will an island give your kitchen a classy look, but it is also a great way to add extra dining space to your home.
More specifically, if your house doesn't have a designated dining room, using your kitchen island as a table is a great way to utilize the space.
Should A Kitchen Island Have A Sink?
When it comes to a kitchen island having a sink, we think this depends on how you want to use it. If your kitchen's current layout becomes more cohesive with an island-located sink, we say go for it.
That said, if you want to eat at your island, we aren't sure that sitting next to dirty dishes is super appealing, so that is something to think about. Of course, this comes down to your needs, but we wouldn't recommend a sink on your island if you plan to use it for dining.
How Wide Is Too Wide For A Kitchen Island?
Generally, any kitchen island wider than six to seven feet will be awkward in a space. Even if your kitchen is huge, not reaching across your island can make it feel bulky and unusable.
Especially if you use your island for dining, having it be too wide can make for an uncomfortable distance between you and others, which nobody likes.
Can A Kitchen Have Two Islands?
If your kitchen has enough room, we think adding a second island is a great idea. Like we covered above, having an overly wide kitchen island can be awkward and unusable, so why not break things up?
Not only will having two islands add plenty of storage to your kitchen, but it will also add much-needed counter space. That said, we think using your extra island as a cooktop, sink, or second prep area is also a great way to add value to your home.
Our Double Island Idea
Here we have an excellent example of using double islands in the kitchen that we love. A detail to note is how one island works as a prep/dining area while the other has a built-in sink for cleaning.
Does A Kitchen Island Add Value To A Home?
When it comes to a kitchen island adding value to a home, we have to agree. Value-wise, having an island in your kitchen will add storage and counter space while giving your room a higher-end appearance.
According to Advantage Design + Remodel, adding an island to your kitchen is one of the best ways to add value to your home and is a must-have for new remodels. That said, you can expect to add a few thousand dollars in monetary value to your home with an island, which is always suitable for resale.
How Much Does A Kitchen Island Cost?
Typically, a kitchen island will cost you between $3000 and $5000. Of course, this will depend on what type of materials you use and if you decide to go with a custom-made design.
For higher-end options like a kitchen island with a cooktop or sink, your estimated price goes up to about $6000 to $7000. That said, according to RemodelingCosts, a kitchen island will recoup around 78% of its original cost, which is considerable versus other remodel additions.
How Big Does A Kitchen Have To Be To Fit An Island?
A kitchen should be at least eight feet deep and 12 feet long to have an island when it comes to size. Although we wish every space were suitable for this addition, super small kitchens won't have enough room to make an island work.
Like we said earlier, your island needs to have room between it and your counters, which isn't possible if your kitchen is less than eight by 12 feet.
Are Kitchen Islands Still In Style?
Trend-wise, we think kitchen islands are only growing in popularity. Although some island designs can be outdated, including one in the kitchen is becoming a real-estate standard.
Especially if you love cooking, we think having an island is a usable and on-trend choice for your home. Of course, everyone's taste is different, but adding an island to your kitchen will only increase its value.
To Wrap It Up
Knowing your dimensions is essential whether you want to add an island to your kitchen or already have one. From what we found, a kitchen island should be around 42 inches or at least three feet wide.
When it comes to overall size, try keeping your kitchen island big enough to utilize but not so big it looks awkward in your space. Height-wise, we recommend keeping your island and counters level, although having it slightly higher works well for bar seating. Regardless, make sure to leave enough room to walk between your kitchen island and counters, and don't be afraid to add a sink or cooktop to your design.
Want more kitchen island content? Check out these helpful related posts below!
How Much Space Should Be Between A Kitchen Island And Counters?