Hard to say, really! A lot of factors are going to come into play, foremost among which is your budget. While it’s difficult to say just how large a kitchen you need, many home remodelers recommend that the kitchen should occupy 15-20% of the floor space in a home.
If the house has 2,000 square feet of total floor area, the kitchen should be between 300 and 400 square feet.
If you are opening a restaurant or a diner, you might want to allow an extra 20 to 40 square feet per occupant.
This article only discusses the average kitchen size (meaning that there is no guarantee that this will hold for you as a specific person with your specific tastes and needs).
Kitchen Size Impact To Other Elements of the Room
A kitchen’s size greatly impacts the layout of a kitchen and the elements in it. When thinking about the size of your kitchen, you should think about how to separate the space into different areas to suit your needs.
The layout of the room is strictly dependent on the size of the kitchen. When you have a small one, you need to strive to make productive use of it. For example, you can place the appliances and other things where they are most accessible.
The layout of the room should also take into account the size of a kitchen. If you have a small kitchen, it is good to make sure that all the important things there are visible.
It would help if you also used the leftover areas as “hidden” storage areas to store dishes and other things that won’t be used regularly. The kitchen should look nice and clean, but it needs to be functional.
The right size of a kitchen allows you to have enough space for everything essential, including adequate counter space. The new smaller homes are designed with compact kitchens that are efficient, but there is still room for individuals to cook and prepare food.
The kitchen is not just an area for cooking and eating but also a place where the family can gather around. It is important to make sure you have some free space to move without being confined by the appliances.
So, What is the Average Kitchen Size?
The average size of an American kitchen is roughly 225 square feet or 20.9 in square meters.
This means that the average American kitchen size is 27% smaller than the average American living space and 20% larger than a typical Japanese kitchen.
There is no standard in terms of layout or appliances, but some factors that often influence the size are the number of doors and windows, making up a large percentage of a kitchen’s total space.
The average kitchen size makes sense if you consider that 2 people share the kitchen in an average house.
Average Kitchen Size by Type
The average size of a kitchen is not the same between different types of kitchens:
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Kitchen with island
A kitchen island needs a lot of space, that’s why you have to think about the size of your kitchen and the number of people living in it!
The island can take up to 25% of the total floor space. At a minimum, an island should be 4 feet long and 2 feet deep. Unless you have more than 12 long feet and at least 8 feet deep, it’s not worth investing in a kitchen island.
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Galley kitchen
A galley kitchen should be at least 7-12 feet wide with a minimum of 3 feet between opposing countertops.
Clear counter space is a must for any kitchen. At least 3 feet (approximately 4 to 5 feet is optimal.) of space is needed to provide enough room for movement.
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Apartment kitchen
The average kitchen size in an apartment is smaller than the normal kitchen. Most apartment kitchen sizes are under 100 square feet. This means that most apartments have a tiny kitchen, making them more inconvenient for cooking.
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Outdoor kitchen
In the United States, the average size of an outdoor kitchen is 10? long (small) and 16? long (medium), which is large enough to eat a nice meal outdoors.
The outdoor kitchen counter height is 36″ and 38″ if you add a built-in fridge. For standard outdoor kitchen cabinet deep is 23″-30″.
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Commercial restaurant/cafe kitchen
According to the survey, the average kitchen size of a commercial kitchen in the United States is 1,051 square feet.
Factors to Consider When Deciding the Size of Your Kitchen
In general, the kitchen can be considered as part of the whole house plan. There are several factors to consider when thinking about the size, which includes:
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How many people is will be using the kitchen?
The number of people who will be using the kitchen should be considered while planning the size. A kitchen with a small number of people who will use it often can still be considered a traditional kitchen design.
If you have a large family, you may need a larger kitchen. A kitchen where there are many people to cook and a lot to be prepared is ideal for a small kitchen.
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How many kitchen appliances do you have?
The number of kitchen appliances to be considered should be the total number of cooking appliances and the water/ice dispensers.
You can find an example of a small to medium-sized kitchen in some homes of an average size family with at least one kid and one pet. These examples show that kitchens can be made to suit almost any size and layout.
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How often will you use the kitchen?
For some people, the kitchen can be used only at breakfast time or when you are cooking dinner for the whole family. Therefore, in this case, you can make the kitchen to be small and save money.
Others who take time cooking in a small kitchen want to maximize their space and have a large kitchen. If so, you should consider the layout more carefully.
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Open vs. closed kitchen
An open kitchen design is the most expensive and luxurious of all the kitchen designs. Open kitchens are popular in areas where there are many people and pets around to offer more visibility and accessibility. Such open kitchens allow easy movement between the kitchen and other rooms in the house.
Also, if you have pets around in the house, an open kitchen is a great choice. If you choose to have an open kitchen, make sure to keep it clean. This is because once the kitchen gets dirty, it can be quite difficult to clean.
A closed kitchen design is a more cost-effective option. These kitchens are not as expensive as the open kitchens, but they are still ideal for most homes. A closed kitchen design, however, does not offer easy visibility and accessibility.
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Making sure you have enough space
It is important to make sure that you have enough space in your kitchen. Kitchen space is a huge investment, so it is very crucial to make sure you have enough. Several aspects should be considered when measuring the space.
Regardless of Kitchen Size, Aim For The Best Kitchen Triangle
When it comes to kitchen size, there are a few factors to consider, such as the size of the home, the number of people in the household, and how the kitchen will be used. Let’s look at what might work best for different scenarios.
Apartments:
In an apartment, space is often at a premium, so the kitchen may be smaller. However, even in a small room, it’s crucial to think about the kitchen triangle. This is the idea that the three main locations in a kitchen – the sink, the stove, and the refrigerator – should form a triangle. This makes it easy to move between them and can help with food preparation efficiency. An eat-in kitchen may not be possible in a small apartment, but a small table or breakfast bar can be an excellent addition for dining space.
Small House:
In a small house, the kitchen may still be relatively compact, but there may be more room to work with than in an apartment. Again, the kitchen triangle is key, as is maximizing counter space. A good option for small kitchens is to use vertical space for storage. Installing open shelving or hanging pots and pans can free up valuable cabinet space. If there’s room, a small island or peninsula can add extra counter space and storage. As for dining space, a small table or built-in banquette can be a great addition.
Large House:
In a larger house, the kitchen can be more spacious, and there may be more room to play with different layouts. Again, the kitchen triangle is essential, but there may be more room to incorporate other elements, such as a kitchen island or a separate pantry. In a larger kitchen, it’s essential to make sure that the different work zones are still easily accessible. For example, if the sink is on one side of the kitchen and the stove is on the other, it may take too much time to move between them.
Family with Children:
For a family with children, the kitchen may need to be larger to accommodate more people. The kitchen triangle is still important, but so is having enough counter space and storage for food and cooking supplies. It can also be helpful to have a separate area for children to do homework or eat snacks. An eat-in kitchen is a functional option for families, as it provides a gathering space for meals and allows parents to keep an eye on their children while they cook.
FAQs
What’s The Average Kitchen Remodel Costs?
Kitchen remodel costs vary widely depending on the scope of the project. A minor remodel, such as updating the countertops and cabinets, can cost around $10,000-$15,000, while a major remodel that involves moving walls or plumbing can cost upwards of $50,000 or more. We remodel our kitchen into an open kitchen and it cost us around $45000 in 2021.
What can be considered a large kitchen?
This refers to the other side of the spectrum, which is large and measures 720 square feet. The size of this kitchen is about the same as the average size of a two-story house.
What can be considered a small kitchen?
This refers to a kitchen that measures approximately 70 square feet. Small kitchens are ideal for those with a small family and want a fully functional kitchen with all the necessary appliances.
