Kitchen Island Size Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter your kitchen's width and length in feet and choose the walkway clearance you want on each side of the island. The result is the largest island footprint that fits, along with a rough count of how many stools it can seat. You don't have to build the maximum size. A slightly smaller island that leaves generous aisles is often the better kitchen.

How this is calculated

The calculator subtracts your chosen walkway clearance from both sides of the kitchen's width and length to find the largest island footprint that still leaves a comfortable path around it. Seating capacity assumes 24 inches of counter width per stool by default (28 inches if you choose roomier spacing) along one long edge, leaving a foot at the end.

Example

In a 12 by 14 foot kitchen with 42 inches of clearance, the largest island is 5.0 by 7.0 feet, which seats about three stools. With 36 inches of clearance it grows to 6.0 by 8.0 feet, and with 48 inches it shrinks to 4.0 by 6.0 feet and seats two.

Recommended clearances

The National Kitchen & Bath Association recommends a work aisle of at least 42 inches for a one-cook kitchen and 48 inches for two or more cooks. A 36-inch walkway is its minimum for spaces where no one works, so treat it as a last resort rather than a target. If the island has stools and people walk behind them, NKBA recommends about 44 inches to pass a seated diner, and a wheelchair turning space of 60 inches.

What this doesn't account for

Door swings, appliance clearances (dishwasher, oven), and irregular room shapes aren't factored in — walk the space with painter's tape at your proposed island size before finalizing. If you plan to add a new countertop to the island, use the countertop cost calculator with its area to see what it will cost.

Planning estimate only — verify final dimensions on site.