Kitchen measurements: all the answers

Questions and answers regarding heights, depths and widths

A guideline based on questions and answers to help you during the kitchen design stage, to assure you that all the relevant steps are performed according to good practice.

Is it correct to leave 60 cm between base units and wall units? How much space must be left between the cooker hob and hood? The heights, depths and widths of the kitchen elements are fundamental aspects to consider when designing your new environment.

How much space must be left between the cooker hob and hood?

The distance between the cooker hob and hood must be at least 65 cm, according to the applicable regulations.

However, this distance varies according to the type of cooker hob (gas or electric) and the hood features.

At all events, the appropriate distance is always indicated in the instruction manual of the relevant cooker hood.

How tall must the base units be?

With regard to base units, the standard height above ground is roughly 85 cm (excluding the worktop).

In order to adjust this distance to people of different heights, modular kitchen manufacturers often allow for choosing among various different height solutions.

Base units can be manufactured starting from 83 cm (for shorter users) up to 95-100 cm (for taller users).

How deep must the wall units be?

The wall unit depth must always be lower than the base unit depth, to minimise the possibility of bumping into the door with your head.
The most common average size hovers around 35 cm, especially in conjunction with a base unit standard depth of 60 cm.

Also in this case, however, it is possible to increase the depth as needed, with custom solutions, while preferably maintaining the offset with the worktop.

How much space is required between base units and wall units?

For wall units, the conventional distance from the base unit is roughly 51/54 cm. In addition, the height of the wall units may also vary: if you have a low ceiling, you may want to exploit the space horizontally by occupying less space on the walls using shorter wall units. On the other hand, if you have a tall ceiling and a small room, you may choose to have a double row of wall units or a full-height wall unit.

How deep must the base units be?

The conventional depth for the base units and worktop is roughly 60 cm.

However, a greater depth tends to be a more practical and functional solution, as a deeper worktop improves visibility and ensures a larger support surface.