StandardRecommended
Distance between work zones
NKBA Kitchen 3Description
Work zones (sink, range, refrigerator) should be no more than ~9 ft apart and connected by counter or pass-through. The work-triangle perimeter is 13-26 ft.
Why this exists
Beyond 9 ft per leg, walking dominates prep time. The triangle math has been validated in time-motion studies since the 1940s.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
maxLegLength | max | 9 | ft | |
minPerimeter | min | 13 | ft | |
maxPerimeter | max | 26 | ft |
Categories
Kitchen
Applies to
- Room types: kitchen
Source
NKBAno manifest entry
Kitchen Planning Guidelines (2024)
Section: Guideline 3
Published 2024-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Kitchen walkway and work-aisle widths · NKBA Kitchen 6
- Doorway clear width · NKBA Kitchen 1
- Door swing into work zones · NKBA Kitchen 2
- Traffic through the work triangle · NKBA Kitchen 4
- Work-aisle width · NKBA Kitchen 5
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.