The Kitchen Work Triangle and Why It Matters

When it comes to a total kitchen remodel, there is a ton of work to be done. From identifying your style to the materials that will be used, every aspect of the kitchen must be planned with care to ensure that the end result is just the way you want it. The kitchen work triangle is an aspect of design that can help you plan your kitchen layout in an efficient manner.

The Triangle
The kitchen work triangle refers to the orientation between the refrigerator, stove, and sink in a kitchen. These three areas are devoted to actively cooking, prep work, and food storage. You can think of it as the construction of specific zones within the kitchen that are integral to the creation of meals. Between the three, they should form a triangle that isn’t impeded by other appliances or objects.

The Benefits of the Triangle
The obvious benefit of the kitchen work triangle is that it promotes efficiency within the kitchen while cooking. When you can move seamlessly from one zone to the next without having to navigate around blockages, you are able to be more efficient as a cook. This is especially the case if there is only one cook in the kitchen. The triangle can also help discourage cross contamination that can result in foodborne illnesses when the food preparation areas and the sink are close together.

Setting It Up
In order for the triangle to be effective, there needs to be enough space for you to move comfortably from one station to the next, but not so much that it becomes inefficient. Ideally, stations should be between 4 to 9 feet apart, with the total distance of each side of the triangle adding up to between 13 to 26 feet. Obstacles should not come more than 12 inches between any one station, and it’s best if there isn’t much traffic intersecting the triangle as well. Obviously, the triangle isn’t going to be feasible for single wall kitchens, but you can still arrange your stations in a way that makes cooking optimal.

The kitchen work triangle is one layout element you should pay attention to as you make your plans. Understanding the triangle, the benefits it offers, and how to set it up can help you design an efficient kitchen that will be easy to work in. It takes some forethought and planning to get your kitchen laid out ideally, but the end result is worth the effort.

The layout is just the beginning of redesigning your kitchen. Check out the images in our Kitchen gallery for some inspiration that you can use in yours.