What is a galley kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
A galley kitchen puts the cabinets on two parallel walls with a walkway between them, like a ship's kitchen. It has no inside corners, so every cabinet is a straight run of drawers and doors, and the sink, range and refrigerator are a step or a turn apart. It needs about 42" of walkway for one cook and about 48" for two, so two runs of 24" deep base cabinets fit a room about 90" to 96" wide. Most galleys put the sink and dishwasher on one side and the range on the other, with tall storage or the refrigerator at an end. RTA Cabinets Plus stocks every cabinet in the run, and the boxes click together on a licensed system.
What goes where in a galley kitchen.
Two straight runs. Keep the main work spots across from each other rather than at the far ends.
- The sink side
- A sink base, 24" to 42" wide, or a 30", 33" or 36" farm sink base, with a 24" dishwasher opening beside it and a drawer base on the other side.
- The range side
- A 30" or 36" range opening between drawer bases, 12" to 36" wide, with a 30" microwave wall cabinet or a hood above it.
- The ends
- A pantry, 18", 24" or 30" wide, or a 33" oven cabinet, 84", 90" or 96" tall, at the end of a run so it does not break up the counter. Or the refrigerator: A 24" deep wall cabinet, 30", 33" or 36" wide, over the refrigerator, with a refrigerator return panel to frame its exposed side.
- Above the counter
- Wall cabinets 12" deep, 30", 36" or 42" tall depending on the ceiling, in widths from 9" to 42", with crown molding on top and light rail underneath.
- The finish
- End panels where a run stops short of a wall or doorway, fillers at the walls, toe kick, crown and light rail on both sides.
Where a galley works, and where it does not.
| Works well | Watch for | |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | Every spot is a step or a turn away | Two cooks pass back to back in the walkway |
| Cost | No corner cabinets, so every inch is a drawer or a door | Long runs still add up in cabinet count |
| Room | Fits narrow rooms other layouts cannot | Below about 90" across, opposite doors and the dishwasher collide |
| Traffic | A dead end galley keeps people out of the work zone | A walk-through galley becomes a hallway |
Four rules for a good galley.
- Measure across, at counter height. The walkway is measured between counter edges, not between walls, so subtract both cabinet depths and the countertop overhang.
- Stagger the dishwasher and the range. An open dishwasher door and an open oven door should not meet across the walkway.
- Use drawers over doors. In a narrow room, drawer bases are easier to use than doors you have to step back from.
- Put tall cabinets at the ends. A pantry in the middle of a run blocks the counter. At the end, it finishes the run.
Get your galley kitchen drawn free.
- Get it drawn free
- Pick the layout on the design page, enter the wall lengths and where the sink, range and refrigerator go, and choose a door style and finish. Send the measurements and a designer draws the kitchen for free, within 1 business day: a floor plan, 3D renders, an itemized parts list and a price, with no obligation to buy.
What people ask next.
What is a galley kitchen?
A kitchen with cabinets on two parallel walls and a walkway between them, with no inside corners.
How wide should a galley kitchen be?
About 42" of walkway for one cook and about 48" for two are common guidelines. With 24" deep base cabinets on both sides, that is a room about 90" to 96" wide before countertop overhang.
Is a galley kitchen efficient?
Yes. With no corners and the sink, range and refrigerator a step or a turn apart, it is one of the most efficient layouts for one cook.
Where should the sink go in a galley kitchen?
On one side with the dishwasher next to it, and the range on the opposite side, staggered so the dishwasher and oven doors do not meet across the walkway.
Who we areRTA Cabinets Plus is an independently owned retailer that sells ready to assemble kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities direct to homeowners, remodelers and trade buyers. Made by a manufacturer that builds cabinets for one of the largest semi-custom brands in the U.S.
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Want a person to check your plan?(305) 782-7587, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm ET. Or send your measurements for a free design.