How do you plan a kitchen island, and what cabinets does it need?
A kitchen island is a freestanding run of base cabinets in the middle of the room, usually added to an L-shaped or one wall kitchen. It needs about 42" of walkway on every working side for one cook and about 48" for two. An island is built from standard 24" deep base cabinets, often drawer bases on the working side, with island end panels and skin panels finishing the ends and back so it reads as furniture from every side. For counter seating, the countertop overhangs the seating side, and a sink can go in the island too. RTA Cabinets Plus stocks the base cabinets and panels, and the boxes click together on a licensed system.
What an island is built from.
- The working side
- Base cabinets, 24" deep: drawer bases for pots and utensils, or a sink base and a 24" dishwasher opening if the sink goes in the island.
- The back or seating side
- A skin panel over the cabinet backs, in the cabinet finish, with the countertop overhanging for stools. About 15" of knee space is a common guideline at counter height.
- The ends
- Island end panels, cut to fit, so both ends read as finished furniture.
- The base
- Toe kick around every side you can see, cut and fitted after the island is level, and anchored to the floor.
- The wall run
- The island usually pairs with an L-shaped or one wall kitchen. 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.
Where an island works, and where it does not.
| Works well | Watch for | |
|---|---|---|
| Counter | Adds a second work zone and prep space | Needs open floor on every working side |
| Seating | Counter seating without a table | Stools need knee space and room behind them |
| Sink in the island | Lets the cook face the room | The drain and water have to come up through the floor |
| Storage | Deep drawers on the working side | The seating side gives up storage to knee space |
Four rules for a good island.
- Plan the walkway before the island. Measure from the counter edge of the wall run, not the wall. About 42" for one cook and 48" for two are common guidelines.
- Decide what the island is for. Prep, seating or the sink. Each changes which base cabinets go on the working side.
- Finish every face. An island is seen from all sides. Plan end panels, a skin panel on the back and toe kick all the way round.
- Check the floor services. A sink or an outlet in an island means plumbing or power through the floor. Find out what is under it first.
Get your island 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.
- Island options on the design page
- Choose one wall plus island or L plus island, give the island length and depth, and say whether the sink goes in it.
What people ask next.
How much space do you need around a kitchen island?
A common guideline is about 42" of walkway on each working side for one cook and about 48" for two, measured from counter edge to counter edge.
What cabinets are used to build a kitchen island?
Standard 24" deep base cabinets, often drawer bases, with island end panels on the ends, a skin panel on the back, and toe kick around the base. A sink base and dishwasher opening go in if the sink is in the island.
How much overhang do you need for island seating?
About 15" of knee space at counter height is a common guideline. The countertop overhangs the seating side; check the countertop maker's support requirements for the overhang you want.
Can you put a sink in a kitchen island?
Yes. The island takes a sink base and a dishwasher opening, and the drain and water come up through the floor. The free design can place the sink in the island.
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.
Which kitchen layout is right for your room?
The six kitchen layouts compared: L-shaped, U-shaped, galley, island, one wall and G-shaped. The cabinets each one needs, room size, pros and cons.
What is an L-shaped kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
An L-shaped kitchen uses two walls and one corner. The cabinet run it needs, the corner choices, the sizes, the pros and cons, and a free design.
What is a U-shaped kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
A U-shaped kitchen uses three walls and two corners for the most storage. The cabinet run, corner choices, room width, pros and cons, and a free design.
What is a galley kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
A galley kitchen uses two parallel runs and no corners. The cabinet run, the walkway width, the pros and cons, and a free design from your measurements.
What is a one wall kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
A one wall (single wall) kitchen puts every cabinet and appliance on one wall. The cabinet run, how to fit it, pros and cons, and a free design.
What is a G-shaped kitchen, and what cabinets does it need?
A G-shaped kitchen is a U with a peninsula. The cabinet run, the three corners, peninsula seating, room size, pros and cons, and a free design.
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.