What constitutes a utility room?

Author: Prof. Daron Heathcote  |  Last update: Friday, November 7, 2025

The utility room has several uses but typically functions as an area to do laundry. This room contains laundry equipment such as a washing machine, tumble dryer, ironing boards and clothes iron. The room is also used for closet organization and storage.

What is considered a utility room?

: a room in a home where equipment (such as furnaces and water heaters) or large appliances (such as washing machines) are kept.

What makes a utility room?

What is a utility room? A utility room is a functional room, often positioned next to the kitchen or boot room, used to house larger household appliances like washing machines, dryers and even sometimes chest freezers.

What is the definition of a utility area?

Related Definitions

Utility Area means and refer to any area within the Property in which Utility Facilities and/or Systems are located and/or for which easements are reserved and granted to one or more Owners for purposes of installation, maintenance and use of such Utility Facilities and Systems.

What is a utility room in a residential building?

Utility room is a nonhabitable room or building which contains only HVAC, plumbing, or electrical controls or equipment; and which is not a bathroom, closet, garage, or laundry room.

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What is the difference between a laundry room and a utility room?

A utility room is generally the area where laundry is done, and is the descendant of the scullery. Utility room is more commonly used in British English, while North American English generally refer to this room as a laundry room, except in the American Southeast.

What size is a utility room in a house?

Possible dimension arrangements: 8 to 10 feet in width, 8 to 10 feet in length (64 to 100 sf). This is around the typical size and square footage seen in many homes today. It provides enough room for appliances (washer & dryer), counter, cabinets, and wash sink.

What is the legal definition of a utility?

(f) “Utility” means any electrical, gas, or water corporation as those terms are defined in the Public Utilities Code and includes any electrical, gas, or water system operated by any public agency.

How many feet is a utility area?

Size. The minimum area for a utility cupboard is around 15 square feet. This allows for a washing machine and a dryer with shelving above, depending on the model dimensions. If a layout is going to be multi-functional, then consider an extension to create a set-up that suits your needs.

What falls under utility?

A utility bill is a statement of the amount owed for essential services or utilities. Typically, utilities include electricity, water, and gas bills. You can also add sewage, trash, and recycling, as well as TV, internet, phone, and streaming services to the list.

How small can a utility room be?

“It can also be a useful extension to the kitchen area for storing larger serving dishes, saucepans, juicers and so on.” The ideal amount of space required for your utility room depends on the expert you speak to. “The smallest size [into which you can fit] a utility room with a sink is around 1.9m by 1.6m,” Alex says.

Can you put a toilet in a utility room?

If you're lucky enough to have a larger utility room, there's still a great opportunity to create that extra toilet for a busy household. This utility room is larger and the extra Hidealoo can be discreetly tucked away and pulled out to avoid queues elsewhere in the house!

Can a utility room be a bedroom?

You can call any room a bedroom if you want to.

Why is a utility room called a utility room?

Utility Room

The clue is in the name – utility rooms are all about usefulness, function and practicality. In both modern and period properties, they're connected to the kitchen because they're an evolution of the historic scullery.

Can you put a fridge in a utility room?

It is usually found adjoining the kitchen, most usefully linking it with the outside, and housing the laundry, overspill kitchen appliances – fridges especially, maybe wine racks a separate sink and elements of a boot room or cloakroom.

What is normally in a utility room?

Utility rooms are often an extension of the kitchen, and play home to washing machines, tumble dryers, cleaning supplies while offering extra storage space for the miscellaneous things that just don't belong in the rest of the house. It's usually the one room guests won't see, but it keeps the house running smoothly.

What is the minimum size for a laundry room?

Based on nearly 40 years of dealing with laundry rooms, I feel the minimum size for one of these rooms should be 9 feet wide by 11 feet long. Bigger is better. The door leading into the room should be at least 32 inches wide. Most are only 30 inches wide.

Can I build a utility room?

If you don't have a dedicated utility room, you can create a utility nook or corner within an existing space by using some freestanding storage, and adding in a curtain or some pocket doors to separate it from the rest of the space.

What is a utility service area?

Utility service area means the geographic area where the Project will be installed and the Work (and, if applicable, the Services) will be performed.

What makes something a utility?

The concept of "utility" in economics essentially measures the usefulness or value of something. Economists attempt to quantify utility in various ways. Here, Sal Khan uses the example of scoops of ice cream to illustrate concepts like total utility and marginal utility.

What is the correct definition of utility?

utility noun (USE)

the usefulness of something, especially in a practical way: The utility of this substance has been proven in a series of tests.

What defines utility in a house?

A utility room is a room in a house which is usually connected to the kitchen and which contains things such as a washing machine, sink, and cleaning equipment.

What is the minimum size for a utility room?

Room sizes for utility rooms

In terms of room size guidelines, the minimum functional width for a utility room should be the depth of a counter or appliance (600mm-650mm) plus enough space to comfortably move around (min. 1000mm). The length of the room should be a minimum of two appliances or 1200mm.

Does a house need a utility room?

A utility room is a dedicated laundry, cleaning, and storage space. It's a practical addition to any home, especially if you have a large family or have a small kitchen area. Almost any space can be converted into a utility room or area, no matter how small especially if you use a washing machine stacker.

How small can a mechanical room be?

In a medium to large building, the mechanical room should have an area equal to 3% to 10% of the total used square feet when using an air-based system. The served area includes space for the boiler, chiller, fans, fuel pumps, and pipes. An all-water system needs a mechanical room of about 1% to 3% of the total area.

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