What is the minimum distance between a cooktop and a cabinet?

Author: Gracie Schaefer  |  Last update: Friday, November 14, 2025

Household cooking appliances shall have a vertical clearance above the cooking top of not less than 30 inches (760 mm) to combustible material and metal cabinets.

How close can a cooktop be to a cabinet?

Many installers may recommend a distance of 3-6 inches of space being the minimum.

How much space should be between stove and upper cabinets?

Stove: gas or electric

Make sure you have a 30” clearance between the cooking surface of an electric stove and the bottom of your upper cabinet and a 36” clearance for a gas stove. This means that the bottom of the cabinet with the range hood should be 66" to 72" from the finished floor.

How far should stove stick out from cabinets?

The goal is for your range to fit mostly flush with the top of your countertops and the front of your cabinets, with the door only sticking out an inch or two beyond the cabinets.

What is the standard distance between a kitchen countertop and upper cabinets?

The standard distance between countertops and upper cabinets is 18 inches. Factor in the height of the cabinets as well as your height. Proper spacing around stovetops is required to prevent fire hazards.

KITCHEN DESIGN MEASUREMENTS | Ideal Clearances for Kitchen Counters, Islands, Cabinets, & More

What is the minimum clearance from countertop to cabinets?

The standard height for upper cabinets from the counter is 18 inches, or 1 foot and 6 inches. They shouldn't be less than 15 inches away or more than 20 inches away. This also means the height to where the bottom of your upper cabinets starts. This gives enough space to put things like toaster ovens and blenders.

How much clearance do you need between kitchen counters and cabinets?

The Guidelines require a clearance of at least 40 inches between all opposing base cabinets, countertops, appliances, and walls.

What is the clearance between a stove top and a cabinet?

Household cooking appliances shall have a vertical clearance above the cooking top of not less than 30 inches (760 mm) to combustible material and metal cabinets.

Will a 30 inch stove fit in a 30 inch opening?

Stove dimensions can vary between the stove size itself and the cutout measurements. For example, a 30-inch stove may actually measure at 29⅞ inches wide, but it will require a 30-inch cutout for installation. It's important to check the exact specifications of each stove to make sure it will fit your available space.

What height should kitchen cabinets be above stove?

You want 30 inches between the bottom of the cabinet and the top of the stove. You can have more, but not less.

Can you put a pantry cabinet next to a stove?

You can combine an upper cabinet next to the cooktop as one of your locations. It's a perfect location for daily use items like spices, flour, and oil, and have a second set of rollout pantries on either side of the stove for additional ingredients.

How much space should I leave between the counter and the stove?

That being said, between 30 1/4" or 30 1/2" for a 30" stove for counter clearances.

How much space should be between range hood and cabinets?

To avoid all these issues, leave a space of at least 1/2 inch between the edge of the wall-mount range hood and the cabinetry.

What is the minimum clearance for a cooktop?

In any case the clearance to any overhead surface shall not be less than 450mm. Side clearances from combustible surfaces are also another important consideration. You require a minimum of 200mm clearance, when measuring from the outer edge of the nearest burner to any vertical combustible surface.

Can I put a 36 inch cooktop in a 30 inch cabinet?

Cooktops generally need 30 inches and 1-2 feet of clearance on each side, but requirements can vary by model, so check your new product manual for details. Be sure to measure your space, allowing for ½ inch to 1 inch on each side for the overhanging lip, and make sure there's plenty of space below for the burners.

What is the minimum space next to a cooktop?

There are three sets of guidelines regarding cooking appliances, let's start with those surrounding a cooktop. Guidelines recommend a minimum of 12” landing area on one side of a cooking surface, and 15” on the other side.

Can you put a 30-inch hood over a 30 cooktop?

The standard range hood dimensions for most range hoods follow the 3-inch rule, whereby the width should be 3 inches wider than the range on both sides. So, if your cooktop is 30 inches wide, you would need a range hood that is 36 inches wide.

How much space do you need for a 30-inch stove?

How Much Space Do You Need for a 30-Inch Stove? A 30-inch (76.2 cm) stove needs at least 31 inches (78.7 cm). This means half an inch on both sides. While fitting the stove snuggly may sound like a great idea, it is not practical.

Can you fit a 30 oven in a 30 cabinet?

What size cabinet do you need for a 30-inch wall oven? A 30-inch wall oven may require a cabinet size that's approximately 33 inches wide. A general rule of thumb is to add an extra 3 inches wider than the wall oven. For instance, with a 27-inch wall oven, you'll want around a 30-inch cabinet size.

How much clearance do you need above a cooktop?

30" of air clearance is required between the cooktop surface and bottom of an unprotected wood or metal cabinet above. 0" of air clearance is needed for the sides of the Range below the cooktop surface.

What is the rough opening for a stove?

Most standard stoves are 30 inches wide, around 25-27 inches deep (excluding handles and knobs) and 36 inches tall (excluding control panels). These standard stove sizes are designed to fit standard cabinet cutouts that are 34-1/4 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall.

What is the standard space between kitchen counter and upper cabinet?

The industry standard for the space between countertops and upper cabinets is 18 inches. This distance is far from arbitrary; it offers ample room for most small appliances that homeowners frequently use, such as coffee makers and toasters.

How much clearance is needed between cooktop and cabinets?

30 inches between the cooktop and a cabinet.

How high should kitchen cabinets be from countertop?

The most common height that contractors follow is 18 inches above the countertop. However, for clients that request some extra space, 20 inches was the usual measure. Under 18 inches, small appliances may not fit below the cabinets, or if you're taller the upper cabinets can block your view of the countertop.

How much gap between stove and countertop?

At a minimum, there should be at least 42 inches of space between a kitchen island and the nearest countertop. If you have an oven that opens into this space, you will need even more room, at least 48 inches.

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