Regardless of where you place your kitchen sink, you will want to make sure to have at least 20 to 24 inches of countertop space on each side of the sink. This will give you enough room to leave drying dishes, or to prepare food for cooking.
Working space is the space around work areas such as cooktops or sinks. For example, a sink should have at least 18 inches of working space on at least one side. A cooktop should have at least 15 inches on one side, 12 inches on the other, and nine inches behind it.
Never Place a Full-Height Cabinet Above the Sink
We strongly recommend that a full-height IKEA cabinet above the sink must have an open space that's at least 12”(H) and 30”(W). The reasons why are two-fold. First, it's pretty awful to work over a sink with a full cabinet inches away from your face.
Most sink manufacturers provide a template. Position the template so it is centered on the sink cabinet and is at least 1 1/2 inches back from the countertop's front edge. If your countertop is deeper than 24 inches, place it farther back, but not more than 4 inches.
Distance Between Kitchen Island and Counter
Kitchen island clearance is important because some kitchens may not be large enough to have an island. The recommendation is to have a distance of 42 inches to 48 inches between the perimeter countertops and the kitchen island.
As a general rule of thumb, you will want at least a 1/2" of clearance on both sides between the lip of the sink and the inside walls of the cabinet (1/4" is tight, but doable!).
Kitchen workspaces, which may include both perimeter counters and kitchen islands, should be spaced apart at the following distance: In a single-cook kitchen, at least 42 inches is required. In a kitchen where multiple cooks may be employed, the minimum working space is 48 inches.
Bathroom Sink Distance From the Wall
The bare minimum is 15 inches. This is measured from the sink's center point to the wall. Bathroom vanities with precut sinks should already meet the spacing guidelines.
The limiting factor on how close to the edge the sink cutout can be is almost always the risk of cracking the rail during fabrication, transport, or installation. A general rule of thumb is 4" for a typical 2 bowl kitchen sink and 3-1/2" for a vanity sink.
Since faucet holes are generally cored 2¼ to 2½ inches from the inside edge of the sink the water stream from a faucet with a wide reach will likely fall in front of the drain rather than in the center which might result in water splashing out of shallow bowls like those of a prep sink.
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.
Draw a line parallel to the front edge of the countertop, indicating how far back the sink should be located. Typically the setback is 2" to 2-1/2" from the front of the counter, depending on the countertop overhang, the type of sink bowl and the size of the sink deck.
The height of the toe clearance underneath the ADA sink should be at least 9 inches above the finished floor and shall extend the full width of the clear floor space (30 inches minimum). The depth of the toe clearance should measure 17-25 inches from the front edge of the sink.
Although placing your sink in front of a window can make a lot of sense, it's not your only option. Your kitchen sink could be placed in an island, against a wall without a window, or even in a corner (although I don't really recommend that), depending on your kitchen's configuration and your personal preferences.
Lay the sink upside down on the counter. Align the mark on the sink with the one on the counter. Adjust the sink to leave 1½ inches between its back edge and the backsplash. Be sure sink is parallel with the counter's edge.
The ideal distance between the stove and sink (or any two points in the triangle) is between 4 and 9 feet. If properly distanced, it should give your work area enough space for you to move around and easily maneuver without bumping into everyone else.
Sink and Dishwasher
Install the nearest edge of the dishwasher within 36 inches of the nearest edge of a sink, preferably the primary prep sink.
3 foot or 36 inches rule for standard kitchen dimensions
Broadly speaking, the average height of people falls between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 8 inches. On this standard, there is a concept that the top of worktop to fall about 92 cm (36 inches or 914 mm) above the floor will make average people feel comfortable.
Ideally the sink should be next to the dishwasher, so dirty dishes can be easily rinsed and transferred to the dishwasher. You may also want the trash or food recycling bins to be located nearby to facilitate disposing waste during food preparation or when clearing dishes.
The sink, main refrigerator, and stove should be in close proximity to each other. You require a minimum of 4 feet between each point to easily maneuver, and equally not more than 9 feet.
There is no specific code requirement for the minimum distance from a plumbing fixture to an electric panel, but nothing—including a sink—is allowed to be installed in a working space 2'-6” wide by 3'-0” deep by 6'-6” high in front of an electric panel.
If there is no walkway behind the island or peninsula, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends a minimum of 32″ of clearance space between the edge of the countertop or table to any wall or other obstruction behind the seating area.
The standard width for kitchen countertops is 25 inches. Depending on your specific space, this number can fall within the range of 24 ½ to 25 ½ inches. In the bathroom, countertops are typically between 19 ½ to 22 ½ inches wide.
The Standard Height
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.