Reference
The one-page dimension cheat sheet
The numbers you look up most often, in one place, formatted to print on a couple of sheets and live in a site folder.
On this page (9 sections)
Short answer
A single-page reference to the dimensions used most in domestic interiors, in inches and centimetres. Print it: the print stylesheet strips the navigation and keeps the tables intact. Each section links to the page that explains where the figure comes from.
Every figure below is explained in full on the page linked from its heading, including whether it is code, a planning guideline or trade practice. This page is the summary you take to site.
Circulation and clearances#
See clearances and circulation.
| Where | Comfortable | Workable | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main route through a room | 42 in (107 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | 30 in (76 cm) |
| Secondary path between furniture | 36 in (91 cm) | 30 in (76 cm) | 24 in (61 cm) |
| Squeeze past a coffee table | 30 in (76 cm) | 24 in (61 cm) | 22 in (56 cm) |
| Two people passing | 48 in (122 cm) | 42 in (107 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Hallway | 48 in (122 cm) | 42 in (107 cm) | 36 in (91 cm), IRC R311.6 |
| Wheelchair route / turning circle | 42 in (107 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | 60 in (152 cm) turn |
| Clear door width for access | 34 in (86 cm) | 32 in (81 cm) | 32 in, ADA 404.2.3 |
Door leaves: 24, 28, 30, 32, 36 in wide x 80 in tall (610 to 914 x 2032 mm); metric 762 / 838 x 1981 or 2040 mm. Rough opening is the leaf plus about 2 in (5 cm) wide and 2.5 in (6 cm) tall. A door sweeps a quarter circle of its own width.
Stairs: maximum rise 7.75 in (197 mm), minimum tread 10 in (254 mm), minimum width 36 in (914 mm), minimum headroom 6 ft 8 in (2032 mm), handrail 34 to 38 in (864 to 965 mm). See stair dimensions.
Living room#
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sofa front to coffee table | 16 to 18 in (41 to 46 cm) |
| Coffee table height | Within 2 in (5 cm) of seat height, so 16 to 18 in (41 to 46 cm) |
| Coffee table length | 1/2 to 2/3 of the sofa length |
| Facing seats, conversation | 4 to 10 ft (1.2 to 3.0 m) |
| Sofa lengths | Loveseat 52 to 64 in, three seat 72 to 90 in (183 to 229 cm) |
| Sofa depth | 32 to 40 in (81 to 102 cm); apartment scale 32 to 35 in |
| Side table height | Within 2 in (5 cm) of the sofa arm, 24 to 26 in (61 to 66 cm) |
| Console behind a sofa | At or just below the sofa back, 30 to 34 in (76 to 86 cm) |
| TV seating distance, 4K | Screen diagonal x 1.2 to 1.6 |
| Screen centre height | Seated eye level, 38 to 44 in (97 to 112 cm) |
Standard rug sizes: 4x6, 5x8, 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, 10x14, 12x15 ft (120x180, 150x240, 180x270, 240x300, 270x360, 300x420, 360x450 cm). Leave 12 to 18 in (30 to 46 cm) of bare floor, 8 in (20 cm) in a small room. See rug sizes.
Dining#
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Table edge per person | 24 in (61 cm); 22 in tight, 30 in generous |
| Table height | 30 in (76 cm), knee clearance 24 to 26 in (61 to 66 cm) |
| Table width for two settings | 36 to 44 in (91 to 112 cm) |
| Clearance, chairs only | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Clearance with traffic behind | 44 to 48 in (112 to 122 cm) |
| Round table for 6 | 60 in (152 cm) diameter |
| Rug overhang past the table | 30 in (76 cm) all round |
| Chandelier above the tabletop | 30 to 36 in (76 to 91 cm), plus 3 in per extra foot of ceiling |
| Chandelier diameter | Table width minus 12 in (30 cm) |
Kitchen#
See kitchen dimensions.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Work aisle, one cook | 42 in (107 cm) |
| Work aisle, two cooks or through route | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Walkway with no work either side | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Counter height | 36 in (91 cm); base cabinet 34.5 in (876 mm) |
| Base cabinet depth | 24 in (61 cm), 25 in (64 cm) with the worktop |
| Counter to wall cabinet | 18 in (46 cm); 15 in (38 cm) minimum |
| Wall cabinet depth / heights | 12 to 13 in deep; 30, 36, 42 in tall |
| Toe kick | 4 in (10 cm) high x 3 in (8 cm) deep |
| Landing beside the fridge | 15 in (38 cm) on the handle side |
| Landing at the cooktop | 12 in (30 cm) one side, 15 in (38 cm) the other |
| Prep counter beside the sink | 36 in (91 cm) uninterrupted |
| Island seating overhang | 12 in at 36 in top, 15 in at 30 in, 10 in at 42 in |
| Width per stool | 24 in (61 cm) |
| Behind seated stools | 44 in (112 cm) if anyone passes |
Appliances: dishwasher 24 in (600 mm), range 30 in (760 mm), fridge 30 / 33 / 36 in (760 / 840 / 910 mm). European modules are 600 mm, which is 9.6 mm narrower than 24 in and accumulates across a run.
Bedroom#
See bedroom dimensions.
| Mattress | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| Twin / single (US) | 38 x 75 | 97 x 191 |
| Full / double (US) | 54 x 75 | 137 x 191 |
| Queen (US) | 60 x 80 | 152 x 203 |
| King (US) | 76 x 80 | 193 x 203 |
| California king | 72 x 84 | 183 x 213 |
| UK double | 53 x 75 | 135 x 190 |
| UK king | 59 x 79 | 150 x 200 |
| UK super king | 71 x 79 | 180 x 200 |
| EU / IKEA standard widths | 35, 55, 63, 71 | 90, 140, 160, 180 x 200 |
Clearance beside a used side 30 in (76 cm), 24 in (61 cm) minimum. Foot of the bed 36 in (91 cm) if it is a route. Nightstand top within 2 in (5 cm) of the mattress top, usually 24 to 28 in (61 to 71 cm). Closet hanging depth 24 in (61 cm); single rod 66 to 72 in (168 to 183 cm), double hang at 40 to 42 in and 80 to 84 in.
Bathroom#
See bathroom dimensions. Code figures are IRC; recommendations are NKBA.
| Item | Code | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet centreline to wall or fixture | 15 in (38 cm) | 18 in (46 cm) |
| Clear floor in front of a fixture | 21 in (53 cm) | 30 in (76 cm) |
| Lavatory centreline to side wall | 15 in (38 cm) | 20 in (51 cm) |
| Shower interior | 30 x 30 in (76 x 76 cm) | 36 x 36 in (91 x 91 cm) |
| Two sink centrelines apart | not specified | 30 to 36 in (76 to 91 cm) |
| Ceiling over fixtures | 80 in (203 cm) | 80 in (203 cm) |
Vanity height 32 to 36 in (81 to 91 cm), depth 18 to 22 in (46 to 56 cm). Tubs 60 x 30, 60 x 32, 66 x 32, 72 x 36 in. Showerhead 78 to 84 in (198 to 213 cm). Mirror bottom 5 to 10 in (13 to 25 cm) above the counter; sconces at 60 to 66 in (152 to 168 cm), 28 to 40 in (71 to 102 cm) apart.
Work and storage#
See home office and storage dimensions.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Desk height, standard | 29 to 30 in (74 to 76 cm) |
| Knee clearance under a desk | 24 to 27 in (61 to 69 cm) high, 20 in (51 cm) wide |
| Desk depth with a monitor | 30 in (76 cm); 24 in (61 cm) minimum |
| Behind a rolling chair | 36 to 42 in (91 to 107 cm) |
| Monitor distance | 20 to 40 in (51 to 102 cm), scaling with screen size |
| Shelf depth, books | 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) |
| Shelf spacing, hardbacks | 12 to 13 in (30 to 33 cm) |
| Unsupported shelf span, 3/4 in pine | About 30 in (76 cm) |
| Useful fixed shelf depth | 14 to 16 in (36 to 41 cm) before you need a pull-out |
| Pantry shelf depth | 12 to 16 in (30 to 41 cm) |
Lighting and hanging#
See lighting and proportion.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Living room illuminance | 10 to 20 fc (110 to 215 lux) |
| Kitchen general / task | 30 to 40 fc / 70 to 80 fc |
| Home office | 40 to 50 fc (430 to 540 lux) |
| Bathroom vanity | 70 to 80 fc, about 1,600 lm at the face |
| Downlight spacing, 8 ft ceiling | 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m) |
| Downlight offset from a wall | 24 to 36 in (61 to 91 cm) |
| Domestic colour temperature | 2700 K; 3000 K in kitchens and bathrooms |
| Colour rendering | CRI 90+, R9 above 50 |
| Fixture bottom over a walking route | 84 in (213 cm) minimum |
| Art centre line | 57 in (145 cm) |
| Gap above a sofa back or console | 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) |
| Art or grouping width | About 2/3 of the furniture below |
| Gallery wall frame gap | 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm), constant |
| Curtain rod above the trim | 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) minimum |
| Curtain rod extension per side | 4 to 10 in (10 to 25 cm) |
| Curtain fullness | 2x standard, 2.5x pleated |
Conversions#
1 in = 25.4 mm. 1 ft = 304.8 mm. 1 m = 39.37 in = 3 ft 3.4 in. 1 sq ft = 0.0929 m2. 1 m2 = 10.76 sq ft. 1 fc = 10.76 lux. 1 US gallon = 3.785 litres.