Kitchen
Kitchen Work Triangle Calculator
Check the sink–hob–fridge work triangle
Updated July 12, 2026 · Live
What this tool does
Adds the three legs of the kitchen work triangle — sink, hob and fridge — and checks them against the classic efficiency guidelines.
Enter the three distances between sink, hob and fridge; the calculator returns the triangle perimeter and an efficiency assessment.
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Formula Used
Adds the three legs of the kitchen work triangle — sink, hob and fridge — and checks them against the classic efficiency guidelines. It runs entirely in your browser and shows the working, so you can check every step against your own figures.
How the kitchen work triangle calculator works
The work triangle links the three busiest points — sink, hob and fridge. The tool adds the three legs to a perimeter and checks each leg against the classic 1.2–2.7 m guide and the total against the 4–8 m guide. Inside both ranges, the kitchen tends to flow; outside them it is either cramped or a lot of walking.
What you enter
Enter the three distances between sink, hob and fridge; the calculator returns the triangle perimeter and an efficiency assessment. Every field is editable, and the result recalculates the moment you change a value.
Reading the result
A perimeter of 4–8 m with each leg 1.2–2.7 m is the long-standing sweet spot. It is a guide, not a rule — galley and island layouts bend it — but it catches a plan that will feel awkward to cook in.
Safe by design
This tool plans layout and quantities. It never sizes a gas connection or an electrical circuit — both are regulated trades that a qualified, registered installer must carry out.
Assumptions and limits
The triangle is a heuristic from single-cook kitchens. Modern layouts with multiple zones, islands or two cooks work differently, and it says nothing about worktop space or storage. Treat a flag as a prompt to look again, not a failure.
Using it with the rest of BuildMetricLab
This calculator is one step in planning the job. Pair it with the related tools in this category and across BuildMetricLab to go from a single figure to a full costed plan — a sizing figure feeds a cost estimate, a cost estimate feeds a project budget, and each result carries straight into the next tool. Every BuildMetricLab tool runs entirely in your browser — no sign-up, nothing sent to a server, and the formula is shown on the page so the maths can be audited.
Sources & methodology
Adds the three legs of the kitchen work triangle — sink, hob and fridge — and checks them against the classic efficiency guidelines. Every result is calculated from the values you enter, all inputs are editable, and no time-sensitive prices or rates are embedded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal work triangle?
Each leg between 1.2 and 2.7 m and a total perimeter of 4–8 m is the classic guide for an efficient single-cook kitchen.
Does it apply to island kitchens?
Loosely. Islands and multi-zone layouts bend the triangle, but the distances still flag a plan that means a lot of walking or a cramped core.
What if a leg is too long?
A leg over about 2.7 m adds steps between stations. Consider moving an appliance or adding a secondary prep zone.
Is the triangle outdated?
It is a heuristic, not a law. It remains a quick, useful check even though modern kitchens often add zones beyond the three classic points.
Spotted something off?
Calculations or display — let us know.