About this calculator
The Kitchen Work Triangle Calculator measures the distance between the three primary work zones — sink, hob and refrigerator — and tells you whether your kitchen layout follows the universally-accepted ergonomic standard. The ideal triangle perimeter is 4–7.9 metres (13–26 feet); below 4 m the kitchen is cramped, above 8 m is inefficient.
Bad work-triangle layouts add 15–25 minutes per day of cooking time and are the single biggest predictor of kitchen-user dissatisfaction. The calculator validates your proposed modular layout before fabrication — much cheaper than redoing it after.
Why homeowners use this calculator
- Triangle perimeter scoring (ideal 4–7.9 m).
- Individual leg-length checks (no leg over 2.7 m).
- Layout-specific adjustments (L / U / parallel / island).
- Obstruction check (no through-traffic in triangle).
- Free PDF for kitchen vendor design review.
Features
- Hob, sink, fridge positions input.
- Kitchen layout picker.
- Through-traffic check.
- Score + remedy ranking.
- Premium gated PDF.
How the calculation works
Perimeter = sink-to-hob + hob-to-fridge + fridge-to-sink. Ideal each leg 1.2–2.7 m, total 4–7.9 m. For an L-kitchen with sink-hob 1.8 m + hob-fridge 2.4 m + fridge-sink 2.1 m = 6.3 m — excellent. Same kitchen with fridge moved to opposite wall pushes the perimeter to 9.5 m — too far for efficient cooking.
Why this estimate is more accurate
Most kitchen designers prioritise visual layout over work-triangle ergonomics. The result: beautiful kitchens that are tiring to cook in. Running a triangle check before signing the modular kitchen drawing catches the issue when it's still ₹0 to fix.
Material comparison
| Layout | Typical triangle | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L-shape | 5–7 m (efficient) | Most Indian kitchens |
| U-shape | 4–6 m (tight, efficient) | Compact dedicated kitchens |
| Parallel (galley) | 4–6 m (single-cook efficient) | Narrow rooms |
| Island | 5–8 m (depends on positions) | Open-plan kitchens |
| Straight single-wall | N/A (no triangle) | Studio apartments only |
What affects the final cost
- Sink position — almost always against window if available; non-negotiable for ventilation.
- Hob position — never on a corner; never below an upper cabinet; chimney clearance 65–75 cm.
- Fridge position — at an entry point, not deep in cooking zone; opens 90–180°.
- Through-traffic — work triangle should not be crossed by daily traffic.
- Counter clearance — minimum 24" counter beside hob and 18" beside sink for prep.
- Layout cost to fix — during design ₹0; after modular install ₹40k–1.5 lakh.
City-wise cost variations
Common Indian kitchen layout work-triangle issues:
- Fridge in dining (apartment) — triangle leg too long, often 3.5+ m
- Sink not under window — ventilation suffers, plumbing-route inefficient
- Hob too close to refrigerator — heat damages compressor; min 60 cm separation
- Pass-through kitchen — through-traffic crosses triangle (school-time + cooking conflict)
- Island too close to working counter — under 100 cm clearance feels cramped