Measured, then cited
Furniture clearance guide
How much room to leave beside a bed, behind a chair, in front of a sofa and down a kitchen aisle, with the figure behind each one. Enter the gaps you have to see how they compare.
How the verdicts work
Each gap is compared with a published planning figure. Too tight means below the minimum the source gives; tight means at or above that minimum but short of the more generous figure; comfortable means the generous figure is met. These are planning guidelines for new homes, not rules for your flat: plenty of small rooms work with less, and the verdict simply tells you where it will feel cramped.
Tick Plan for a wheelchair user to switch to the accessible figures, and the checker adds a clear turning circle.
Recommended clearances
| Space | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walkway through a room | 36 in (914 mm) | NKBA Guideline 7 |
| Clear route between furniture and to a window | 750 mm (29 1/2 in) | Approved Document M 2.25a; Universal Design Guidelines 3.1 |
| Beside and at the foot of a bed | 750 mm (29 1/2 in) | Approved Document M 2.25 |
| Beside and at the foot of a double bed, generous | 800 mm (31 1/2 in) | Universal Design Guidelines 3.5 |
| Table or counter edge to the wall behind a seated person, nobody passing | 32 in (813 mm) | NKBA Guideline 8 |
| The same, with people edging past / walking past | 36 in (914 mm) / 44 in (1118 mm) | NKBA Guideline 8a, 8b |
| Kitchen work aisle, one cook / more than one | 42 in (1067 mm) / 48 in (1219 mm) | NKBA Guideline 6 |
| In front of and between kitchen units | 1200 mm (47 1/4 in) | Approved Document M 2.24b |
| Sofa to coffee table | 14 to 18 in (36 to 46 cm) | Common rule of thumb, not a standard |
| Wheelchair: accessible route | 36 in (915 mm); 32 in (815 mm) for up to 24 in (610 mm) | 2010 ADA Standards 403.5.1 |
| Wheelchair: turning circle | 60 in (1525 mm) across | 2010 ADA Standards 304.3.1 |
| Wheelchair: beside and at the foot of a bed, and in front of furniture | 1000 mm (39 3/8 in), with a 1200 mm square to turn beside the bed | Approved Document M 3.35e |
| Wheelchair: kitchen between counters | 40 in (1015 mm) galley; 60 in (1525 mm) U-shaped | 2010 ADA Standards 804.2 |
| Wheelchair: behind a seated person | 36 in (914 mm); 60 in (1524 mm) to pass behind | NKBA Guideline 8, Access Standard |
Making a small room work
- Give one side of the bed the full gap and push the other side to the wall.
- Round or drop-leaf tables need less space to walk round than square corners.
- Sliding wardrobe doors and open shelves need no swing space in front.
Sources
- National Kitchen & Bath Association, Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards: Guideline 6 (work aisle), Guideline 7 (walkway) and Guideline 8 (traffic clearance at seating), with their Access Standard figures.
- US Department of Justice, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design: 304.3.1 (turning space), 403.5.1 (clear width of walking surfaces) and 804.2 (kitchen clearance).
- HM Government, Approved Document M, Volume 1: Dwellings (2015 edition incorporating 2016 amendments): 2.24b and 2.25 (accessible and adaptable dwellings), 3.35e (wheelchair user dwellings).
- Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (National Disability Authority, Ireland), Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland, Section 3: Spaces for Living: 750 mm clear routes between items and 800 mm beside and at the end of a double bed.
- The sofa-to-coffee-table range is a common rule of thumb used by furniture retailers; no standard sets it.
Questions
Where do I measure from?
From whatever sticks out furthest at body height, such as a bed frame, a drawer handle or the seat edge, to the nearest wall or piece of furniture opposite. Skirting boards and rugs don't count.
Why do some figures use millimetres?
Each figure is shown in the units its source uses, with a conversion in brackets. NKBA and the ADA work in inches; the English and Irish guidance is in millimetres.
My bedroom fails. Is it unsafe?
No. These are comfort and access guidelines for designing homes, not safety limits. A tight gap just means making the bed or passing someone will be awkward.