Reference

Clearance and safety figures

Every published figure this manual uses for paths, clearances and safety, with what kind of figure it is, who publishes it and what it applies to. Filter by room or by kind.

The table holds six kinds of figure. A measured body size comes from people who were measured. A model code is a minimum written for new construction. An accessibility standard sets sizes for the buildings it names. A trade guideline is what a trade association recommends to its designers. A convention is a habit of practice from designers, extension bulletins or retailers. For safety, agency guidance is what a public agency or professional body tells households to do.

None of these figures is a requirement for a private home. The 2010 ADA Standards cover public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings. The International Residential Code (IRC) is a model code that becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; we cite its 2024 and 2021 section numbers because many places still enforce the older edition. The Fair Housing Act design rules apply to covered multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991. We cite the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) figures as published in its free summary, which predates its paid 5th edition of June 2026. Ask the authority

This manual's default for a main path is 36 in, because several of these sources share it: the IRC hallway minimum, the ADA accessible route, the Fair Housing Act route through a unit, NKBA's walkway and AARP's passing space in a hall. Convention Your household's walk test overrules the table in both directions: a 30 in path that works for one adult is fine, and a 36 in path that a walker user cannot turn in is not (Paths and clearances). Test it

The figures

Clearance and safety figures by situation, with the kind of figure, its source and what it applies to
Situation	Figure	Kind	Source	Applies to
Hallway width	At least 3 ft	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 3; 2021 IRC, ch. 3	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. Section R318.6 in 2024, R311.6 in 2021. Not the path between furniture.
Stairway width	At least 36 in	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 3; 2021 IRC, ch. 3	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. R318.7.1 in 2024, R311.7.1 in 2021. Useful for a delivery route.
Accessible route	36 in clear; may narrow to 32 in for up to 24 in of length	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 403.5.1.
180-degree turn around an element less than 48 in wide	42 in approaching, 48 in at the turn, 42 in leaving; or 60 in at the turn	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 403.5.2.
Passing space for a wheelchair	60 by 60 in	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 403.5.3.
Route through a dwelling unit	36 in, narrowing to a nominal 32 in at doors	Accessibility standard	HUD Fair Housing Act Design Manual	Covered multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991.
Passing space where furniture stands in a hall	At least 36 in	Convention	AARP HomeFit Guide	A home-modification guide's advice for older adults; not code.
Major traffic path	40 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin (after 1977), cited as history.
Minor traffic path	26 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin (after 1977), cited as history.
Between furniture groupings	At least 24 in	Convention	MSU Extension E-741 (1972)	A 1972 extension bulletin, marked not for current recommendations.
Circulation path in a living room	30 to 36 in clear	Convention	Houzz, living room	Design practice for living rooms.
Between other pieces of furniture	At least 24 in	Convention	Houzz, living room	Design practice for living rooms.
Wall to furniture	36 in	Convention	This Old House	Design practice for living rooms.
Shoulder (bideltoid) breadth, 95th percentile	Men 22.32 in; women 19.65 in (5th percentile 18.07 and 15.98 in)	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	US Army personnel measured in 2012. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Forearm-to-forearm breadth, seated, 95th percentile	Men 26.26 in; women 22.20 in	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	US Army personnel measured in 2012. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Hip breadth, sitting, 95th percentile	Women 17.95 in; men 16.97 in	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	Seat width. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Buttock-knee length, 95th percentile	Men 26.34 in; women 25.43 in	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	Room in front of a seat. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Popliteal height (back of the knee to the floor), 5th to 95th percentile	Women 13.78 to 16.85 in; men 15.35 to 18.54 in	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	Seat height. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Eye height, sitting, above the seat, 5th to 95th percentile	Women 27.48 to 31.46 in; men 29.53 to 33.86 in	Measured body size	ANSUR II (2012)	Screen height. Military sample, not representative of civilians.
Standing height (stature), 5th, 50th and 95th percentile	Women 59.0, 63.5 and 67.9 in; men 64.1, 69.1 and 73.8 in	Measured body size	CDC NCHS (2021)	US adults 20 and over, measured 2015 to 2018. Heights only; the report has no widths.
Door clear width	At least 32 in with the door open 90 degrees; 36 in for an opening deeper than 24 in	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 404.2.3. Also the definition of clear width this manual uses for measuring.
Space to open a door, front approach, pull side	60 in deep and 18 in beyond the latch side	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Table 404.2.4.1 (other approaches differ).
Egress (main exit) door	32 in clear and 78 in high; other doors need not meet these sizes	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 3; 2021 IRC, ch. 3	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. R318.2 in 2024, R311.2 in 2021.
Kitchen doorway	32 in clear (34 in under its access standard)	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 1.
Doorways in a home	At least 32 in clear	Convention	AARP HomeFit Guide	A home-modification guide's advice; not code.
Door swing	No figure given: keep entry and appliance doors from hitting each other or a piece of furniture	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 2; this manual applies it to any door's swing arc.
Seat to coffee table	As close as 12 in; keep it under 18 to 20 in	Convention	Houzz, living room	Design practice; for reach from the seat.
Sofa to coffee table	18 in	Convention	This Old House	Design practice; for reach from the seat.
Sofa to coffee table	14 to 18 in (12 to 18 in in the same page's questions)	Convention	Living Spaces	A furniture retailer's guide; for reach from the seat.
Seat to coffee table, foot room	30 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin; for legs and passing, not reach.
Seating to coffee table	At least 10 in	Convention	MSU Extension E-741 (1972)	A 1972 extension bulletin, marked not for current recommendations.
Conversation group across	About 8 ft	Convention	MSU Extension E-741 (1972); Houzz, living room	An extension bulletin and design practice. Comfortable distance varies by culture and person.
Chairs side by side	42 in	Convention	This Old House	Design practice for living rooms.
Coffee table to TV console or other furniture	At least 30 in	Convention	Living Spaces	A furniture retailer's guide.
Seat to TV, by diagonal	1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal	Convention	Houzz, living room	Design practice.
Seat to TV, by viewing angle	About 1.6 times the diagonal of a 16:9 screen for a 30-degree field of view (attributed to SMPTE, as reported); about 1.2 times for 40 degrees	Convention	RTINGS	A TV review site's explainer; the standards are reported second-hand. The multiples are this manual's geometry from those angles.
TV size from seat distance	Viewing distance divided by 2 gives the screen diagonal	Convention	AARP HomeFit Guide	A home guide's rule of thumb.
Space for a walker between coffee table and seats	No figure given: leave clear space	Convention	AARP HomeFit Guide	A home-modification guide's advice for walker users. Measure with the person and the walker.
Table width per diner	24 in	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 9 (kitchen seating), applied by this manual to a dining table.
Behind seated diners	32 in where no one passes; 36 in to edge past; 44 in to walk past	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 8, applied by this manual to a dining table. This manual's dining default is 36 in.
Behind seated diners, access standard	36 in; 60 in for a wheelchair to pass	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 8, access standard.
Knee space at a 30 in high table	18 in deep	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 9.
Table edge to wall or other furniture	36 in; 48 in at the entrance to the room	Convention	Houzz, dining	Design practice (2012).
Elbow room per diner	At least 24 in; 26 in at a round table for three to six	Convention	Houzz, dining	Design practice (2012).
Table edge to wall, to get into a chair	36 to 44 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin, cited as history.
Each side of a dining table	About 36 in	Convention	MSU Extension E-741 (1972)	A 1972 extension bulletin, marked not for current recommendations.
Dining table to walls	At least 36 in	Convention	This Old House	Design practice.
Work or dining surface height	28 to 34 in above the floor	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 902.3.
Knee space under a surface	Between 9 and 27 in above the floor, up to 25 in deep, at least 30 in wide	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 306.3.
Beside a bed, to make it	18 to 24 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin, cited as history.
Beside a double bed	About 2 ft	Convention	MSU Extension E-741 (1972)	A 1972 extension bulletin, marked not for current recommendations.
Entry and circulation in a bedroom	30 to 36 in	Convention	Houzz, bedroom	Design practice.
In front of dressing furniture	A clear circle at least 36 in across	Convention	Houzz, bedroom	Design practice; the page gives it for furniture in general.
Each side and the foot of a bed	2 1/2 to 3 ft	Convention	Houzz, bedroom (2026)	Design practice (2026).
In front of a chest of drawers	40 in	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin, cited as history.
Mattress sizes, width by length	Twin 39 by 75 in; full 54 by 75 in; queen 60 by 80 in; king 76 by 80 in; California king 72 by 84 in	Product size	Houzz, bedroom	US standard sizes; longer versions exist. Measure your own.
Emergency escape opening in a sleeping room	Sill no more than 44 in above the floor; at least 5.7 sq ft open (5 sq ft at grade), 24 in high and 20 in wide	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 3; 2021 IRC, ch. 3	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. R319 in 2024, R310 in 2021. This manual uses it to say: keep the window clear and openable.
Work aisle	42 in for one cook; 48 in for more than one	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 6.
Walkway	36 in	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 7.
Work triangle (sink, cooktop, refrigerator)	Each leg 4 to 9 ft; total no more than 26 ft; no major traffic through it	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guidelines 3 and 5.
Knee space at counter seating	15 in deep at a 36 in counter; 12 in at a 42 in counter; 24 in wide per diner	Trade guideline	NKBA kitchen guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 9.
Between opposing counters	40 in; 60 in in a U-shaped kitchen	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Sections 804.2.1 and 804.2.2.
Between opposing counters, dwelling units	40 in; a 60 in circle in a U-shaped kitchen with a sink or range at its base; a 30 by 48 in parallel approach at the sink and range	Accessibility standard	HUD Fair Housing Act Design Manual	Covered multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991.
Toilet or lavatory: centerline to side wall, and clear space in front	At least 15 in to the side wall; 21 in clear in front (24 in in front of a shower opening in the 2021 figure)	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 27; 2021 IRC, ch. 3	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. P2705.1 in 2024, R307.1 in 2021.
Shower size	At least 900 sq in, with no side under 30 in	Model code	2024 IRC, ch. 27	New one- and two-family homes, where a state or city adopts the code. P2708.1 in 2024.
Clear space in front of each fixture	30 in	Trade guideline	NKBA bath guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guideline 4.
Toilet centerline to a wall or fixture; lavatory centerline to a side wall	18 in; 20 in	Trade guideline	NKBA bath guidelines (free summary)	Kitchen and bath design practice, as published in its free summary. Guidelines 20 and 5.
Toilet centerline and clearance	16 to 18 in from the side wall; 60 by 56 in clear	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Sections 604.2 and 604.3.1.
Clear floor space in a bathroom	30 by 48 in, outside the door swing	Accessibility standard	HUD Fair Housing Act Design Manual	Covered multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991.
Eyes to screen	At least 20 in; 20 to 40 in preferred; top line at or below eye level	Agency guidance	OSHA eTool, monitors	Workplace guidance, applied by this manual to a home desk.
Leg clearance under a desk	Generally 20 to 28 in high, as the page words it	Agency guidance	OSHA eTool, desks	Workplace guidance, applied by this manual to a home desk.
Eyes to screen	About an arm's length; top of the screen not above eye level	Agency guidance	CCOHS, monitor	Canadian workplace guidance.
Basic workstation zone	About 42 to 52 by 60 to 72 in	Agency guidance	CCOHS, office space	Canadian workplace guidance quoting a 1979 book that CCOHS itself calls an old reference.
In front of a desk or piano	3 ft	Convention	Virginia extension bulletin	An older extension bulletin, cited as history.
Clear floor space for a wheelchair	30 by 48 in	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 305.3.
Turning space	A 60 in circle, or a T-shape in a 60 in square with 36 in arms	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Section 304.3.
Reach range, forward or side	15 to 48 in above the floor, unobstructed; over an obstruction, 48 in high to 20 in deep, 44 in to 25 in deep	Accessibility standard	2010 ADA Standards	Public accommodations, commercial facilities and government buildings; not private homes. Sections 308.2 and 308.3.
Turning a wheelchair	About 5 ft	Convention	AARP HomeFit Guide	A home-modification guide's advice; measure with the person and the chair.
Overlapping spaces	No figure given: clear floor spaces may overlap, and a door may swing into turning space	Accessibility standard	Access Board guide, ch. 3	The Access Board's guide to the ADA Standards; public buildings.
Furniture with drawers, doors or shelves, and TVs	No figure given: anchor them to the wall	Agency guidance	CPSC Anchor It!	Every home, as US consumer-safety guidance. Anchoring reduces the risk; it does not remove it.
Where a TV stands	No figure given: only on furniture made to hold a TV; anchor or mount it; keep toys and remotes off the top	Agency guidance	CPSC Anchor It! center	US consumer-safety guidance for every home.
Anything that can burn, near a heat source	At least 3 ft from fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters and candles	Agency guidance	USFA, heating; NFPA, heating	Public fire-safety education; a heater's manual may ask for more.
Portable space heater	3 ft from anything that can burn; out of foot traffic; not blocking an exit	Agency guidance	NFPA, space heaters	Public fire-safety education (2018 tip sheet).
Ways out of a room	No figure given: two ways out of every room; doors and windows not blocked by furniture	Agency guidance	USFA, escape plans; NFPA escape-route brochure	Public fire-safety education.
Registers, baseboard heaters and radiators	No figure given: keep clear of furniture, carpet and drapes	Agency guidance	DOE Energy Saver Guide	US energy guidance (2022).
Smoke alarms and tall furniture	No figure given: alarms go on the ceiling or high on a wall; this manual adds, keep tall pieces from blocking them	Agency guidance	NFPA, smoke alarms	Public fire-safety education; the furniture point is this manual's application.
Cords near furniture and rugs	No figure given: not under rugs or furniture, not where a door pinches; extension cords for temporary use	Agency guidance	CPSC electrical checklist; ESFI extension cords	US consumer-safety guidance (2008) and an industry-funded nonprofit's brochure.
Throw rugs and furniture in a path	No figure given: remove or secure throw rugs; move furniture you have to walk around	Agency guidance	CDC Check for Safety	A fall-prevention checklist for older adults. Falls have many causes; this is one factor.
Furniture near a window, with young children	No figure given: nothing a child can climb in front of or near a window	Agency guidance	CPSC, window safety (2026); AAP, home safety	US consumer-safety and pediatric guidance. No agency gives a distance.
Window stops	Openings of 4 in or less	Agency guidance	CPSC, window safety (2026)	US consumer-safety guidance (2026). Screens do not stop falls; guards on lower floors open from inside.
Crib or bed and window-covering cords	No figure given: away from windows and cords, preferably on another wall	Agency guidance	CPSC, window cords	US consumer-safety guidance. Cordless coverings remove the hazard; other steps reduce it.
Floor lamps where children play	No figure given: behind other furniture	Agency guidance	AAP, home safety	Pediatric guidance for families with young children.
Bunk beds	Guardrails on both sides of the upper bunk, at least 5 in above the mattress; a required warning against children under 6 on the upper bunk	Federal product rule	16 CFR 1513	A federal rule (16 CFR 1513) for manufacturers; the age line is a required warning, not a ban.
Moving a heavy piece	No more than 50 lb per person; get help, use a dolly	Agency guidance	NIOSH toolbox talk (2026)	Workplace guidance for construction workers, cited only as a reference point.

How to read a row

Kind says what sort of figure it is. A code or standard row describes the buildings it covers, not your home.
Applies to names those buildings, that sample of people or that practice. Read it before you read the figure.
Where two rows give different figures for one situation, the difference usually comes from different uses: reach versus foot room, one person versus two passing.
No figure given means the source gives no number. We do not invent one; the row says what to do instead.
Your own measurement of a piece in use (a drawer pulled out, a chair pushed back) outranks any row here. Test it

Fictional example

Lena is invented for this manual. Her rented living room is 15 ft 2 in by 11 ft 6 in. She measures 22 in between the front of her sofa and her coffee table, and she walks through that gap to reach the balcony door.

Known: the gap is 22 in. She filters by Living and reads two rows. The seat-to-coffee-table rows give 12 to 18 in for reach from the seat. The circulation row gives 30 to 36 in for a path. At 22 in, the gap is wider than reach and narrower than a path, so it serves neither use well.

Assumed: she wants to set a cup on the table from the sofa, and she wants a route to the balcony that does not cross her knees.

Open: whether moving the table in to about 16 in and routing the balcony path around the table's end works for her. Her walk test, carrying a cup to the balcony, settles it; under these assumptions, that layout potentially serves both uses.

Limits

The figures are reference points, not requirements. This manual does not say whether a home meets or fails a code or standard. The building department answers code questions; an occupational therapist measures what a household member's walker, wheelchair and body need; and the household's walk test settles what the table cannot.

Figures checked against their sources on 2026-10-21; next check 2027-10-21.