IQ.630,7 
 IL6b 
 I no. 686 
 
 
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 OF 
 
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 AT URBANA-CHA> 
 AGRICULTURE 
 
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 1,0 p. o 
 
 SPACE STANDARDS FOR HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES 
 
 | 
 
 Bulletin 686 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 in cooperation with 
 
 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 COLLEGE OF HOME ECONOMICS, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY 
 
 WASHINGTON AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS 
 
 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
 
The research reported in this publication provides standards for the 
 space needed to use and care for household equipment and furniture. Its 
 purpose is to aid architects, builders, and families in answering the many 
 questions that arise about space use and its relation to convenience and 
 cost in building houses. It answers such questions as : How much space 
 should be left around a bed to permit a woman to make it conveniently ? 
 How wide should a hallway be to allow two people to pass with ease? 
 How much space is needed around a dining table to permit comfortable 
 seating and easy serving? 
 
 The bulletin is divided into these sections: 
 
 How the study was made pages 3, 4, 5 
 
 Elemental activities (walking, reaching, kneeling, bending) pages 6, 7 
 
 Kitchen activities (using appliances and cabinets) pages 8, 9 
 
 Tables and chairs (seating, arising, serving) pages 10, 11 
 
 Beds and bedrooms (making a bed, cleaning under it, 
 
 using dressers and closets) pages 12, 13 
 
 Coat closets (putting on coats) page 13 
 
 Studio couches (opening and making) page 14 
 
 Bed-davenports (opening, making, and cleaning under) page 15 
 
 Bookcases (removing a book, cleaning under) page 15 
 
 Office or study (using desk, file, and typewriter) page 16 
 
 Five different agencies participated in the work reported here. The 
 project leaders included: 
 
 Helen E. McCullough, Associate Professor of Home Economics, Illinois 
 Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana 
 
 Avis Woolrich, Housing Specialist, Clothing and Housing Research Division, 
 Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washing- 
 ton, D.C. 
 
 Kathryn Philson, Home Economist, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Sta- 
 tion, Auburn University, Auburn 
 
 Ruth H. Smith, Research Associate in Housing, College of Home Economics, 
 Pennsylvania State University, University Park (Kathleen A. Johnston, now 
 of Purdue University, was project leader in 1955 and 1956 at Pennsylvania 
 State University) 
 
 Anna L. Wood, Associate Home Economist, Washington Agricultural Ex- 
 periment Stations, Washington State University, Pullman 
 
 The report was prepared by Helen E. McCullough. 
 
 Published for all the agencies by the 
 Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station 
 May, 1962 
 

 
 SPACE STANDARDS FOR HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES 
 
 By HELEN E. McCULLOUGH, KATHRYN PHILSON, RUTH H. SMITH, ANNA L. WOOD, and AVIS WOOLRICH 
 
 The standards reported here resulted from studies 
 carried on during 1956 and 1957 at four state agricul- 
 tural experiment stations Alabama, Illinois, Pennsyl- 
 vania, and Washington and at the Clothing and 
 Housing Research Division of the Agricultural Re- 
 search Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. They 
 were derived chiefly from detailed measurements of 
 the activities of 230 women. Twenty men were also 
 tested for household activities in which men most 
 commonly participate. 
 
 The research started in 1953 with a pilot study at 
 the Illinois Station. This study brought out the fact 
 that work habits may be as important as size, age, 
 weight, or body build in determining how much space 
 an activity requires. For example, a small woman who 
 habitually stands back from equipment as she works 
 may use more space than a larger woman who stands 
 close to it. 
 
 The pilot study also identified the part of each 
 activity requiring the most space and therefore made 
 it possible to reduce the number of measurements 
 needed in the cooperative study. For example, to de- 
 termine the space required to make a bed, several 
 contributing measurements could be taken: space to 
 remove the bedding, to turn the mattress, and to re- 
 make the bed with sheets, blankets, spread, and pillows. 
 In the pilot study it was found that unfolding the 
 bottom sheet, spreading it over the mattress, and tuck- 
 ing it in required more space around the bed than 
 doing any other part of the bedmaking activity. In 
 
 the cooperative study, putting on the bottom sheet was 
 therefore the only part of the bedmaking activity that 
 was used in determining the space required. 
 
 Following the pilot study, each of the five agencies 
 carried on separate but parallel studies testing a total 
 of 250 subjects chosen at random. A workshop was 
 held for the research leaders before starting the tests 
 in order to standardize methods of measurement, 
 equipment, and records of data so that the results 
 could be combined. A specially prepared manual was 
 used to insure uniformity. 1 Report forms were set up 
 that permitted easy transfer of data to punch cards. 
 The five project leaders concurred on the final recom- 
 mended figures for space use. 
 
 The 230 women in the study ranged in age from 
 20 to 70 years, in height from 58 to 74 inches, and in 
 weight from 90 to 225 pounds, as shown in the chart 
 below. All were physically normal homemakers, ac- 
 customed to working under usual home conditions (not 
 in a house trailer, for example). 
 
 Two types of measurements were recorded: body 
 measurements and activity measurements. Body meas- 
 urements were taken in order to obtain a clear picture 
 of the sample and to indicate the range that needs to 
 be considered in planning heights, depths, and widths 
 of work areas. Body measurements for the 230 women 
 and the 20 men in the study are shown in the drawings 
 on the next page and in Table 1. 
 
 1 Single copies of this manual can be obtained from the 
 Clothing and Housing Research Division. 
 
 DISTRIBUTION OF WOMEN SUBJECTS IN THE STUDY 
 
 AGE 
 
 HEIGHT 
 
 WEIGHT 
 
 iiiiinim iimirmi 
 
 60 61 62 63 
 
 65 66 67 68 69 
 
 70- 90- 110- 120- 1 30- 1 40- 1 50- 1 60- 1 70- 1 80- 1 90- 200- 
 74 109 119 129 139 U9 159 169 179 189 199 225 
 
 POUNDS 
 
The main part of the study determined the amount 
 of floor space needed by the individual to perform 
 household activities. Some of the measurements were 
 of basic movements (called elemental activities), such 
 as walking, reaching, bending, or kneeling, that would 
 be a part of many activities. Other measurements were 
 of specific activities in the home connected with the 
 use and care of equipment and furniture and the use 
 of closets. 
 
 Each subject performed the assigned activities at 
 least three times, doing them as she would have done 
 
 them at home and wearing the clothing she usually 
 wore for housework. Movable panels, anthropometers, 
 calipers, and steel tapes were used in obtaining the 
 measurements. A special observational method was 
 developed for a few activities in which both length and 
 width of space were measured, such as in the use of 
 coat closets. 
 
 The recommended standards resulting from this 
 study are shown in illustrations on the following pages 
 and in Table 2. These recommendations were deter- 
 mined by taking the average for each activity and 
 
 TABLE 1. MEAN BODY MEASUREMENTS OF 230 WOMEN AND 20 MEN 
 
 Women Men 
 
 Women Men 
 
 Women Men 
 
 HEIGHTS, standing 
 Top of head 
 
 incht 
 . 64.0 
 
 ss 
 69.8 
 64.9 
 57.3 
 43.4 
 31.9 
 28.8 
 
 35.6 
 30.5 
 22.9 
 9.3 
 17.6 
 23.1 
 
 28.0 
 
 LENGTHS 
 Sitting (buttocks 
 to front of knees) .... 
 
 /nchi 
 . 23.4 
 
 2S 
 
 25.1 
 20.4 
 15.2 
 27.0 
 16.2 
 
 20.6 
 16.4 
 19.7 
 14.3 
 16.0 
 37.7 
 
 THICKNESS 
 Maximum body 
 Lower body 
 
 inche 
 pout 
 .. 10.9 
 . . 10.7 
 
 s or 
 )ds 
 11.7 
 10.9 
 
 37.4 
 
 Eye 
 
 . 59.5 
 
 Shoulder 
 
 52 3 
 
 Seat (buttocks 
 to back of knees) .... 
 
 . 19.3 
 
 Elbow 
 
 396 
 
 GIRTH 
 Bust, Chest 
 
 . 36.6 
 
 Palm 
 
 . 29.7 
 
 Lap (abdomen 
 to front of knees) .... 
 Total arm (acromion 
 to thumb tip) 
 
 . 13.3 
 25.0 
 
 Thumb tip 
 
 . . 26.6 
 . . 33.4 
 
 Hip. . 
 
 . . 39.0 
 
 HEIGHTS, seated 
 Seat to top of head . . . 
 
 BENT AT HIPS 
 Arms down, length. . . . 
 
 . . 32.8 
 
 33.2 
 
 48.2 
 167.4 
 
 Forearm (olecranon 
 
 H7 
 
 Seat to eye 
 
 28.7 
 
 WIDTHS 
 
 18 4 
 
 Reach from bent 
 position (buttocks 
 to thumb tips 
 of arms extended). . 
 
 ONE KNEE KNEEL... . 
 WEIGHT, pounds 
 
 . . 45.0 
 . . 33.5 
 ..140.5 
 
 Seat to shoulder 
 
 . . 21.5 
 
 Seat to elbow 
 
 . . 9.0 
 
 Shoulders 
 
 14 4 
 
 Floor to under knee . . . 
 
 . . 14.9 
 
 Upper body 
 
 . 17.8 
 . 14.5 
 16.2 
 
 Floor to top of thigh . . 
 
 . . 20.7 
 
 Lower body (standing) . . 
 Lower body (sitting) 
 
 Floor to top 
 of crossed knee .... 
 
 . . 24.7 
 
 Elbows extended 
 
 33.6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
adding one standard deviation, except for activities in- 
 volving reaches, for which one standard deviation was 
 subtracted. All figures were rounded to the nearest 
 even inch. The standards apply to both men and 
 women, except as indicated otherwise. The illustra- 
 tions show the part of the activity that requires the 
 most space, as determined by the pilot study. 
 
 The use of these recommendations will provide 
 satisfactory activity spaces for most women in the 
 United States and reasonably comfortable spaces for 
 all others. For the subjects in the study, the final 
 recommendations were adequate for a minimum of 82 
 percent for some activities and up to 100 percent for 
 others. 
 
 The standards given for the elemental activities and 
 
 for the specific household activities have many applica- 
 tions besides those shown in the following pages. The 
 measurement for the elemental activity of bending, for 
 example, can be used to indicate the space needed to 
 turn on a television set. The required space for sitting 
 at a sewing machine can be judged from the recom- 
 mendations given here for the use of chairs. 
 
 A limited number of floor plans are included to 
 show the relationship of the space required for differ- 
 ent items of equipment or furniture grouped in spe- 
 cific rooms or areas, such as in kitchens, dining areas, 
 .or bedrooms. No floor plans are shown for living 
 rooms because they are frequently larger than other 
 rooms and have a greater diversity in kind and amount 
 of furniture. 
 
 TABLE 2. CLEARANCES FOR SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES 
 
 16" Edging past seated person 
 
 Cleaning ends of furniture* 
 20" Sitting at table, armless chair 
 
 Foot extension under table 
 22" Sitting at table, armchair 
 
 Foot extension under desk 
 
 Bedmaking* 
 
 Space at end for opening and making studio couch 
 
 or bed-davenport* 
 24" Walking past seated person 
 26" Walking between wall and table 
 
 Walking between two walls 
 28" Edging past standing person (12" body thickness 
 
 plus 16" edging space) 
 30" Sitting relaxed in an armless chair 
 
 Rising from chair at folding or typewriter tabls 
 32" Rising from table, armless chair 
 34" Rising from table, armchair 
 
 Forward bend 
 36" Using kitchen base cabinet* 
 
 Using wall oven* 
 
 Using refrigerator* 
 
 Using desk 
 
 Using bookcase 
 
 Edging past person in armless chair 
 
 (20" sitting space plus 16" edging space) 
 
 38" Using range oven* 
 
 Rising from an armless chair in a confined area 
 Walking past standing person (12" body thickness 
 
 plus 26" walking space) 
 Kneeling on one knee* 
 40" Walking with elbows extended 
 Using furniture with drawers 
 Rising from an armchair in a confined area 
 42" Using coat closet, one person 
 
 Using file cabinet 
 44" Serving seated person (20" sitting space plus 24" 
 
 walking space) 
 48" Cleaning under bed, bookcase, davenport, 
 
 or studio couch* 
 52" Two people passing 
 42" x 44" Using dishwasher* (based on dishwasher 
 
 24" wide) 
 
 42" x 48" Removing equipment from cleaning closet* 
 46" x 60" Using coat closet, 2 persons 
 98" x 119" Using and cleaning studio couch* 
 110"xll2" Using and cleaning bed-davenport* 
 
 * Measurements of these activities were taken of women only. All other measurements were taken of both men and women or were derived 
 from a combination of body measurements and activity measurements. 
 
ELEMENTAL ACTIVITIES 
 
 Walking between 
 two high walls 
 (space adequate 
 for both men 
 and women) 
 
 Two people passing 
 (figure derived ; twice the 
 space for one person to 
 walk between two high walls) 
 
 Walking between high 
 wall and 30" high 
 table (space adequate 
 for both men and 
 women) 
 
 Walking with elbows 
 extended (space ade- 
 quate for both men 
 and women) 
 
 Kneeling on one 
 knee (woman only) 
 
 Man bending at 
 a right angle 
 
Reaching, maximum height 
 
 -24"- h 24' 
 
 Reaching over obstruction, 24" deep and 36" high 
 
 
 112"- 
 
 Reaching over ob- 
 struction, 12" 
 deep and 36" high 
 (women only) 
 
 Maximum reach to 
 back of shelf 12" 
 deep (women only) 
 
KITCHENS 
 
 Using a conventional range 
 
 Using a wall oven 
 
 Using a refrigerator 
 
 Using a base cabinet 
 

 o 
 o 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 ooo 
 ooo 
 
 r^ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 WORK SPACE 
 
 o" 
 
 ^> 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 8" WORK 
 SPACE 
 
 64" 
 
 54 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 /s 
 
 fe4 
 
 ) 
 
 
 EDGING SPACE 
 16" 
 
 
 w 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 mS 
 
 
 26" WALKING 
 SPACE 
 
 Minimum space (allowing for edging) for two people 
 working at cabinets and appliances opposite each 
 other (except a front-opening dishwasher) 
 
 Liberal space (allowing for walking) for 
 two people working at cabinets and appliances 
 opposite each other (except a front-opening 
 dishwasher) 
 
 
 ~42 
 
 Using a front-opening dishwasher 
 requires 4 inches more space 
 than using other appliances in 
 a kitchen 
 
 Using a cleaning closet 
 
TABLES AND CHAIRS 
 
 
 ARMLESS CHAIR 
 20"x21" 
 
 7 32 " 
 !| 2,0" hsV 
 
 44" 
 
 20" 
 
 -WALKING past seated person 
 EDGING past seated person 
 
 ARISING AND DEPARTING 
 CHAIR PROJECTION 
 (seated person) 
 
 MAXIMUM FOOT EXTENSION 
 
 Armless chair in place at table 
 
 Foot extension, knees crossed, 
 not at table 
 
 ARMCHAIR 
 22"x23"- 
 
 Rising from table, armless 
 chair (armchair 2" more) 
 
 22" 
 
 34" 
 
 20" 
 
 ..fc: 
 
 -WALKING past seated person 
 
 EDGING past seated person 
 
 46" 
 -ARISING AND DEPARTING 
 
 -CHAIR PROJECTION 
 -(seated person) 
 
 -MAXIMUM FOOT EXTENSION 
 
 Armchair in place at table 
 
 WALKING past 
 seated person 
 
 EDGING 
 
 past seated person 
 
 ARISING AND DEPARTING 
 Using tables and chairs in free area 
 
 ARMLESS 
 CHAIR 
 
 38 
 
 RISING FROM A 
 CONFINED AREA 
 
 ARMCHAIR 
 
 40" 
 
 Using tables and chairs in confined area 
 
Walking past 
 seated person 
 
 Arising from 
 a card table 
 
 Edging past 
 seated person 
 
 Dining areas for eight persons with 
 free-standing table 72" x 40", one 
 armchair, and seven armless chairs 
 
 (calculated on basis of edging space 
 on sides where there is not serving 
 space, so that everyone can leave his 
 place without disturbing others) 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 
 1 
 
 36 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 00" 
 
 
 
 
 44"- 
 
 JO 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 44" 
 
 j 
 
 
 
 
 
 12'-10" 
 
 Serving space on one side and one end 
 
 CO 
 
 o 
 
 -38' 
 
 -44' 
 
 44' 
 
 Serving space on two sides and one end 
 
 CO 
 
 44' 
 
 -46' 
 
 ^ r-F-44 
 
 OT. 
 
 Serving space all around table 
 
BEDROOMS 
 
 L-22" 
 
 DOUBLE BED 
 54"x82" 
 
 22" 
 
 22"/-j-BEDMAKING SPACE 
 
 I 
 I 
 48VtCLEANING SPACE 
 
 L_ 
 
 A. 
 
 Cleaning under bed 
 
 IT- 2" 
 
 BEDMAKING 
 SPACE 
 
 DOUBLE BED 
 54"x82" 
 
 L_ I 
 
 40" 
 
 CLOSET USE 
 
 36" 
 
 Limited space -J 
 Liberal space i 
 
 SPACE TO USE 
 DRESSER 
 
 48"- 
 CLEANING SPACE 
 
 42" 
 
 -22"- 
 Making bed 
 
 9'-V 
 
 CLOSET USE 
 Limited space 
 
 -22"- 
 
 TWIN BED 
 39"x82" 
 
 Liberal space 
 
 DRESSER 
 42"x18" 
 
 40" 
 
 -48"- 
 
 42" 
 
 SPACE TO USE 
 DRESSER 
 
 CLEANING SPACE 
 
 CLOSET 
 
 mni 
 
 CLOSET 
 
 (In the drawings, "limited space" allows space 
 to open closet door and remove garment; 
 "liberal space" allows space to open closet 
 door, remove garment, and put it on) 
 
 Using dresser 
 
 12 
 
15'- 8" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TWIN BED 
 39"x82" 
 
 
 
 
 TWIN BED 
 39"x82" 
 
 
 DRESSER 
 52"xl8" 
 
 1 
 
 
 MAKING 
 
 1 2 J 
 
 LIBER 
 
 -22'i- 
 
 CLEANING 
 SPACE 
 
 AK" I 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 AL SPACE TO 
 
 4 
 USE CLOSET 
 
 2" 
 
 , ,1 
 
 CLOSET 
 
 COAT CLOSETS 
 
 One person using 
 coat closet 
 
 Two persons using coat closet in foyer 
 area with space for one person walking 
 
 13 
 
STUDIO COUCHES 
 
 -22"- 
 Making studio couch 
 
 Opening and edging-out space 
 (type tested needed to be 
 moved out from wall to be 
 opened; some do not) 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 "-0 
 
 
 22" 
 
 STUDIO COUCH 
 CLOSED 75" x, 
 
 34" 
 
 .-22'^-. 
 
 C 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 8" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 OPENING AND 
 MAKING SPACE 
 
 CLEANING SPACE 
 
 CN 
 CO 
 
 16"_ _OPENING AND 
 
 "EDGING OUT SPACE 
 
 STUDIO COUCH 
 
 OPEN 75"x60" 
 
 f 
 22" 
 
 BEDMAKING SPACE 
 
 14 
 
BED-DAVENPORTS 
 
 9'-2' 
 
 M6"- 
 
 
 BED-DAVENPORT 
 
 78"x36" 
 CLOSED 78"x36" 
 OPEN 78"x91" 
 
 76' 
 
 BEDMAKING SPACE 22" 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 ^CLEANING 
 SPACE 
 
 -TO OPEN 
 
 Cleaning ends of bed-davenport 
 
 Opening or making bed-davenport 
 
 \ 
 
 Cleaning under bed-davenport 
 or studio couch 
 
 BOOKCASES 
 
 Using bookcase 
 
 Cleaning under bookcase 
 
 15 
 
OFFICE OR STUDY 
 
 SPACE TO USE DESK 
 SPACE TO USE FILE- 
 
 Using office desk 
 
 DESK 60"x30" 
 
 22" 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 22" 
 
 36" 
 
 A 
 
 1" 
 
 
 r 
 
 7'-8" 
 
 30" 
 
 FILE 
 
 16"x 
 28" 
 
 36" x 16" 
 
 FOOT EXTENSION 
 UNDER DESK 
 
 SITTING SPACE 
 
 SPACE TO USE 
 TYPEWRITER TABLE 
 
 TYPEWRITER 
 TABLE 
 
 5'-0' 
 
 Parallel arrangement of office equipment 
 
 TYPEWRITER 
 TABLE 
 
 o 
 x 
 <> 
 
 DESK 60"x30" 
 
 , 22" 
 
 FILE 
 
 16"x 
 
 28" 
 
 36" 42" 
 
 f SPACE TO USE FILE 
 - SITTING SPACE 
 
 16" 
 
 24" 
 
 SPACE TO USE DESK 
 
 SPACE TO EDGE PAST TYPEWRITER TABLE 
 SPACE TO WALK PAST TYPEWRITER TABLE 
 
 SPACE TO USE TYPEWRITER TABLE 
 Right-angle arrangement of office equipment 
 
 Using file 
 
 9'- 4" 
 
 -o 
 
 Using and arising 
 from a typewriter 
 
 FILE 
 
 16"x 
 28" 
 
 DESK 60"x30" 
 
 42" 
 
 46" 
 
 t 
 22" 
 
 _L 
 
 36" x 16" 
 
 30" 
 
 TYPEWRITER 
 TABLE 
 
 36" 
 
 SPACE TO USE TYPEWRITER TABLE 
 SPACE TO USE DESK 
 
 SITTING SPACE 
 SPACE TO USE FILE 
 
 WALKING PAST person seated at desk (24" + 22") 
 One-wall arrangement of office equipment 
 
 16 
 
 4M 11-75 32658 
 

 
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