Kitchen layout
Galley kitchens, costed
A galley kitchen runs two parallel benches with a corridor between them. It gives more bench and storage per square metre than any other layout, and because both runs are straight there are no corner cabinets, so cost tracks the total benchtop area rather than the layout itself.
Updated
When does a galley kitchen work?
Long, narrow rooms: older villas, terraced houses, and spaces where two people want to work without colliding. Two runs of 2.7–4.2 m give more bench and storage per square metre than any other layout, and because both runs are straight there are no corner cabinets to pay for.
When does it not work?
Open-plan extensions where you want sightlines to the living space: a galley turns its back on the room. Cost is the other catch, because two runs mean roughly double the benchtop of a single wall, and two splashbacks, so the layout gets expensive the moment you choose stone.
What drives the cost of a galley kitchen?
Benchtop area, mostly. Two runs mean roughly double the benchtop of a single wall, and benchtop is where laminate and stone diverge most. Add two splashbacks, often at two different heights if one side carries the range, and services split across two walls when the sink and range face each other.
| Driver | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Twice the benchtop | Two runs means roughly double the benchtop area of a single wall, and benchtop is where laminate and stone diverge most. |
| Splashback on both sides | Two splashbacks, and often two different heights if one side has the range. |
| Services split across two walls | If the sink and the range are on opposite runs, both walls need work rather than one. |
Galley questions
How wide should a galley corridor be?
Aim for at least 1.0–1.2 m clear between the bench faces so two people can pass and every drawer and appliance door can open. Under about 900 mm the layout stops working, and that is a design decision worth drawing before anyone quotes.
Is a galley more expensive than an L-shape?
It depends on total benchtop area, not the shape. A galley has no corner cabinets, which saves money, but two full runs usually add up to more benchtop than an L in the same room.
Sources
- CheckMyBuilder, kitchen renovation cost (updated July 2026)
- Superior Renovations, kitchen renovation cost Auckland (2026)
Checked 15 September 2026. We re-check every published figure quarterly.