What is the minimum clearance above a stove to combustible material
James Bradley
Updated on April 10, 2026
(CMC 921.3. 2): Household cooking appliances shall have a vertical clearance above the cooking top of not less than 30 inches to combustible material or metal cabinets. A minimum clearance of 24 inches is permitted where one of the following is installed: 1.
Can you put a cabinet over a stove?
In this post, we learned that you’re able to place a stove next to cabinets safely, as stoves do not emit much heat from their sides. It’s essential to leave at least twenty-four inches of room between the top of your stove and the bottom of any cabinet that sits above it.
What is the normal side and rear clearance from combustible materials for a commercial gas range?
Clearance between range and side wall or combustible material must be at least 12″ on each side. Allow 12″ min. clearance at the back to combustible materials. Allow 36″ min.
How much clearance do you need between stove and wall?
There should be two inches of space between the back wall and a drop-in or slide-in (gas or electric) style range. A freestanding range (gas or electric) requires no space between it and the back wall. There should be at least twelve inches between any style range and the closest sidewall.Can a microwave go above a gas stove?
Can you put a microwave above a gas range? Yes. In fact, you can put a microwave over a gas range or electric range. Microwaves are also commonly placed on countertops, stored inside cabinets, or on shelves.
How much space do you need around a stove?
A minimum of 12 inches of landing space on one side of the stove, and another 15 inches on the other side, are the required landing area widths. As this is hardly enough room to set a single pot or pan, this should be considered an absolute bare minimum, with greater widths highly recommended.
How much clearance do you need above an electric range?
Ranges: Electric ranges require 0″ side wall clearance above the counter height but up to 6″ is recommended to avoid possible heat damage to surrounding surfaces.
How much space does an oven need?
The capacity differs slightly from a range to a wall oven—the capacity of a range is around 5 cubic feet while a standard wall oven tends to be slightly smaller —around 3 cubic feet. If you have a smaller household and you typically cook for just one or two, then an oven of 3 cubic feet will more than suffice.How much space do you need behind an oven?
You need at least 5mm of space along the sides of the built in oven. If the top of the oven is flush with the worktop, this is fine. In other cases, there may be up to 20mm of ventilation space provided at the top, but generally your built in oven is okay to be completely flush at the top.
How much clearance do you need for a gas stove?How much space do you need behind a stove? The counter space on the stove or stovetop should be at least 12 to 18 inches on one side and at least 24 on the other side.
Article first time published onHow much clearance do you need between a gas stove and microwave?
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the bottom of the microwave should be no higher than 54 inches above the floor, which would allow for 18 inches of clearance between the microwave and the typical cooktop height of 36 inches.
Do gas stoves need to be vented?
Most gas ranges in the United States do not require venting to the outside. … We recommend venting any gas range to the outside of your home. A professional-grade range hood will evacuate harmful cooking fumes, reduce cooking odors, and improve your health and safety.
Is 400 CFM range hood enough?
We recommend purchasing a hood that is more powerful than 400 CFM, but the casual cook might be able to get by with 400. Most 400 CFM hoods are manufactured cheaply at big box stores, so they are not very durable.
How high should a cabinet be above a stove?
The standard height for a range hood is between 28 and 36 inches from the cooktop for a gas range and electric range. 28 inches is the minimum height. If the hood is any closer, it may become damaged. Any further than 36 inches and your hood won’t move air away from your cooktop efficiently.
How much space do you need for kitchen appliances?
Ideally, there should be 3.5 – 4 feet between all appliances, walls, cabinets, and around the island to allow for easy traffic flow throughout the kitchen.
How far apart should kitchen appliances be?
The sink, main refrigerator, and stove should be in close proximity to each other. You require a minimum of 4 feet between each point to easily maneuver, and equally not more than 9 feet. This allows easy access to get food from the refrigerator to a preparation point, and then into the oven.
How much space do you need either side of a range cooker?
Requirements for different range cookers There is usually around a 2.5mm gap each side of the range for the cabinetry. Depending on the model and the cabinet makers, some may require a larger gap (up to 10mm) to protect the cabinetry from heat damage.
How wide should my stove opening be?
Space in front of the range: It is a good idea to allow at least 40 inches of space in front of a range and 48–60 inches between the range and other appliances to ensure the door can open fully and you still have room around it to move, particularly if you have a kitchen island.
How much space do you need for a corner stove?
Corner Kitchen Stove Dimensions What is this? Meanwhile, a 30-inch wide stove is recommended to install with between 45 and 48 inches of wall space on each side. On the other hand, there is a required wall space between 51 and 54 inches for a 36-inch wide stove installation.
Do you need to leave a space behind an oven?
Just to confirm cosworth’s reply, all ovens need ventilation and so a 10mm gap is OK, there are a few that are designed to leave no gap but these have ventilation slots built into the facia.
DO built-in ovens need ventilation?
Yes . Built-in ovens come with an electric heating element which is at risk of causing fires if they overheat. This is not only for safety but also to reduce fire hazards.
How do you cover a space behind a stove?
Fortunately, there are such things called stovetop extenders. These are made of vinyl or stainless steel and can be easily installed to fill this unsightly gap between the stove and the back wall. We were able to find this sturdy stovetop extender.
How far should a gas stove be from the wall?
Firstly, the minimum space allowed between the cooktop elements or gas burners and combustible materials directly overhead is 600 mm. Secondly, there must be at least 50 mm clearance from the back edge of the cooktop to a non-combustible wall surface or splashback.
Can you have a window above a stove?
Most building codes require a range to be a minimum of 12 inches away from a window for a number of reasons. A fire on the stove can jump to curtains on the windows. Or a breeze from an open window can blow out the flame on a gas burner and allow gas to accumulate possibly unnoticed prior to a potential explosion.
How much space is needed between stove and microwave?
Most major manufacturers recommend a distance of 30 inches between the top of the microwave and the surface of the oven. Depending on the height of the oven, this equates to roughly 14 or 15 inches between the underside of the microwave and the stovetop.
How much clearance does a microwave need?
3″ of clearance on both sides and the top. 1″ clearance in the rear. The front edge of the microwave (measured at door) should sit at least 3″ or more back on the counter or shelf to avoid accidental tipping. If located on the counter near a range, we recommend locating it at least 2 ft away.
How much space do you need around a microwave for ventilation?
For proper ventilation, keep three inches of space between the oven’s top, sides, rear and the area where the unit is to be installed.
Can you use a downdraft vent with a gas range?
Some stoves come with built-in downdraft vents that rise up from the back or center of the cooktop when a burner is lit. Like updraft hoods, downdraft units must be vented to the outdoors or they are ineffective. On a gas stove, a malfunctioning downdraft vent can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to remain in the air.
How are gas stoves vented?
Range hoods provide good ventilation for gas ranges when they are vented to the outdoors. … These hoods require that the range or cooktop be near an outside wall for proper venting, according to the VentingDirect website. Island cooktops are generally vented through the roof.
What is a downdraft range?
A downdraft range or cooktop integrates the ventilation system directly into the cooking surface, eliminating the need for an overhead vent. … These systems help capture smoke, steam, grease particles, and odors at the cooking surface, pulling them down and out of the kitchen before they can escape into the air.
Is 375 cfm good for a range hood?
To meet the recommended CFM requirements, you’ll need a range hood with 250 CFM. Island hoods – 150 CFM for every linear foot of cooktop. Due to the open nature of a kitchen island stove, you need extra power. As a general rule of thumb, for the same 30” cooktop, you’ll need a range hood with 375 CFM.