Work bench depth allowance?

larry_g · Jun 16, 2017

We get a lot of "review my layout" threads here on the forum. One thing that always seems missing to me is allowance for storage and workbench depth. So I would like this thread to gather your average distance from the wall of the building for the workbench area. Work bench area is the distance from the wall to the front of the work bench PLUS the distance allowed for the person to stand or sit. If you are like me and have stuff on the floor in front of the bench then include that distance if necessary.

Hopefully we can come up with a number to give the design requester to allow for workbench intrusion into the building. I know for me it is near 6'.

lg
no neat sig line

shortykorte · Jun 17, 2017

When designing my layouts, I use a 3' circle to check minimum clearance. For a vehicle bay, I like 4' minimum around an avg. size vehicle when possible. Ideally 4-5' would be great for everything.

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EOC_Jason · Jun 17, 2017

My workbench is 3' deep, in hind sight realistically I think 30" would have been much better (and the shelf below would be 18" instead of 12").

I figure another 2'-3' for my stand/sit area.... So all in all about 6' of area...

sberry · Jun 17, 2017

My workbench is 3' deep, in hind sight realistically I think 30" would have been much better (and the shelf below would be 18" instead of 12").

This is good.

gungatim · Jun 17, 2017

typically counters or workbenches are 24", at least in my experience. I like a 36" walkway around benches/boxes/etc., but you can get away with 28"-30" if you work alone.

Ditch · Jun 17, 2017

If you are against a wall, more than 3' is crazy unless you are extremely tall

If it's in the middle of a shop, 6' is good, maybe wider depending what you are working on.

larry_g · Jun 17, 2017

Ditch said:
If you are against a wall, more than 3' is crazy unless you are extremely tall
.

The question is workbench + workarea. Unless your really skinny 3' is not going to allow you any place to stand.

On edit

Your telling me that from the wall to the extent of the hose holder is less than 3' ? My idea for this thread was to capture all that lost area from the wall to the free floor space where a vehicle could be parked. To many guys come to the forum with a drawing and allow nothing for lost floor space due to benches and storage that extends into the floor area rendering it unusable for parking.

lg
no neat sig line

Ditch · Jun 17, 2017

it is 34"
the metal shelving units are 3' wide.
The middle shelf is 1 ft. wide.
It came off the top shelf
I used 4' x 8' sheets of 3/4 plywood.
You can't see in the pic but the bottom shelf has a 3" lip from the bottom sheet to help stop stuff from falling over the back edge.

The piece for the magnifying light is a short piece of 2"x2"
None of this impedes parking. I have a 2 car garage with a shop area attached.
It's well over a third of the garage.

BTW, I cleaned up the mess.

Socket Pounder · Jun 17, 2017

I have learned to keep my workbenches no more than 24" deep max, so I can put things on the wall and reach them; 18-20" is even better. Also if something rolls to the back of the workbench I can easily reach it. And if I have a shelf above, I can reach that. The front of your workbench is a walkway, treat it as such.

dhubbard422 · Jun 17, 2017

Interesting thread. I'm currently making decisions about the workbenches for my new shop and workbench depth is just one of the variables I am pondering. In my experience, of course your experiences may differ greatly... I've found that any workbench against a wall with a depth greater than 25" becomes a meeting place for clutter. I'm trying to convince myself to build my benches with a 20" depth; just enough room to slide a standard rolling bottom tool chest underneath.

I'm planning to allow for at least 30" and preferably 36" of walkway in front of the bench.

So, I'm curious if anyone regrets having only 18" - 20" of workbench depth for a workbench that backs to a wall?

D

Ditch · Jun 17, 2017

Socket Pounder said:
I have learned to keep my workbenches no more than 24" deep max, so I can put things on the wall and reach them; 18-20" is even better. Also if something rolls to the back of the workbench I can easily reach it. And if I have a shelf above, I can reach that. The front of your workbench is a walkway, treat it as such.

Thumper68 · Jun 17, 2017

I went through this a few years back when building my SteevO style bench, the HF 44 inch boxes are 18" deep so that would be my absolute minimum, Then I decided that I wanted to put my 2 CM top boxes on top of the bench and still have a bit of surface to set stuff or work on small things. so in the end I decided that 26 inches would be about right, the SS top I have has a bull nose that adds about a inch to the depth.

When moving stuff around a few months back I placed my fab/work table 30 inches from the tool box, just enough room to stand and fully open a drawer.

So for me 57" is the space I have, I could move the table out some more but this seems to be working well, and it forces me to keep that area free of clutter so I can get to my tools and work all the way around the table.

Socket Pounder · Jun 17, 2017

Ditch said:

You really burned me, I guess. :dunno:

Ditch · Jun 18, 2017

it's a joke, get over it

landrover bodger · Jun 18, 2017

mine is 3 ft as thats the size the steel for the frame i made it from was . works ok for me

ezover · Jun 18, 2017

about 15 years ago I made a 44'deep x 10'' wide work bench. I found it acted as a junk collector. I found myself doing most of my projects on a 36' deep x 4'' wide bench.

Jackfre · Jun 18, 2017

My workbenches are free standing and minimum 42" off a wall. I know that this is a personality disorder, but any of my benches that sit against the wall become accumulators of vast quantities of...****. I don't call those benches. They are shelves.

bpjr · Jun 18, 2017

My largest benches are 42" deep + 6" from the wall and I give a minimum of 60" for walk space. My smaller benches are 30" deep + 6" plus 60" for walk space.

If I had to do it over again the largest work top would be a minimum of 48" deep. That gives more room to have longer parts (chainsaws, string trimmers, boat motors, etc) without squeezing.

Stuey · Jun 18, 2017

I think that a 25" bench with 30" clearance might be ideal. Maybe 36" clearance, or a few inches added to the bench depth, or a few inches behind.

So... 5-feet?

Keith_MN · Jun 18, 2017

My main workbench is 30 inches deep, which I like a lot. I have 4 feet between my workbench and my tool box across the isle. I could probably get by with 3 feet though. But four feet isle is nice. It is close enough that I can turn around and get a tool out of my toolbox and still keep a hand on the bench. Very convenient.

MO-Iron · Jun 19, 2017

6' total with 32" of that work bench. I could probably get by with 5' but if two people are working, the extra foot is nice to have.

Ditch · Jun 19, 2017

ezover said:
about 15 years ago I made a 44'deep x 10'' wide work bench. I found it acted as a junk collector. I found myself doing most of my projects on a 36' deep x 4'' wide bench.

seems a tad narrow

PhantomEB · Jun 19, 2017

My bench is 32" deep 40" wide. With the car in there I got about 3' to sit around in front of it. Workshop side is the other bay so usually the car is out when I am working on something, right now it's my 01 Ram2500 with injection pump problems.

finn · Jun 19, 2017

Socket Pounder said:
I have learned to keep my workbenches no more than 24" deep max, so I can put things on the wall and reach them; 18-20" is even better. Also if something rolls to the back of the workbench I can easily reach it. And if I have a shelf above, I can reach that. The front of your workbench is a walkway, treat it as such.

Agreed.

Deeper than 24" is useless for me. I like 18" to 20" deep benches for 99% of my work and have a rolling 30" bench on casters for lager work.

4' or larger for standing and maneuvering room in front of the bench is preferred.

bpjr · Jun 19, 2017

Size really depends on what you work on. For small parts, pieces, guns, reloading etc 24" would be fine for me. For major engine building and large parts that need to be rotated without hanging over the edge 24" is way too small. One of the best I used to have was a 48"x 60" free standing island on wheels with access on all four sides. My current shop doesn't have the room for an island type bench.

Socket Pounder · Jun 19, 2017

Island bench is the best.

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Shootinok · Jul 4, 2017

Great thread!
I think 6' is a good number for best design for my needs. I just wish I'd thought of it before

I can fit what I want in my new shop - but must pull the truck out to work on the bench or especially the table saw.

timbitca · Jul 4, 2017

My current bench is 12' x 28". Working space would probably be in the neighbourhood of 5' I'd say from the wall to the start of the staircase, will have to measure tonight.

Ditch · Jul 4, 2017

Socket Pounder said:
Island bench is the best.

BS
It depends what you are doing

Farmer J. · Jul 4, 2017

Depth of bench should equal the length of your arm if it's against a wall, double that if it's an island.
Space in front of it, as much as you can manage. Room to dismantle a combine harvester can be useful..

DCarr2 · Jul 4, 2017

My primary workbench, is 11.5x6.5'

rburke65 · Jul 4, 2017

The one I use the most is an island bench. It measures 6' X 8' and I had my doubts, but I am really liking it.

Work bench depth allowance?

How deep is your workbench PLUS work area?

3 feet or less

4 feet

5 feet

6 feet

7 feet

8 feet or more

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