ᐅ Width of an Entrance Area / Hallway

Hello everyone,

I have a question about the width of your hallways and entrance areas. What do you consider to be an ideal width? For example, a hallway of 1.50 meters (5 feet) and an entrance area without stairs measuring 1.50 meters (5 feet). Is that wide enough, or can it be narrower while still being practical? Usually, you also plan to have a coat rack or wardrobe in the hallway, maybe space for a stroller, etc.

Of course, if money is no object, you would make it as spacious as possible, but that’s rarely the case.

Looking forward to your answers.

1.50 meters (5 feet) at the door, 1 meter (3.3 feet) at the narrowest point – to allow the stroller to pass through.

It depends on whether you have a niche somewhere for a coat closet or if it will be located in the hallway. Without a coat closet, a width of 1.20 meters (4 feet) is sufficient. I wouldn’t make the narrowest spot any smaller than that, so there is still room for a shoe cabinet or similar, and people can comfortably pass each other.

Manu1976 schrieb:
Without a cloakroom, a width of 1.20 meters (4 feet) is enough.

But not always:
In our house, if I remember correctly, the entrance hall was 1.40 meters (4 feet 7 inches) wide in the vestibule, but only 1.80 meters (6 feet) deep up to the next door. Both doors (front entrance and room door) opened into the vestibule — plus the guest bathroom door was on the long side, also opening toward the hallway. It was all quite tight and I wouldn’t want that today.
Now we have about 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches) — I measured it today... by the way, interestingly, I had always planned 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) originally. The raw construction dimension was also close, but now with plaster and everything it’s only about 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches). For us, this is spacious enough. I wouldn’t want less because we have a smooth transition to the open dining area. The cloakroom is built under the stairs, outside of the 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches), and there is a passage 3 meters (10 feet) from the entrance door with a width of 1.30 meters (4 feet 3 inches) next to a chest of drawers. Everything works perfectly: you can stand side by side with guests and take their coats off.
I think you could save the width of one tile, about 30 centimeters (12 inches), but then you shouldn’t place furniture on alternating sides — only on one side. Also, storage space for strollers, backpacks, and bags would need more careful planning to avoid tripping.
And... the hallway has to fit the house!

ypg schrieb:

And... the hallway has to fit the house!

I agree! In a villa with curved staircase elements, a 1m (3.3 ft) wide hallway doesn’t make sense. In a semi-detached / terraced house with limited space, I would rather do without a large hallway if that means having 35 sqm (375 sq ft) available in the living room instead of 30 sqm (320 sq ft).

Well, of course, we are not talking about a villa here; otherwise, the question wouldn’t even arise. That means an entrance area of 1.70 m (5 feet 7 inches) would be more than enough, especially if a dresser is placed in the hallway.