36" if you ever want to have more than 2 large pans on at the same time. You cannot fit 3 on a 30".

36”. I have a family of five and sometimes wish I had gotten larger than 36”. Most the time it’s fine, but I cannot imagine cooking on a 30”. IMO you have better use of the additional 6” of cook top than the 3” on each side

30". I'd rather have the extra counterspace for emergency landing as well as workspace. I've had both and either one is fine. I went from a 30" range to a 36" cooktop (but with 33" on either side). When we build again, I'm planning to go back to 30". The reality is that you rarely need the extra space, even with a family of 8! Yes, it's nice to have the extra room b/w burners, but not at the expense of useful counterspace.

Show the SPACE. Show the plan for the kitchen. Show and share what you are doing with iit. It's a remodel? A change of tops? What? Where is one appliance in relation too another within the 12' and 11' walls. Any other answer is a non answer until you do that : )

My current layout sounds exactly like yours. We have a 30” range on the 12 foot run with a 36” fridge cabinet to the right on the end. The 24” space between the range and the fridge is not terribly useful other than as a landing space and the space between the range and the sink on the other arm feels tight. I couldn’t imagine shrinking it even more.

i agree that the 36” is better to give you more room to maneuver pots and pans, but the workspace is much more important, especially the space to the left.

Thanks for the feedback. Below is the layout.

How often have you “run out of room” when cooking on a 30” cooktop?

@Indecisiveness cant recall a time at our house, which is why I am questioning if the 36” is necessary. But, with the new kitchen we will be hosting more and our kids are still all under 7. As they get older, so will the cooking needs.

I can not recall a moment a client has used ALL FIVE burners at one time on a 36 inch range. It never happens. Don't agonize : )

@JAN MOYER thanks.

will the 36” look too big for the space or are we overthinking it?

A 36 inch cook TOP is no different than a 36 inch farm sink. Too big for what? Basically it is a "luxury "size and if a range, and your only oven? that counts more, actually. I mean luxury in term of looks. High end versus moderate. Is your refrigerator going to be a Sub Zero or similar? What is your appliance budget? Your kitchen budget on whole?

You plan is extremely difficult to see online. What is your inspiration for the kitchen , in general? When you go to 36....have you considered your venting? What will that be? See what iI mean? It's more than burners and landing spots. And you are imagining the "turn" doesn't count as space! ?

In other words.....more info.Aside from the inches lol

And think about a 30" induction range like a Bosch 800. Your work surface just got larger. But still no wide drawers for pots next to the range.

A different layout would move the wall oven stack all the way to the left. Place the frig at the right end on that run. This frees up space on either side of a range or cooktop on the 12' wall. And space for wide drawers in many places. Single bowl sink too. Dw to the right of the sink.

Jan, you know that preferring a 36" over a 30" is not about using 5 burners at the same time, it's about being able to use 3. Really? You must not cook for a lot of people if you never use 3 pots or pans at the same time. People who cook for a crown need a 12" pan...only 2 of those fit on a 30" at the same time.

You need FOUR 12 inch pans at the same time? Honestly??? Wouldn't bet my ranch on that, and yes, I do cook. As did my mother : ) For all the holidays, and for 16 on those. On a crappy electric "coppertone" ,........then white....... RANGE.....GOD BLESS HER.

3...read what I wrote...3. You cannot fit 3 at the same time. I'm over this, you are just trying to argue, have fun cooking. This was not about your mother, this was about a person who is trying to decide if she needs a 36" as she cooks more, her words...family of 5, who likes hosting. Judgement and ALL CAPS is such a nice look on you.

Sounds like it’s preference and how/what you cook. I like everything to be ready at the same time and I never learned to keep stuff warm while the rest finished on the top. like Jan’s mother my mom would always find a way to cook a king’s dinner on a crappy stove back in the 80’. She’s start with the protein and keep it warm in the over while she did the rest on the top. I use 3 to 4 pans at the same time most the time. Protein, side veg (like broccoli, carrots, spinach..)main carb like lentil/rice/pasta and finally sauce and had a 30” top before. No question it becomes problematic quickly unless you have a very sophisticated top (on my 30” from 2007 I had four separate hobs, no bridges. I remember dreaming of an Electrolux where the whole cook space was one giant flex zone) Anyways, for us it was a no brainer to go with 36” but that said, we also have ample counter space so it was never a trade off. Best of luck!

Cooking surface vs prep surface. I personally feel like you have plenty of prep behind the cooktop on the island, and on either side. You won’t regret having the extra space on the range.

I always prefer a 36” cooking surface over a 30” because I do often have multiple things going on the stovetop and even if I only have 2-3 pots or pans going at once, it’s easier for me to maneuver things on a larger cooking surface. I’m an empty nester now, but I had 5 kids, and I still have a lot of larger cookware that I use on a daily basis. It makes me feel impatient using my preferred cookware on a smaller surface. (As I’m doing now while I’m in a temporary living situation as we start building our next home. It just reminds me that yes, I will go for that 36” range top simply because I prefer it.) I’ve also had a 60” cooking surface... I loved it! But I just don’t feel like I need two ovens anymore. I really do a lot more stovetop cooking than baking. So, can I make do with a 30” cooktop? Yes, but it doesn’t mean I enjoy it as much.

You need a 36” for sure! New kitchen new house kids you will be hosting and cooking a lot! Fun!! 🥰. I recommend the thermador 5 star burner. We just bought the Viking 6 Burner and because I needed it by thanksgiving. It’s superb, but with 5 burners in 36” space you have more room

And as is the case now, you tend to cook more on the cooktop I think. I did a lot of roasted chickens when the kids were little. We had thermador double ovens and thermador 30” cooktop as kitchen was small. But now love the 36”