HDB Kitchen Layouts by Flat Type: What Actually Fits

Your HDB kitchen layout is not really a style choice — it is decided by three things: the width of the space you have, where the existing water and gas points sit, and what HDB’s rules allow you to move. Get those right and the look follows.

This guide covers the four layouts that work in Singapore flats, which one suits each flat type from 2-Room Flexi to Executive, and the HDB rules that quietly shape every kitchen renovation.

The four kitchen layouts that work in HDB flats

1. Galley (single or parallel run)

Two facing runs, or one run against a wall. The most space-efficient layout and the default in smaller flats. It keeps the plumbing on the existing wall, so it is usually the cheapest to execute and the least permit-heavy. Best for: 2-Room Flexi, 3-Room, and any flat where the kitchen is a corridor.

2. L-shape

Cabinetry along two adjoining walls. Gives you a proper prep zone between sink and hob without crowding the walkway, and frees a corner for a fridge or tall storage. Best for: 4-Room flats — the most common and most flexible HDB kitchen.

3. U-shape

Three walls of storage and worktop. Maximum bench space and storage, but it needs genuine width or it feels tight. Best for: 5-Room and Executive flats, or 4-Room units with a squarer kitchen.

4. Island or peninsula

A free-standing or attached counter extending into the space. Only realistic where you have the floor area and the services can be run — an island needs power, and any wet or gas point on it is a much bigger job. Best for: 5-Room, Executive, and open-concept layouts.

Which layout fits your flat type

2-Room Flexi (roughly 36–45 sqm)

A single-run galley, full height. Every millimetre counts, so the wins come from tall cabinetry to the ceiling, a compact induction or two-burner hob, and a sink sized to the bench rather than the other way around. Keep services where they are — relocating them eats budget you would rather spend on storage.

3-Room (roughly 60–65 sqm)

A galley or a compact L-shape. This is the flat type where opening the kitchen to the living area starts to get discussed — worth checking early whether that wall is structural, because that decides the whole plan.

4-Room (roughly 90 sqm)

The most common HDB layout, and the most flexible. An L-shape almost always works; a U-shape can fit if the kitchen is squarer. There is usually room for a proper tall unit, a full-size fridge and a dedicated prep run.

5-Room (roughly 110 sqm)

U-shape, or an L-shape with a peninsula. The extra width supports a real island conversation, a coffee or baking station, and a service yard that stays functional rather than becoming a dumping zone.

Executive flats and maisonettes (roughly 130 sqm)

The most freedom — U-shape with an island, or a split wet and dry kitchen. Maisonettes bring their own consideration: anything touching the internal staircase or a structural element needs HDB’s approval, so the kitchen plan gets drawn alongside the whole-house plan.

The HDB rules that shape every kitchen

These constraints decide what is actually buildable — see our full guide to HDB renovation rules for the complete picture.

Permits. Cabinetry, worktops and most carpentry need no HDB permit. Hacking or altering a wall, replacing the floor finish beyond the allowed overlay, and changing vents do. Map every item to permit or no-permit before the design is finalised.

Floor finishes. Replacement floor finishes must stay within HDB’s thickness limits, and there is an overlay route that avoids removing the original screed entirely.

Weepholes must stay open. The weepholes at the kitchen’s external wall exist for drainage and cannot be sealed over by new finishes or cabinetry.

Licensed trades are mandatory. Water and sanitary work must be carried out by a PUB Licensed Plumber (required since 1 April 2018). Gas work must go through licensed gas service workers — an unlicensed job is both illegal and uninsurable.

Waste pipes. Waste pipes are never embedded into the structural slab. If your layout needs the sink far from the existing stack, that is the constraint to design around.

Open-concept kitchens: when they actually work

Two things decide it. First, is the wall structural? If yes, it is not coming out; if it is a non-structural partition, removal needs HDB’s written approval before work starts. Second, do you cook with gas? An enclosed gas kitchen has ventilation requirements an open one does not, which is why many open-concept HDB kitchens end up on induction with a properly sized hood.

Common mistakes we see

• Designing before checking the walls — the layout gets drawn, then the structural wall kills it.
• Moving the sink “just a little” — any move away from the existing stack is a plumbing job, not a cosmetic one.
• Sealing the weepholes — usually discovered at inspection, and it means rework.
• Under-planning the service yard — in 4-Room and larger flats this is prime storage that most renovations waste.
• Choosing the hob before the ventilation — gas versus induction changes what layout is even permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Does an HDB kitchen renovation need a permit?

Cabinetry, worktops and most carpentry do not. Hacking or altering a wall, replacing floor finishes beyond the allowed overlay, and vent changes do.

What is the best kitchen layout for a 4-Room HDB flat?

An L-shape suits most 4-Room kitchens — it gives a real prep zone between sink and hob without blocking the walkway. A U-shape works where the kitchen is squarer.

Can I have an open-concept kitchen in an HDB flat?

Often yes, but it depends on whether the wall is structural and on your gas and ventilation setup.

How is a BTO kitchen different from a resale kitchen?

A BTO starts bare, so it is a clean install. A resale kitchen usually involves hacking out the old kitchen first, and older flats often need re-wiring or re-piping — so resale scope is wider and starts with a condition check.

Who is allowed to do the plumbing and gas work?

Water and sanitary work must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber; gas work must go through licensed gas service workers. As an HDB-Approved renovation contractor we coordinate the licensed trades at the right stages.

See also our HDB interior design guide by flat type.

Plan it with an HDB-Approved Contractor

Tell us your flat type and whether it is a BTO or resale unit, and we will tell you exactly what is available to you before any design work starts.

FC Interior Design — HDB-Approved Contractor (licence HB-09-2619C), Singapore since 1990.
Call +65 6444 0555 or WhatsApp +65 9888 2723.

More HDB renovation guides

Browse the full library in our HDB renovation guides hub — covering permits and rules, BTO vs resale timelines, kitchen layouts, bathrooms, 4-Room BTO, design styles and space planning.