Honestly, this is one of those details that nobody thinks about until they’re standing there with a measuring tape, second‑guessing every inch. I’ve been down that rabbit hole myself, so let me walk you through it like we’re sketching it out on the back of a napkin.
The quick, practical answer is 24 to 36 inches (roughly 60 to 90 centimetres) between the two benches. That gap sounds simple, but it solves a handful of real‑world problems you don’t want to deal with later. Anything less than 18 inches feels tight and awkward — people start bumping elbows, bags get caught, and it suddenly feels like a cramped waiting room instead of a relaxing spot. Push it beyond 48 inches and the benches start talking to each other from across the room; you lose that natural companionable closeness that makes side‑by‑side seating work so well in parks and plazas.
Now, if you want to get really specific, three factors should tug that number one way or the other. First is the armrest situation. If your benches have wide, chunky armrests or individual seats divided by metal rails, you can get away with a slightly tighter gap — say 18 to 24 inches — because the armrests already define personal space. People won’t slide across the bench into someone else’s zone.
Second, think about the main user. Are these benches outside a coffee shop where people juggle laptops and lattes? Give them a comfortable 30 to 36 inches so someone can set a bag down between the benches without blocking the entire path. For a quiet contemplative garden, a closer 24 inches feels intimate and designed. Near a playground where parents perch with strollers? Go as wide as 36 inches, sometimes even 42, because strollers and tired toddlers take up invisible real estate.
The third, and the one most diy designers forget, is maintenance and flow. Leave enough gap that someone can slip through sideways without having to turn into a contortionist. A 30‑inch clearance lets a person walk between the benches without kicking the legs or snagging a jacket, which matters more than you’d think when paths curve around seating areas. It also means a grounds crew member can get a rake or a leaf blower through there on a Monday morning without swearing under their breath.
If you need a rule of thumb that won’t get you sued or side‑eyed, use 30 inches centre‑to‑centre spacing. That gives you roughly a 24‑inch gap with standard six‑foot benches, and it ticks the boxes for most accessibility guides without feeling overly institutional. And don’t forget to step back and squint. If the gap looks like a missing tooth in the streetscape, it’s either too wide or too narrow. Trust your eye after you’ve done the math.