How Many Kitchen Worktops Do I Need? (UK)
Worktops are sold in fixed lengths and cut to fit, so the count is about the runs. Two runs of 3.6 m and 2.4 m with mitred corners and 3 m boards take 3 boards, with 1 corner joint and 3.60 m² of worktop at 600 mm deep. With 4.1 m boards it is 2. The worktop calculator works it out for your kitchen.
Mitre and butt corners
A mitre joint runs both boards to the corner and cuts them at 45 degrees, so each run is cut to its full wall length. A butt joint runs the first board to the corner and stops the second against its side, so the second board is shorter by the worktop depth: 1.8 m instead of 2.4 m here. That can save a board in some kitchens, but the joint is more visible.
Boards for common kitchens
Mitre corners, 600 mm deep:
| Kitchen runs | Boards (3 m) | Boards (4.1 m) | Joints (3 m) | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 m | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.44 m² |
| 3.6 m | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2.16 m² |
| 3.6 + 2.4 m | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3.60 m² |
| 4.2 + 3 m | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4.32 m² |
| 3.6 + 2.4 + 3 m | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5.40 m² |
Fitting a worktop
- Check the walls with a long straight edge and a square: most walls are not square, which is why worktops are scribed to the wall.
- Keep joints away from the sink, the hob and the dishwasher.
- Seal every cut edge, especially round cut-outs for a sink or hob, so that the core does not swell.
- Fix from below through the unit rails with screws that do not go through the top.
- Add the overhang you want at open ends to the run length (20 to 25 mm is often used).
See the tile calculator for an upstand or splashback and the skirting board calculator for the trim. Board lengths and depths are typical for laminate: stone and solid wood differ.
Frequently asked questions
How many worktops do I need?
Divide the length of each run by the board length and round up. Runs of 3.6 m and 2.4 m take 3 boards of 3 m, or 2 of 4.1 m.
What length are worktops?
Laminate worktops are commonly 3 m or 4.1 m long, 600 mm deep and 38 mm thick. Other materials come in other sizes.
What is the difference between a mitre and a butt joint?
A mitre joint is cut at 45 degrees and both boards run to the corner. A butt joint stops the second board against the first, so it is shorter by the depth, 1.8 m instead of 2.4 m for the 2.4 m run.
Where should the joints go?
Away from the sink, the hob and the dishwasher, where water and heat do most damage.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.
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