Kitchen Worktop Sizes UK: Standard Lengths, Depth and Thickness
In the UK a standard laminate kitchen worktop is 3 m or 4.1 m long, 600 mm deep and 38 mm or 40 mm thick. Fitted on standard base units it sits at about 910 mm from the floor, and wall units usually start 450 to 500 mm above it. Solid wood and stone come in other sizes, below. When you know your runs, the worktop calculator works out the boards and the joints.
Standard worktop sizes by material
| Worktop | Common lengths | Depth | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | 3 m and 4.1 m (some ranges also 2 m, 2.4 m or 3.6 m) | 600 mm; 900 mm for a breakfast bar | 38 or 40 mm; slim ranges 22 to 28 mm |
| Solid wood (oak, walnut, beech) | 2 m, 3 m and 4 m | Often 620 mm, some 635 to 650 mm | 27 or 40 mm |
| Quartz, granite and other stone | Cut to a template from a slab | Made to measure, usually about 600 to 620 mm | 20 or 30 mm |
These are the sizes most UK suppliers stock. Check the exact length, depth and thickness of the range you choose, because they vary by a few millimetres and matching upstands, edging strips and joint bolts are made for one thickness.
Why worktops are 600 mm deep
A standard UK base unit is about 560 mm deep from the wall, and the door adds about 20 mm. A 600 mm worktop covers the carcass and the doors with a small overhang at the front, so drips fall clear of the doors. Walls are rarely straight, so the back edge is usually scribed to the wall: a deeper top of 620 to 650 mm leaves more to cut away and still gives an overhang. Islands and breakfast bars use 900 mm tops, or wider, with about 250 to 300 mm of overhang on the seating side for knees.
Worktop height
Base units are usually 720 mm tall on legs of about 150 mm, which is 870 mm. Add a 38 or 40 mm worktop and the surface is at about 908 to 910 mm. Most legs adjust by a few centimetres, so the height can be set to suit you and an integrated dishwasher, which usually needs 820 to 870 mm of space under the top.
Space between the worktop and the wall units
Most kitchens leave 450 to 500 mm from the top of the worktop to the bottom of the wall units. That fits a kettle, a toaster and a standard tiled or panelled splashback, and keeps the bottom shelf in reach. Over a hob, the cooker hood sets the gap: follow the hood and hob instructions, which often ask for 650 to 750 mm above a gas hob. A laminate upstand along the back is usually about 95 to 100 mm tall.
Which board length covers your run
A worktop longer than one board needs a straight join, which is hard to hide and best kept away from the sink and the hob. For a straight run, 600 mm deep:
| Run length | Boards (3 m) | Joins (3 m) | Boards (4.1 m) | Joins (4.1 m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 mm | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2,400 mm | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3,000 mm | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3,600 mm | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4,100 mm | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4,500 mm | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 6,000 mm | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
For an L-shaped kitchen with runs of 3,600 mm and 2,400 mm and a mitred corner, that is 3 boards of 3 m (2 joints) or 2 boards of 4.1 m (1 joint, the corner). The area is 3.60 m² at 600 mm deep, or 3.90 m² at 650 mm, which is what stone and quartz are usually priced on.
How to measure for a worktop
- Measure each run along the back wall, from the corner to where the worktop ends, at the front and at the back of the units: walls are rarely square, so use the longer figure.
- Add the overhang you want at an open end, often 20 to 25 mm, and any end panel.
- Measure the depth from the wall to the front of the doors, then add the front overhang.
- Note where the sink, hob and any joins will fall: joins should not land at a cut-out or over the dishwasher.
For the number of boards and the joints in an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen, read how many kitchen worktops do I need. The cabinet cut list calculator sizes the units underneath and the tile calculator the splashback.
Frequently asked questions
What size are kitchen worktops in the UK?
Most laminate worktops are 3 m or 4.1 m long, 600 mm deep and 38 mm or 40 mm thick. Solid wood is often 620 mm deep and 27 or 40 mm thick, and stone or quartz is cut to a template, usually 20 or 30 mm thick.
How deep is a standard kitchen worktop?
600 mm. Base units are about 560 mm deep plus the door, so a 600 mm top covers them with a small overhang at the front. Deeper tops (620 to 650 mm) leave more to scribe to a wall that is not straight, and breakfast bars are usually 900 mm.
What height is a kitchen worktop?
About 900 to 910 mm from the floor: a 720 mm base unit on 150 mm legs is 870 mm, plus a 38 or 40 mm worktop. Adjustable legs let you raise or lower it a little.
What is the distance between the worktop and the wall units?
Usually 450 to 500 mm from the top of the worktop to the bottom of the wall units, enough for a kettle and a toaster. Over the hob, follow the cooker hood and hob instructions, which often ask for 650 to 750 mm.
Which worktop length should I buy?
The one that covers each run without a join. A 3,600 mm run needs 2 boards of 3 m with 1 join, or 1 board of 4.1 m with none.
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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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