1. Purpose. If the counter is to be used for food prep, the standard measurement for the overhang is 1-1/2 inches. This is long enough to provide some protection for your cabinets without forming an obstruction.
If your island has seating, the counter should overhang at least 15 inches. An island with a taller height for bar stool seating should be 42 inches high and the overhang should be at least 12 inches. An island with a sink or stove should be larger.
Different countertop materials have different requirements. Solid Surface countertops can overhang 6 inches without additional support (e.g. plywood decking). 3 cm Quartz (engineered stone) can handle a 14 inch overhangs and 3 cm Granite overhangs should not exceed a 10 inch overhang without additional support.
A standard bathroom cabinet overhang is about 1 to 1 1/2-inches. This slight overhang is attractive and helps protect the cabinets below the counters from spills. However, some homeowners desire a larger or smaller overhang due to the benefits each can offer.
Standard countertop overhang is 1 ½ inches.
Keep in mind that this is 1 ½ inches over the front edge of the base cabinet. While some countertops may have different overhang measurements, this is the number that is seen as standard for homes. While 1 ½ inches is the most common, it's far from mandatory.
The maximum overhang is no more than 1/3 of the total dimension of the countertop – not to exceed 15”. Overhang greater than 15” requires corbels or flush mounted steel supports. Supports must be designed to bear the weight of the countertop and be mounted to studs or equivalent load bearing structure.
Quartz is one of the best materials for those looking to create a countertop overhang. The strength and durability ensure it can support up to a 14-inch overhang without extra support. However, 70% of your quartz countertop must be supported by cabinetry and the thickness of the quartz must be factored in as well.
'A typical overhang for seating is 12 inches, but anything from nine to twelve is good if the spacing is more limited. ' This allows you to comfortably bend your knees when sat down or tuck in seating when it's not being used and, as mentioned, prevents any damage to storage from spillage.
Usually, the conventional overhang of a countertop should be placed at 1 to 1 ½ inches above the cabinet. At the same time, the bared and exposed ends of a countertop should usually have a ½ inch overhang. The edges that suffice to a wall should not have any overhang to retain the fit flush to the wall.
A typical overhang for a comfortable seating area should be around 25-30cm (10-12”), this should leave enough knee room and adequate space between the countertop edge and the person seated.
If seating is to be created at the counter, it's important that it will be comfortable, and that means following some additional guidelines. 'Comfortable seating requires a minimum of 15 inches of countertop overhang,' recommends Erika Jayne, a DC designer, general contractor and owner of Erika Jayne Design.
Breakfast Bars
Unlike regular islands, a breakfast bar typically is a peninsula connected to a wall or other countertops, leaving three usable sides. It always has up to 15 inches of countertop overhang for comfortable seating, and it is best suited for kitchens that are smaller, rectangular, or irregularly shaped.
The standard recommended overhang for granite countertops is 1.5 inches, just as it is with any other countertop material. The countertop overhang for a home bar will usually be about eight inches.
That distance, the “overhang” of the counter, is the dimension you will want to specify as a design consideration. Our customers often ask us for a recommended dimension for the counter overhang. The short answer is 1”-2”, based on your design preference.
Roof overhangs come in sizes that range from 0 to 24 inches. Homes in dry, desert-like climates may have minimal or no roof overhangs. Homes in milder areas have typical overhangs of 12-18 inches, while 18-24 inches if more common in wet or extreme climates.
How long should an island be for four stools? At minimum, you'll want an island to be 96″ long to accommodate four stools. For comfort, you should allow at least 24″ of space per stool, and up to 30″.
Since quartz countertops are the most popular choice with homeowners, there is a large variety of colours and patterns to choose from. Because of its thickness, the 3 cm quartz can provide adequate support without plywood. Since you won't need to hide the plywood underneath it, there is no need for a laminated edge.
Amount of overhang you have is the most important factor to consider in deciding whether you need support brackets. Most granite fabricators will recommend support brackets on overhangs over 12″ however, solely based on the overhang amount.
Almost certainly, yes. Generally speaking, unless your kitchen units are very old, it is highly unlikely that they will be too weak to handle the weight of any solid stone worktops, including quartz.
A counter can be well supported by extending the side gables of an island. Ideally make the gable 2″ to 4″ thick so that it proportionality works with your size of your island. This form of support is great for adding strength to the corner of the counter overhang.
The recommended distance between a kitchen counter and a kitchen island is 42 inches. If sharing cooking duties, try 48 inches.
Breakfast Bar Height Options
To provide an accessible kitchen, the counter workspace should be at least 30 inches wide and countertops are in the range of 28 to 34 inches above the floor.
Things to consider when planning an island or breakfast bar
The usual maximum for an unsupported overhang in granite or quartz is between 250mm-300mm depending on the thickness. Larger overhangs will require extra support by way of breakfast bar leg or some sort of downstand/end support panel or brace.