A countertop overhang is a part of the countertop that extends past the cabinets and covers the drawers and cabinets to help prevent spills of crumbs and liquids from falling off the edge of the counter. A standard countertop usually has an overhang of 1½ inches.
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.
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.
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. Therefore, as the depth of the overhang increases, so does the comfort and usability of the bar.
Standard countertop overhang measurements
The standard quartz countertop overhang is 1 ½ inch. If using inset cabinetry, your quartz countertop overhang limit needs to be less than that of frameless or overlay cabinets.
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.
The bar top overhang should be a minimum of 8-1/2” and could be as much as 10” so your knees do not hit the bar front. For our extra tall customers the 10” overhang maybe necessary.
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″.
To give room for bar stools around the breakfast bar a minimum of 30cm/12in overhang is recommended. It is also important to allow enough room between the breakfast bar and any wall behind it for easy access, this should be about 60cm/24in.
Since countertops sit directly on the cabinets, the cabinetry must be installed prior to the final measurements, fabrication, and installation. If an apron or farmhouse sink is being used, it must be installed prior to template process.
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.
A typical countertop overhang will be 1.5 inches. Keep in mind, however, that this isn't always the case. In certain instances, a larger or smaller overhang may be desired. This is more common with custom countertops.
This determines the appropriate amount of overhang needed. That is to say, don't neglect the top width. Overhangs should not exceed one-third of the top without additional support and will need support at the base. Of course, the best way to support any countertop overhang is with our heavy-duty countertop brackets.
Granite thickness – granite tops with a thickness of 3 cm can have an 8-10 inch overhang without additional supports. If your granite top has a 2 cm thickness, we recommend attaching a support system should the overhang exceed 6 inches.
The recommended distance between a kitchen counter and a kitchen island is 42 inches. If sharing cooking duties, try 48 inches. Wheelchairs require 60 inches.
Done in an effective way, a breakfast bar area will add value and instantly elevate your kitchen design.
Breakfast Bar Height
The average bar height is 42 inches tall. You want to keep your bar between 36-42 inches or else your barstools won't fit under comfortably.
25-inch Bar Stool: 25" stools are the perfect height for a 36" or 37" bar or table. They are smaller than the typical stool you see in a pub. 26-inch Bar Stool: 26" stools are the perfect height for a 38" bar or table.
The minimum recommended size of an island is 2-by-4 feet. However, the island's total area should be at most 10% of the kitchen area. For example, if the kitchen is 150 square feet, the island should be at most 15 square feet. On the other hand, height is pretty simple.
Think proportion, too. 'Kitchen islands should take up between one tenth to one fifteenth of your overall kitchen area,' says Volodymyr Barabakh, co-founder and project director of Fortress Home. 'You therefore generally want to err on the smaller side in comparison to your overall kitchen floor space.
The average kitchen island size (according to a variety of experts) is approximately 80 x 40 inches. However, keep in mind that this is not a law! It's just a guide to help you with the layout of your kitchen. Every home is different.
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.
Oak is strong, stiff and resistant to warping. It's a good choice for outdoor bars. Reclaimed oak is usually easy to find, making it the best wood for bar tops if you have a large project. Wood bar tops can be pale honey-colored, classic dark brown or dramatic golden brown.
Standard countertop depths range from 24 to 25.5 inches from wall to edge, or edge-to-edge across the island. Most countertop boxes measure 24 inches in depth, with an inch and a half overhang for the countertop, making the overall depth of the countertop 25.5 inches.