- 600mmstandard depth (620–635mm in some ranges)
- 3m · 4.1mthe usual laminate lengths
- 38mmstandard laminate thickness
- ~910mmfinished height from the floor
| Type | Lengths sold | Depth (front to back) | Thickness | Where we checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate, standard | 3m and 4.1m (4m at Worktop Express) | 600mm, or 620mm in some ranges (B&Q GoodHome, Wickes square edge) | 38mm | Wickes worktops, B&Q laminate worktops, Worktop Express laminate |
| Laminate, slim | 2m, 2.4m and 3m | 600–620mm | 28mm or 22mm | Wickes worktops, B&Q laminate worktops |
| Compact laminate | 3m to 3.05m | 610mm | 12mm or 12.5mm | Wickes worktops, Worktop Express compact laminate |
| Solid oak | 2m, 3m and 4m | 600–635mm | 22mm to 40mm (26, 27, 38 and 40mm are common) | Wickes solid wood worktops, B&Q solid wood worktops, Worktop Express solid oak |
| Breakfast bar | 2m, 3m and 4.1m | 900mm (720 or 960mm in solid oak) | The same as its worktop range | Wickes breakfast bars, Worktop Express solid oak |
| IKEA worktops | 1.23m, 1.86m and 2.46m | 635mm | 22mm, 28mm or 38mm | IKEA UK worktops |
Sizes are nominal, as printed on each product. Worktop Express says its worktops are made slightly oversize, never under: up to 5mm on the depth and 10mm on the length. If you're replacing one piece, measure the old worktop and match the thickness exactly.
Which length to buy for your run
A worktop has to be a little longer than the wall it covers, because you trim the ends square. Allow about 10mm. So the rule is: your run + 10mm must fit inside the length you buy. If it doesn't, you need a joint.
| Your run (wall length) | Buy | Joints |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1.99m | One 2m length | None |
| Up to 2.39m | One 2.4m length | None |
| Up to 2.99m | One 3m length | None |
| 3.00m to 3.99m | One 4m or 4.1m length (or two 3m lengths and a joint) | None with 4m / 4.1m |
| 4.00m to 4.09m | One 4.1m length | None |
| 4.10m and over | Two lengths, cut to share the run | One, and plan where it goes |
A run of exactly 3.00m is the one that catches people out: with the 10mm trim it's 3.01m, so a 3m length is just too short. Buy a 4m or 4.1m length, or two 3m lengths and a joint. These are the same rules the worktop calculator uses, so you can check any layout there.
Corners: the second run is shorter
In an L-shaped kitchen, one worktop runs right into the corner and the other butts up against its front edge. So the second run only needs to be its wall length minus the worktop depth. On a 2.8m and a 2.4m wall with 600mm worktops, you need 2.8m and 1.8m pieces: two 3m lengths and one corner joint. A U-shaped kitchen takes the depth off both side runs. Use the calculator with this L-shape filled in to try your own sizes.
How high a worktop sits
The finished height is set by the base units, not the worktop. A Wickes base unit, for example, is 875mm tall on its adjustable legs, so a 38mm worktop finishes at about 913mm. A thinner 22mm top would sit about 16mm lower. Set the legs so the worktop is level and lines up with any built-under oven or dishwasher.
Depth: 600, 620 or 635mm?
- 600mmThe standard for laminate at Wickes and Worktop Express, and what most UK units are built around.
- 620mmB&Q's GoodHome worktops and some square-edge ranges. A little more overhang at the front.
- 635mmIKEA worktops and some solid oak. Check it suits your units before you buy.
Depth matters most at a corner joint: two worktops meeting in a corner must be the same depth and the same thickness, or the joint won't line up. Buy every piece for one kitchen from the same range.
Thickness, and why it matters
- 38mm laminate is the standard. 28mm and 22mm slimline ranges look lighter and cost more per metre at some merchants.
- Compact laminate is a thin, solid laminate board, just 12–12.5mm thick, for a slim modern edge.
- Solid oak comes from 22mm to 40mm thick. Worktop bolts are made for a range: Worktop Express's Zipbolts, for example, suit worktops 26mm to 40mm thick.
- Check the sink and hob fixing clips against your thickness before you cut the holes.
Breakfast bars and upstands
- Breakfast bars: 900mmBar boards are 900mm deep, in 2m, 3m and 4.1m lengths at Wickes.
- Support the overhangWhere a bar overhangs the units for seating, give it a leg or bracket. Wickes sells an 870mm worktop and breakfast bar support leg.
- Upstands: 70mmLaminate upstands are 70 × 12mm, and Wickes oak upstands 70 × 18mm, both in 3m lengths.
For a tiled splashback instead of upstands, the tile calculator works out the tiles, adhesive and grout.
Where these sizes come from
Every size on this page was checked by hand on the suppliers' own websites on 3 November 2026: Wickes worktops, breakfast bars and a 600mm base unit; B&Q laminate and solid wood worktops; Worktop Express solid oak, laminate and compact laminate; and IKEA UK. Ranges change, so check the product page before you order. How I check figures like these.
