8 Types of Countertop Edges for Your Home
From eased edges to rustic custom cuts, countertop edges can perfect your kitchen’s style
Updating a kitchen with new countertops means making lots of design choices. In addition to the basic material, style, and color, you need to decide what kind of edges you want for your kitchen countertops. Learn more about the eight most common countertop edges and their design styles.
1. Bullnose Edges
A bullnose edge gives an attractive curved profile, both top and bottom. Especially popular on granite and marble counters, bullnose edges—sometimes referred to as pencil edges—also work nicely on laminate. For a softer, warmer look, a bullnose edge is a great choice that is more child-friendly than sharp, square edges. In fact, it is probably the safest choice for families with small children, as it is very difficult for a child to cut themselves on this kind of edge.
That curved shape, however, can make cleanup a bit more difficult, as it sometimes channels liquids to the area beneath the edge where your cabinetry is. If you do not clean up spills quickly, that can result in damage or stains.
2. Half Bullnose Edges
Like the bullnose edge, the half bullnose design keeps the top curve, but it leaves a 90-degree edge on the bottom. This helps mitigate some of the cleaning difficulty you can experience with bullnose edge countertops, while still maintaining that graceful curved profile. Water and other liquid spills are easier to wipe up. Be aware, however, that the sharp lower edge poses a bit more of a child safety risk of bumped noggins and bruises!
3. Eased Edges
If your kitchen is small or oddly configured with tight walking spaces, consider the eased edge. With a slight curve to the corners and flat sides, eased counter edges work especially well with restrictive kitchen spaces. Another plus for eased countertop edges is that their cost is relatively reasonable, and the clean, smooth profile works well with a wide variety of designs, from contemporary to more traditional.
4. Square Edges
If the understated design profile of the eased edge appeals to you but you want a look that is more contemporary and sleek, take a look at the square-edged countertop. With sharp 90-degree angles, they may not be the most chip-resistant choice, but they do present a striking aesthetic, especially in a contemporary or modern home. They can be added to just about any countertop material at an affordable price.
5. Beveled Edges
With that distinctive cut-in slope, beveled edges create a sharply defined border that is still elegant and refined. You can select different variations, including half or quarter beveling, with the former being more defined. Additionally, you can select beveling on the top edge alone, or both the top and bottom edges. You may also be able to vary the depth of the bevel, so talk to your countertop manufacturer about options.
Beveled edges tend to be easy to keep clean. Custom countertop designers and manufacturers can also sometimes meld the beveled edge with other edge styles for a more custom look. Beveled edges may cost a little bit more than other, simpler styles, such as square and eased edges, but usually they do not add substantially to the final price.
6. Mitered Edges
Mitered edges fuse together two different pieces cut at 45-degree angles for a substantial countertop slab that looks like a seamless 90-degree edge. It is not the same as a square edge, although they do bear a strong resemblance to each other, especially at first glance.
Mitered countertop edges create the illusion of a thicker slab and a luxurious touch to your kitchen, no matter what kind of countertop material you are using. By making your countertop look thicker and more substantial, you can create a heightened, more elegant design profile without a substantially bigger financial investment.
7. Ogee Edges
Ogee edges are shaped into a soft “S” curve that can range all the way from understated to striking. Suitable for lots of different cabinet materials but especially attractive on stone materials, ogee edges help create visual interest and drama for your kitchen. You will probably end up spending a bit more for ogee edges because they are more complex and require skill and effort to create.
8. Custom Edge Types
Are none of these common countertop edge types ticking your design preference boxes? Ask for a custom design from your countertop installation professional. Custom edges can help make the most of the aesthetics of the underlying countertop material, too. With granite and other stone countertops, a custom edge can lend a more rustic look that makes the most of stone’s natural beauty. They are a great finishing touch for a luxurious, upscale look.
Budget-Friendly vs. Luxury Edge Options
Whether you are on a budget or have room to splurge on luxury edge styles, consider these countertop edge cuts and how they will look in your kitchen.
Budget-Friendly Countertop Edge Styles
Standard edges often come as part of a finished countertop or for very little additional charge. Most are simple and classic and will look good in almost any kitchen space. While they are not expensive, they complement most types of countertop material and are popular options. Standard edge options often include these:
Straight edge
Eased edge
Round edge
Beveled edge
Hall-bullnose
Thumbnail edge
Roundover edge
If you want a more unique countertop edge design and have some wiggle room in your budget, you can opt to spend a little more for a mid-range or upgraded edge style, including the following:
Full bullnose
Ogee edge
Ogee bull edge
Double based, bevel, or roundover edges
Sunken cove and ogee edges
Dupont edge
Cove edges
Hanover edge
Luxury Countertop Edge Styles
For spectacular kitchens with custom everything, you may choose to indulge your expensive tastes with a luxury edge option. These premium countertop edge styles are ornate and complicated, and they require seasoned professionals to fabricate them correctly. You will pay for the privilege of having them in your kitchen, but their unique cuts can also make your kitchen look like a million bucks. Luxury edge options often include these premium styles:
Inverted ogee
Sidestep cove edge
Platner bullnose edge
Demi-angled edge
Custom edge designs
Practical Considerations in Countertop Edge Selection
Countertop edge styles do more than add visual flair to your kitchen. Different edge shapes change how your countertops function, how long they last, and how you care for them. Here, we discuss what you need to know about how countertop edges can impact the way you will live with them.
Durability and Maintenance of Different Edge Types
It makes sense that simpler, more substantial edge types last longer and are easier to maintain. The more ornate the edge type, the more likely it is to chip or collect grime.
Not all types of countertops and countertop materials allow for all edge styles. Hardy materials like quartz countertops can handle intricate edge designs; laminate counters have the most limited edge styles. If you want a certain countertop material or edge type, that can inform your other choices.
Ornate, detailed edges, such as ogee styles, are known for holding onto spills and drips, and they can be hard to clean. If you do a lot of cooking, have kids, or want to minimize cleaning time, choose a more simple edge design.
Sharp, square edges can chip, especially on countertops made of natural stone, including white quartz countertops. If your countertop material is prone to chipping, consider a more rounded profile, like bullnose or eased.
Choosing the Right Type of Countertop Edge for Your Lifestyle
Edge styles affect the way you live with countertops, from visual style to safety concerns. If the rest of your house is modern or simple, choose a square or beveled edge style. If you are keen on traditional or more fanciful decor, you can get away with ornate countertop edge styles, such as ogee or complex custom edges.
Keep in mind, though, that too many decorative elements in one kitchen can become overwhelming. If your cabinets are ornate, consider a more simple edge design to keep elements from competing for visual attention.
Large kitchen spaces can accommodate almost all types of countertop edges and styles. Smaller kitchens with tight spaces, however, usually call for more simple edge profiles. Not only can intricate edges look too busy in small spaces, but sharper edges can be a pain (literally) to maneuver around in narrow kitchens.
If you have children or tall pets in your home, consider investing in standard countertop height edges that are more blunt and less sharp. Even if little ones do bump their heads, they are less likely to be injured by bullnose or beveled edges than square and mitered edge countertops.
Budgets matter, too. If your budget is lower, stick with more simple edge designs, like bullnose or eased, as they tend to cost less than intricate edge styles.
Cost to Install Countertops
The average cost to install countertops is about $3,100, though you should expect a range of $1,850 to $4,390 depending on factors such as countertop material, type, and size. For example, ceramic countertops only cost about $1 to $15 per square foot, while granite is significantly more expensive at $10 to $140 per square foot.
Larger countertops cost more because they require more materials, and adding edge or corner treatments can also increase costs.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Hiring a countertop contractor accounts for up to 20% of the total cost of countertop installation. You can save about $10 to $30 per square foot by doing the installation yourself. However, countertop slabs are extremely heavy, and mistakes can result in damage that requires you to spend more than necessary on materials.
Unless you have the proper skills, experience, and help for a DIY, find out who installs kitchen countertops in your area and get quotes from multiple pros. This will help you save money and ensure the results you want. You can also reduce labor costs by cleaning up your space before your hired pro arrives.
Lauren Bongard contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most countertops come with a standard eased edge design as part of their fabrication cost, so that edge style will not cost extra on top of the countertop fee. Eased edges are simple, elegant, and have a classic look. Square edges are also inexpensive to add to most types of countertop material, and they look good with most contemporary home styles. If you redo your kitchen cabinets or kitchen style, they are likely to fit the new style, so you will not need to change countertops or have the edges recut, which can save remodeling costs in the future.
Small kitchens benefit from simple, blunt countertop edges, as complicated edges can create visual clutter and be more of a hazard if you bump into them. Eased edges are a top pick for small kitchens because they are simple, do not jut out, and do not take up additional space. Bullnose edge countertops are also popular because of their rounded design; they are elegantly simple and will not be sharp when you bump against them. Single-beveled edges are also a good choice, as they look a little more upscale but still have rounded edges for safety and simplicity.