Whether you’re considering updating your kitchen or bathroom countertops to make your home more aesthetically pleasing, or you’re preparing to sell, choosing granite will help your home stand out to prospective buyers.
Available in an almost endless array of colors and patterns, granite isn’t only stunning. It’s also one of the lowest maintenance countertop solutions on the market today.
While we can’t choose the color for you, we can help you calculate how much material you’ll need for your project. In today’s post, we’re talking about how to measure granite countertops.
As you’re dreaming of your home’s new look, please take a minute and read our short guide to measuring countertops.
Start With the Layout
Most countertop projects begin with a consultation, followed by a formal estimate. To help your granite fabricator put together your estimate, you’ll want to create a layout of your existing countertops.
You don’t need to be an artist — rectangles and squares will do. If you have graphing paper, that’s great, but a sheet of white printer paper works, too. Here are a few tips to help you get started on your diagram:
- The scale isn’t critical, but try to show the correct proportions
- Draw every countertop, and don’t forget edges
- Show the placement of each appliance
- Draw the sink as a rounded rectangle
- Designate finished edges with an “X”
Tip: When you install granite countertops, you can choose either a top or an under-sink mount. Your layout diagram doesn’t need to indicate the size and shape of the sink, but it’s helpful if you specify which mount you prefer.
Now, the fabricator will have a visual of your kitchen.
Essential Tools for Measuring Countertops
Before you start measuring, gather your supplies. You’ll likely have most of these on-hand:
Tape Measure
A retractable tape measure with a sturdy steel blade works best. You’ll want the one that reads in both inches and feet. Avoid the cloth or vinyl measuring tapes used for sewing.
Pencil
Everybody makes mistakes. Using a pencil to write down your measurements makes it much easier to erase errors. Since you’re ultimately going to share your drawing with the countertop fabricator, they’ll appreciate a clean diagram without smudges or blots.
Graph Paper
We know that plain white printer paper works for layout diagrams, but preprinted graph paper makes things easier and more accurate. If you decide to go with graph paper, remember to plot your measurements using a formula, such as one square equals two (or four) inches.
Calculator
Do yourself a favor, and use a calculator. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but you may need to multiply, divide, and convert fractions to decimals. Trying to do all of that in longhand isn’t much fun.
A Friend
Enlist the help of a partner or friend. Measuring countertops go more smoothly when you have a helper to keep the tape end steady. Make sure your assistant holds the “0” end.
Now, you can get down to the business of measuring, right? Not quite — you have one more step before you begin calculating measurements. In the next section, we’re looking at seams.
What About Seams?
Manufacturers typically ship granite in 9’ x 5’ slabs. That means the installer often needs to put in a seam.
Seams are gaps between two individual pieces of the countertop. Most installers prefer to place seams in the corners of the countertop, as it minimizes waste. While you can certainly share your preferences for seam location with the fabricator, it’s wise to rely on their experience to determine the best placement.
Seams play a vital role in the longevity of your granite countertops. As pressure relief joints, they allow countertops to shift due to expansion and contraction. Seams also protect against cracks, making repairs easier.
Your fabricator will plan the location and number of seams needed for your project before calculating the final square footage. While you won’t need to include seams in your measurements, it’s still a good idea to have a basic understanding of how they impact your project.
Consult with your granite fabrication specialist about the suggested length of countertops and how they plan to incorporate seams.
Are All Countertops the Same Size?
If you’re simply replacing existing countertops and leaving the layout the same, size won’t be an issue. However, if you’re making layout modifications, you’ll need to make sure you don’t over or underwhelm the rest of the room by installing the wrong size counters.
You’ve likely been in a kitchen where the countertops seemed to overfill the room. You felt cramped. Add a larger-than-life island, and you probably want out of the room as soon as possible.
On the other hand, sometimes people plan a layout with countertops too small for a spacious room. Regardless of the situation, improper sizing of countertop space causes you to lose the beauty of the materials you’ve chosen.
Did you know there’s an average size for kitchen countertops? It’s 30 square feet. That’s 5.48 ft. by 5.48 ft.
The keyword here is average. It’s a starting point when measuring for granite countertops. Your kitchen may need a larger countertop, or if you have a smaller kitchen, you may need to take off a few feet.
Don’t forget one other measurement: height. Measure how tall the countertops need to be, and remember to record the height in linear feet. One linear foot runs 12” x 12” with a depth of 25 inches.
Now, let’s get to the calculations!
How to Calculate Square Footage for Granite Countertops
After you figure out seam placement, you’re ready to figure out the total square footage for your countertop project. There’s a formula for that! Here it is:
L x W / 144 = s.f.
Translated, that means the length times the width divided by 144 equals the number of square feet.
Why divide by 144? Remember grade school math class? Whether you loved it or hated it, you probably remember that 1 foot = 12 inches. One foot squared (multiplied by itself) equals twelve inches squared or 144 inches.
Since granite — or any other countertop material — isn’t sold by the square inch, you need to convert your measurements to square feet.
Tip: Don’t forget to round the number up!
What Do You Measure First?
Think of this project as one made up of rectangles. Granite slabs come in rectangular shapes, after all.
First, measure your straight countertops wall-to-wall. This is an easy measurement to take. If you have a curve shape to your counters, measure the widest point and the length.
Let’s say you have a corner sink. The fabricators will cut the countertop for this section as much as they can into one solid piece. For this layout, measure the center section in one square piece.
If you measure base cabinets, the standard width is 24 inches. For base cabinets without a top, including an extra 1.5 inches to the width. This leaves room for overhang.
Don’t forget the backsplash, which we’ll show you how to measure next.
More on Measuring for Backsplashes
The standard size for a backsplash is 4 inches. As far as length, you’re limited to 80 inches. That’s because backsplashes’ fragile nature makes them a challenge to fabricate and move to the job site.
You may also want a full-height backsplash. The expected height for those is 18 inches. Usually, you place a backsplash where your countertop meets a wall, but your fabricator will determine the best placement for seams.
If you only need 1.5 slabs for the countertop, you can use the remaining half slab for the backsplash.
How to Measure Granite Countertops for Overhang
So far, we’ve covered basic countertops, base cabinets, and backsplash measurements. The last measurement we’ll discuss in this article is the overhang.
All countertops have an overhang. It’s the piece that hangs over the drawers and cabinets underneath. Imagine if your countertops just stopped at the edge. You would end up with crumbs and other debris in the drawers and on the floor.
The overhang for granite countertops is 1 ½ inches. If you’re working with a kitchen island, the overhang is 12 inches. Keep in mind, if you want an extended overhang on the island, you may end up installing additional support.
Ready to Experience the Luxury of Granite?
Now that you’ve read our guide on how to measure granite countertops, maybe you’re wondering what step to take first: Taking measurements or selecting the color and pattern that best complements your home?
It’s a little like asking what came first, the chicken or the egg — you can’t have one without the other. As far as countertops are concerned, there’s no rule to dictate the order of things. However, if you measure first when you fall in love with a particular granite slab, you’ll be one step closer to installation!
For more information about ordering granite countertops, contact our team today!