How to measure a countertop - step-by-step instructions
The most common fear before ordering a custom-made mat is: "what if I measure wrong?" However, measuring a countertop takes just a few minutes and a regular measuring tape. Below we show you how to do it with a rectangle and with a circle, what changes an extendable table, rounded corners and a table top with an overhang, and when it is better to call rather than guess.
- Numbered steps separately for the rectangle and circle
- Rule of thumb: measure twice, write down the smaller value, round down
- Dimension limits assumed by the calculator
Before we start - what to prepare
No workshop tools needed.
All you need is a rolled carpenter's tape measure or a rigid folding tape measure. A fabric measuring tape is less suitable because it stretches when stretched and can increase the result by several centimeters on a two-meter table. A piece of paper and a pen will come in handy.
Everything else is one rule that we will come back to:measure twice, write down the smaller value, round down. A mat slightly smaller than the countertop looks natural and no one will notice the difference. A mat that is too large protrudes beyond the edge, catches on it when wiped and curls up at the corners.
Rectangular and square countertop - 6 steps
The most common case: dining table, desk, chest of drawers, kitchen counter.
- 1
Remove everything from the counter
Tablecloth, table runner, placemats, vase. The bare surface is measured. If there is a glass pane on the table that you want to leave, we measure it, not the countertop beneath it.
- 2
Measure the long side along the edge
We run the tape measure parallel to the edge, right next to it, not diagonally. Two people are more comfortable at a large table: one holds the beginning of the measuring cup, the other reads the result.
- 3
Measure the shorter side
Same thing at the edge. Older and custom-made countertops can be slightly uneven, so the result is not always round.
- 4
Check each dimension a second time in a different place
The longer side on one and the other edge, the shorter side on the left and right. If the results differ, we write down a smaller value - in a larger dimension the mat would protrude somewhere beyond the edge.
- 5
Record the result in whole centimeters, down
A tabletop of 160.6 × 90.4 cm is written as 160 × 90 cm. Rounding up is risky - the mat would start to catch on the edge when you wipe the table.
- 6
Enter both dimensions in the calculator
Shape "Rectangle", then width and length. The price is calculated immediately, and the calculator will display a message if the dimension exceeds the allowable range.
Round top - 4 steps
For the "Circle" shape, the calculator only asks for one number: the diameter.
- 1
Place the measuring cup approximately in the middle
We measure the diameter through the center of the circle, but there is no need to determine it precisely - just move the end of the ruler along the edge.
- 2
Look for the largest reading
Any chord shorter than the diameter will result in too small a result, so we measure several times at different angles and write down the largest value. This is the diameter of the countertop.
- 3
Repeat the measurement on the other side of the table
Round wooden countertops may become slightly oval over time. If the two measurements are clearly different, the countertop is not a circle - then please contact us.
- 4
Enter the diameter in the calculator
Shape "Circle", one field - diameter in centimeters, rounded down to the nearest whole centimeter.
The cases that confuse most often
Four situations where measuring the sides alone is not enough.
Extendable table
Here you need to make a decision, not find the only correct answer. If the table is usually folded, we measure the folded top - the mat will remain there all the time, and during the holidays it can be removed or a second one can be added as an extra bed. If the table is unfolded most of the time, we measure it unfolded. The mat cut for the table top will protrude beyond the edge after the table is folded, so the "exaggerated" choice does not work here.
Rounded corners
We measure a tabletop with rounded corners like a regular rectangle - from one end point to another. The mat will be cut with straight corners, so in the corners it will protrude beyond the arc of the countertop by a few centimeters. You can leave it or adjust it at home: place a plate or a lid of similar radius against the corner, outline it and cut it with scissors. The material cuts easily and the edge does not fray after cutting.
Table top with overhang and base
Only the top surface counts. If the tabletop protrudes beyond the frame or is on a narrower base, we do not measure the frame or leg - we measure the tabletop itself along its outer edges. In the case of a thick countertop with a distinct bevel, the upper edge is sometimes a few millimeters smaller than the lower one; the upper dimension is correct.
What reserve to leave
By default, none - please provide the dimensions of the countertop and we will adjust the mat to it. Subtracting the allowance makes sense in two situations: when the tabletop has a strongly rounded, sloping edge and the mat is to end on a flat part, or when the table is placed against a wall and the edge is difficult to measure. Then just subtract from half to one centimeter on each side. Stockon the plus sidewe never add anything - the excess has nowhere to go and curls up at the edge.
Dimension limits in the calculator
It's worth knowing them before measuring - it saves you one visit to the table.
- Rectangle: width from 30 to 160 cm, length from 30 to 2000 cm.
- Circle: diameter from 40 to 160 cm.
The width is limited to 160 cm due to the width of the material. The length is practically unlimited, so in the case of a narrow and long countertop - a window sill, a console, a long dining table - just assign the longer side to the "length" field. If the top exceeds 160 cm in both directions, please contact us before placing your order. For very small formats, there is a minimum order value, which the calculator shows together with the price.
When something doesn't add up
Better one call before order than disappointment after delivery.
A countertop with an unusual shape, a cut-out for a pipe or a wall, two measurements differing by a few centimeters, a table with an additional extension - in each of these situations it is worth writing or calling first. All you need is a short description and dimensions of the extreme points, and in the case of more difficult shapes, a photo of the top from above. Contact details are on the website contact.
If the dimensions are already written down, the next part takes a while: choosing the shape, entering the numbers and choosing the finish calculator. In the case of a glass or high-gloss lacquered countertop, it is worth reading why we recommend it before choosing the finish matte variant.
Questions about measurement that we receive most often
- Does the dimension have to be given in millimeters?
- NO. The calculator takes full centimeters and this accuracy is completely sufficient. More important than precision is not to make a mistake by a few centimeters upwards - that's why we always round down and measure each side twice.
- Should you measure the countertop or the countertop together with the tablecloth?
- Only the tabletop, no tablecloth and no placemats. The mat lies directly on the table surface and this surface determines the dimension. The exception is when there is a glass pane on the table - if it is to stay, we measure it.
- My countertop is 175 cm wide - what then?
- The width of the mat in the calculator reaches 160 cm, because this is the width of the material; the length can be much longer. For a wider countertop, it is usually enough to rotate the dimensions - enter the longer side as the length. If both sides exceed 160 cm, the countertop can be covered with two mats placed side by side; the contact point will be visible as a thin line. In such a situation, please contact us before ordering.
- Will the mat cover the countertop right to the edge?
- We cut to the dimensions you provide. If the exact dimensions of the countertop are given, the mat will reach the edge. If you prefer it to end slightly before the edge - for example because the table has a clearly rounded edge - please subtract half to one centimeter on each side before entering the measurement.
- I made a mistake in my measurement - can I replace the mat?
- Ready-made sizes from the catalog are subject to a 14-day right of withdrawal. A mat made according to the parameters you provide is not covered by the statutory right of withdrawal (Article 38(1)(3) of the Act on Consumer Rights) - its return is settled on separate terms, described in the returns policy. That's why we encourage you to measure the countertop twice and, if you have any doubts, call us before ordering.
- I have an unusual countertop shape - kidney, oval or cut out for the wall
- The calculator supports rectangle and circle. In the case of an unusual shape, please contact us and describe the countertop - preferably with a hand-drawn drawing and dimensions of the extreme points. We will tell you whether a rectangle cut at home with scissors is enough, or whether a different surface division would be a better solution.
Dimensions ready? Count the price
Select a shape, enter your measured centimeters and see the amount immediately.