Countertop edge profiles
FABRICATOR REFERENCE · 23 SECTIONS
Countertop edge profiles
Learn the shape at the front of the countertop, then look at how a thicker edge is constructed. Compare the sections and open each profile’s fabrication checks.
Single-thickness profiles
The shape is cut into the slab edge. The sections below compare geometry, not recommended radii or machining depths.
Straight / eased
A flat front face with small softened corners. “Straight polish” describes the flat face; it does not specify the corner radius.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the approved top and bottom arris treatment. Inspect a consistent face and polish through corners and returns.
Pencil round / small radius
Small rounded corners leave most of the front face flat. Some shops apply this name to the top corner only.
Fabrication checks
Specify which corners are rounded and the radius. A name such as pencil round is not a dimension.
Small bevel
A narrow flat chamfer replaces the upper corner; a vertical face remains below.
Fabrication checks
Specify bevel width, angle and lower-corner treatment. Check that the bevel stays the same width along the run.
Wide bevel
A broader chamfer removes more of the upper corner. The remaining vertical face is shorter.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the remaining face height and stock thickness before cutting. Match bevels where pieces meet.
Double bevel
Flat chamfers at both the upper and lower corners leave a vertical band between them.
Fabrication checks
Check both bevel widths and the central band. Follow the approved section at exposed ends.
Quarter round
The upper corner follows a rounded arc, with a substantial flat face below.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the radius against a sample. Shops may group quarter round and demi bullnose under the same name.
Demi / half bullnose
A broad upper curve flows toward the front face; the underside remains flat.
Fabrication checks
Confirm where the curve meets the lower edge. Inspect the curve for flats and waviness.
Full bullnose
A continuous rounded nose joins the top and underside. Both upper and lower edges are curved.
Fabrication checks
Check the symmetry of the nose and finish on the underside, including where the profile turns a corner.
Ogee
A concave curve changes into a convex curve, making an S-shaped section.
Fabrication checks
Agree on the exact curve and its direction. Inspect the recessed portion as well as the projecting nose.
Dupont / stepped round
A short vertical step below the top leads into a rounded projecting nose. Shop variants differ.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the step depth and nose shape on the shop drawing. Keep the ledge and profile consistent through corners.
Cove
The exposed face curves inward rather than projecting as a bullnose does.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the cove depth and remaining stone section. Inspect the recessed finish and transitions.
Built-up & mitered edges
A thicker-looking edge can use flat strips bonded underneath or a vertical mitered return. In a laminated edge, the dashed lines show the layers; in a miter, the joint is diagonal. These are construction examples, not a promise that every profile suits every material.
Laminated straight
An underside strip builds up a flat front face. The horizontal bond line reaches that face.
Fabrication checks
Check the strip fit, adhesive color and face alignment. Inspect the exposed end and underside of the strip.
Built-up demi bullnose
The upper curve extends across a thicker laminated edge.
Fabrication checks
Check that the curve stays continuous through the bond line. Confirm strip dimensions before profiling.
Demi over straight
A rounded upper layer sits above a straight lower strip.
Fabrication checks
Inspect where the upper curve meets the lower face and whether the glue line matches the approved sample.
Built-up full bullnose
One large rounded nose spans the top and an underside build-up strip.
Fabrication checks
Check the full curve across the joint, adhesive appearance and the return at each exposed end.
Three-layer full bullnose
A taller continuous nose is shaped across a top and two build-up strips. Two horizontal bond lines remain.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the layer schedule and total finished height. Inspect both joints and the full curve before installation.
Double bullnose
Two rounded noses are stacked, producing a groove where the layers meet.
Fabrication checks
Check the intended groove, the alignment of the two noses, and the finish inside the recess.
Ogee over bullnose
An upper S-curve flows into a rounded lower build-up.
Fabrication checks
Match both curves to the approved sample. Inspect the horizontal joint and the lower return.
Ogee over deep bullnose
An ogee top sits above a deeper rounded nose made with two lower strips.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the two lower layers and the overall projection. Check both bond lines and profile continuity.
Ogee over straight
An ogee upper section finishes above a straight lower face.
Fabrication checks
Check the S-curve, the flat lower band and the joint at their transition.
Dupont over demi bullnose
A stepped upper nose sits above a rounded lower strip.
Fabrication checks
Confirm the upper step and both projections. Inspect the joint at the change in section.
Demi over deep bullnose
A rounded upper layer sits above a deeper bullnose made from two lower strips.
Fabrication checks
Check the upper-to-lower transition, both bond lines, and the required clearance behind the projecting nose.
Mitered drop edge
The top and a vertical return meet at angled cuts. The return creates depth without stacking flat strips.
Fabrication checks
Dry-fit the joint, check pattern direction and the approved corner treatment, and inspect adhesive and alignment along the full length.
What a fabricator needs on the job sheet
- Material and actual stock thickness. Record the specific product and slab thickness in cm. Nominal 2cm is about 0.79 in; 3cm is about 1.18 in. A catalog’s ¾ in label is not an exact measurement of a 2cm slab.
- Dimensioned profile and approved sample. Include the radius, bevel width and angle, step depth, top and bottom corner treatment, and finished face height. Check the product’s current fabrication instructions before approving a profile.
- Construction and adhesive joints. Identify single thickness, laminated strips or a mitered return. Record strip sizes, adhesive system, pattern direction, exposed end treatment and where the joints will show.
- Where the profile runs. Mark exposed edges, returns and corners on the plan. State where the profile stops at a wall, appliance, sink or adjoining piece.
- Finish and final inspection. Agree on the edge finish. Inspect chips, scratches, waves, corner consistency, joint appearance and the underside before the pieces leave the shop.
- Clearance and support. Check cabinet doors, drawers and appliance clearance against the deeper edge. An apparent thick front does not establish the slab’s unsupported-span capacity.
Material matters. Do not transfer a quartz or granite profile chart directly to porcelain, sintered material or another product. Confirm permitted profiles, minimum remaining sections and edge treatment with the relevant manufacturer. A miter does not automatically permit a deep decorative profile.
Check yourself
A customer orders “P9.” Is that enough to start fabrication?
No. Get that supplier’s drawing or approved sample, then confirm the material, dimensions, finish and which exposed edges receive it. Profile codes are not universal.
The front looks 4cm thick. Is the whole countertop 4cm?
Not necessarily. It could be a thinner slab with a laminated strip or mitered return. Read the construction section and support detail.
What separates an ogee from a Dupont profile?
An ogee combines concave and convex curves. The stepped Dupont example has a short vertical step before its projecting rounded nose. Check the shop’s sample because names and variants differ.
Why check the underside and exposed end as well as the front?
They reveal unfinished areas, strip alignment, joint appearance and how the profile returns. A clean front alone does not verify the whole edge.
Profile terminology cross-checked with Cambria’s thickness and edge guide and Caesarstone’s design and specification guide. Drawings are original conceptual examples; use the selected product’s current fabrication documentation for production. Reviewed September 10, 2026.
Return to the kitchen tour ↑