What Material Thickness for Countertops?

Slab Material

• Granite and other types of slabs are the preferred type of material to use in high-end homes, where money isn't an issue. Slabs can range in thickness depending on the type of material, but as a general rule, the average slabs range between 3/4 inch and 2 inches in thickness. Slabs are rarely found thinner than 3/4 inch, as they crack too easily when they are less than that measurement.

Recycled Paper Material

• At first glance, it might seem as though a paper countertop is an impossibility, but modern technology has allowed for a number of recycled materials to be used as countertop surfaces. Bound together with a variety of plant-based resins as well as recycled paper and reclaimed pulp, recycled paper countertops can range in thickness from 1/4 inch up to 2 inches, based upon if you want a liner countertop or an actual slab of it.

Wood Material

• The standard thickness for wood countertops is 1 1/2 inches, although the type of wood you use can vary that measurement drastically. Sheet tops, for example, are 1/8-inch sheets of wood that are glued down onto another surface, such as plywood, while butcher-block can be 2 or 3 inches thick, depending on the style.

Tile Materials

• Tile materials vary in thickness depending on whether you are going with a man-made tile or a natural stone tile. Machined tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain, polished granite, honed travertine and polished marble, are usually around 1/4 inch in thickness, while raw natural stones such as slate, tumbled marble and tumbled travertine can vary up to 3/4 inch or more for the average 12-inch piece of tile.