--Our recommendations meet or exceed the general guidelines provided by the Natural Stone Institute (formerly MIA) for safe and effective countertop support. While natural stone and exotic materials can be unpredictable, and man-made solid surface tops may require less support, our recommendations, based on extensive experience, offer a higher level of structural integrity and peace of mind compared to the minimum guidelines for unsupported overhangs.--
1. What Size Bracket Do I Need? (Based on Your Countertop Overhang)
To ensure invisible, strong support, your bracket should extend to within 3-4 inches of your countertops outer edge. Here's how to figure it out:
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Measure Your Overhang: Determine the depth of your countertop overhang from the front of your knee or pony wall. (e.g., 15 inches).
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Measure Your Wall Framing: Find the depth of your knee or pony wall framing (typically 4" to 6" for standard lumber).
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Calculate Total Required Depth: (Countertop Overhang Depth) + (Wall Framing Depth)
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Select Your Bracket Size: Subtract 4" from your Total Required Depth. Choose the closest bracket length from our available sizes that meets or exceeds this number.
- (15" Overhang + 4" Wall) = 19" Total Depth.
- 19" - 3" (unsupported overhang) = 16".
- Recommended Bracket Size: 16" Hidden Flat Bracket.
- Example: For a 15" countertop overhang on a 4" deep pony wall:
- (15" Overhang + 4" Wall) = 19" Total Required Depth.
- 19" - 3" (unsupported overhang) = 16".
- Recommended Bracket Size: 16" Hidden Flat Bracket.
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Available Sizes: 8", 10", 12", 14", 16", 18"
Recommended Bracket Size Table
2. How Many Brackets Do I Need? (Based on Your Countertop Width)
For optimal stability and weight distribution, these brackets are typically spaced16 to 24 inches apart. We recommend placing 2 brackets near the ends and then spacing additional brackets evenly across the remaining span.
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Step A: Place End Brackets: Install one bracket 4"-6" in from each end of your countertop. (This accounts for 8"-12" of total width).
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Step B: Measure Remaining Width: Subtract the width covered by the end brackets from your total countertop width.
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Step C: Calculate Additional Brackets: Divide the "Remaining Width" by your desired spacing (e.g., 16" for standard support, 24" for lighter duty or tighter spacing). Always round up!
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Step D: Total Brackets: Add the 2 end brackets to your calculated "Additional Brackets."
- (84" Total Width - 8" for end brackets) = 76" Remaining Width to support.
- 76" / 16" (desired spacing) = 4.75. Round up to 5.
- Total Brackets Needed: 2 (ends) + 5 (additional) = 7 Hidden Flat Brackets.
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Example: For an 84" wide countertop with end brackets set 4" in from each side:
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Note: For an 84" countertop, you'd typically order 7 brackets for maximum support.
Recommended Bracket Quantity Table (Includes the 2 End Brackets 4" From Each End)
| Countertop Width |
QTY of Brackets @ 16" Spacing |
QTY of Brackets @ 24" Spacing |
| 24" |
3 |
3 |
| 36" |
4 |
3 |
| 48" |
5 |
4 |
| 60" |
6 |
5 |
| 72" |
6 |
5 |
| 84" |
7 |
6 |
| 96" |
8 |
6 |
| 108" |
9 |
7 |
| 120" |
9 |
7 |
| 132" |
10 |
8 |
| 144" |
11 |
8 |
| 156" |
11 |
9 |
| 168" |
12 |
9 |
| 180" |
13 |
10 |
| 192" |
14 |
10 |
| 🛠️ Got a custom size countertop like 91.75" or something in between? No worries! Just remember — 16" and 24" spacing are helpful guidelines, not hard rules, so anything between those two numbers will work 17, 18.25, etc... For wider or unique countertop widths, simply use the calculation above to figure out how many brackets you’ll need for solid, even support. |
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