When browsing edge profiles, a beveled edge (or bevel edge) is a common choice you're going to see. This unique countertop edge style is used for many different types of kitchen countertop, including a mix of modern and traditional kitchen designs.
Beveled edges are very versatile!
Still, what is a bevel edge and why should you consider it for your granite countertops? Is it safe around children? Is it easy to clean? What are the pros and cons compared to other types of countertop edges? We answers all these questions and more.
Let's get to it!
What Is A Beveled Edge Countertop?
A beveled edge countertop is a kitchen countertop with an edge profile that slopes down at a 45-degree angle and then once has another 45-degree angle after that, creating a sharp edge that drops 90-degrees to the floor.
This edge style has been used in kitchen remodeling projects for decades, owing to its timeless simplicity that can feel at home in both traditional and modern kitchen countertops styles.
Beveled edges can be made from any countertop material, though quartz, marble, and granite are most common.
Bevel Edge Countertops Pros and Cons
Pros
- Timeless, simple design
- Perfect for a quartz or granite countertop
- Spills fall onto the floor (not the cabinets below)
- Fits modern & traditional kitchen design
Homeowners love how easy to clean these edges are. With some countertops with a rounded edge, you'll find that countertop spills end up sliding under the curve and going into your base cabinets, causing more mess and problems.
However, with this chiseled edge profile, any spills and debris will fall straight onto the floor, making cleanup much easier. It also helps you to easily wipe crumbs into your hands and then put them in the trash, for example.
Handy!
Overall, this edge profile is a timeless, classic design that fits both classic, modern, and transitional kitchens equally if incorporated in the right way.
Cons
- Not child-safe
- Sharp corners
- Not to everyone's taste
- Can be distracting
- Can be expensive
If you've got young children or pets running around at home, then countertop edges with sharp corners are not ideal. If your child runs into a stone 45-degree angle, it could end up in a visit to the hospital!
Yikes.
You also need to be careful about bumping into the granite edges yourself – they can really hurt your hip if you bump into a sharp granite edge like this. This is also one of the more expensive edge styles to get cut, so keep that in mind when budgeting for home remodeling.
Furthermore, a lot of people don't like these kitchen counters because they're too distracting and they steal focus from other materials and elements of the kitchen design.
What Are The Most Popular Granite Countertop Edges?
When you're looking for countertop edges, there are many different options to choose from, no matter whether you're working with marble countertops, granite countertops, quartz countertops, or anything else.
The most popular kitchen countertop edge styles are:
- Half Bullnose Edge
- Full Bullnose Edge
- Beveled Edge
- Ogee Edge
- Straight Edge
- Eased Edge
- Waterfall Edge
- Pencil Edge
But what do each of these types look like? Here we give you a bit more detail on each edge profile.
Half Bullnose Edge
Half Bullnose edges are the most popular countertop edge for kitchens in the US.
This edge style is a curved edge that slopes down in a 90-degree angle toward the floor, making it pretty easy to clean and safe for children and pets due to the lack of sharp corners.
However, Half Bullnose edges can be a little drab, boring, and cheap-looking. Don't ruin an otherwise opulent kitchen design with this “meh” edge variation.
Full Bullnose Edge
Full bullnose edges are a little less common that the half variation. The full bullnose edge curves all the way around and comes back on itself – the top edge curves around to become the bottom edge.
If you like the idea of your top and bottom countertop edges connecting with a curve, then this is the best edges style for you.
It's also very safe for kids as there are no sharp corners.
However, when cleaning these countertop edges, the spills can easily travel around the top and bottom edges and leak into the cabinets below, so keep that in mind if you're someone who's pretty messy in the kitchen.
Beveled Edge Profile
Ah, to the star of the hour!
Bevel edge profiles are most common found in quartz, marble, granite, and other types of manmade or natural stone.
As mentioned, these countertop edges can enhance a pretty countertop surface and they're pretty easy to clean and maintain, though they're not ideal for kids and small kitchens due to the sharp corners.
Ogee Edge
Often associated with casnios and fancy hotels, ogee countertop edges have a distinctive S-shaped style that looks like it costs a lot of money. You'll especially see this style in marble and quartz countertops, as it tends to be found alongside expensive countertop materials.
The Ogee edge is a timeless edge profile that's perfect for kitchen islands and homes that want to create a sense of class and opulence.
However, the Ogee Edge tends to be expensive because it's not a simple cut. It can also be a little awkward to clean given the shape, and it can look over-the-top in some home remodeling scenarios.
Straight Edge
Nice and simple, the straight edge or “square edge” is a sharp 90-degree angle that drops straight to the floor. Nothing over-the-top or fancy.
It's associated with more modern designs that embrace simplicity and minimalism.
However, the sharp corner makes it bad for small spaces and kitchens with young children, so it's not ideal for everyone. Some homeowners also just don't like how simple it is.
Eased Edge
This is a simple granite countertop edge style that gently curves toward the floor, hence the name “eased” edge.
Great for small kitchens and children, this edge is also relatively easy to keep clean, which is nice.
Nonetheless, this style is a little too boring and simple for many homeowners, especially if they want the kitchen to be a focal point of the house.
Waterfall Edge
Usually found on kitchen islands, this type of edge is basically a square edge that drops all the way down to the floor, with the granite countertops edge turning into the side of the kitchen cabinet or island.
Very fancy.
This is a really cool and unique style which can elevate the feel of your home (especially in granite) but it doesn't suit all kitchens and it can be incredibly expensive, so you might want to try a simple bullnose edge design instead.
Pencil Edge
Last but not least is the pencil edge.
This edge style is basically like a straight edge that has been rounded out and curved slightly, with a curve that's around the same area as a standard US pencil – hence the name.
More and more designers are choosing this unique edges design lately, though it's a little bit boring for some people and crumbs tend to slide under the edge when you wipe it, so weigh up the pros and cons before getting one.
What Is The Difference Between A Bevel And A Chamfer?
Technically, a true bevelled edge countertop just has one angle that slopes down at 45 degrees and then ends. It basically creates a “triangle edge” to your countertop.
However, a chamfer edge has that extra 45 degree angle that drops the whole thing 90 degree toward the floor. This is essentially the edge profile that we've been describing throughout this article.
Huh?
What most designers call a “bevel” these days is actually a “chamfer”, we're just using the wrong terms. Words change over time, so Chamfer fell out of use in place of “bevel”, probably because the 2-edge style looks much better than that triangular 1-edge style anyway.
Also, “bevel” is just easier to say.
Bottom Line – Is Beveled the Best Edge for Granite Countertops?
If you're looking to adorn your new granite countertop with a fresh-cut edge, you can't go wrong with the classic beveled style.
However, there are many other edge profiles to consider depending on your budget and aesthetic.
Whichever counter edges take your fancy, we hope you find the best countertop edges for your needs. Good luck!
