--- title: "Cooktop Cutout Dimensions and a Counter That Fits" description: "Why the opening belongs to one model, the clearances above and beside it, what the cabinet below must clear, sealing the edge and fit problems that surface…" url: "https://cooktoprepair.center/guides/cooktop-cutout-and-countertop-fit/" date_modified: "2026-09-26" --- Installation and setup # Cooktop Cutout Dimensions and a Counter That Fits Cooktop cutout dimensions come from the installation instructions for the exact model, not from its nominal 30- or 36-inch width: the opening is smaller than the top and varies by brand. The same page sets the distance to the back wall and the counter's front edge, overhead and side cabinet clearances, and what may sit in the cabinet underneath. By [CooktopRepair.center technical team](https://cooktoprepair.center/authors/technical-team/) Published September 26, 2026 ## At a glance. A cooktop is sold by the width of its top, but it is installed by the size of a hole, and the two are different numbers on every model. Getting the opening, the clearances around it and the space beneath it right decides whether the top sits flat, stays cool enough and can be lifted out again for service. Read the whole guide ### The hole is not the width A 30-inch top may need an opening near 28 1/2 inches Dacor's 30-inch induction cooktop calls for a cutout between 28 1/2 and 28 11/16 inches wide. ### Cabinets overhead 30 inches to unprotected cabinets GE allows 24 inches only with the cabinet bottom protected, and never less. ### Drawer under the top Room needed below the counter Dacor requires at least 5 inches from the top of the countertop to the top of a drawer or other obstruction. ### Heat around the opening Surfaces that tolerate close to 200°F Dacor lists 194°F for its induction top; GE lists 200°F for its downdraft gas cooktop. In this guide 1. Why the cutout belongs to one model, not one width 2. Clearances around and above the opening 3. What the opening must clear underneath 4. Stone, solid surface, laminate and wood 5. Fit problems that show up later 6. Step by step 7. Questions ## Why the cutout belongs to one model, not one width The 30, 36 or 48 in a cooktop's description is the width of the glass or steel top that rests on the counter. The hole underneath is always smaller, because the top overlaps the edges of the opening, and how much smaller depends on the maker and the chassis. Dacor's 30-inch induction cooktop needs an opening between 28 1/2 and 28 11/16 inches wide; GE's 36-inch Monogram downdraft gas cooktop shows an opening of 34 9/16 inches. A tolerance of a few sixteenths of an inch is typical, and it is tight. That is why the installation instructions, not the product brochure, are the document the fabricator needs. Stone is usually cut from those drawings before the cooktop arrives, and a hole cut to the wrong model is expensive to put right. ### Reading the installation drawing Most cooktop instructions show a plan view of the counter and a side view of the cabinet, with letters keyed to a table. The letters usually cover: - Cutout width and depth, often as a minimum and maximum. - Distance from the back of the opening to the wall behind the cooktop. - How far the opening must stay back from the counter's front edge. - Clearance to a side wall or tall cabinet above counter height. - Height and depth limits for cabinets above the cooktop. - Where the junction box, outlet or gas pipe may enter the cabinet below. ### Dropping a new cooktop into an existing opening When an old cooktop is replaced, the hole is already there and the new top has to suit it. Compare the old opening, measured with the old cooktop out, against the new model's minimum and maximum. An opening that is too small can sometimes be enlarged in place; one that is too large leaves the top without enough bearing on the counter, and that is a harder problem to solve. Check this before ordering, not on installation day. Source: [Dacor (Samsung) — Transitional 30- and 36-inch Induction Cooktop Installation Manual (DTI30P876BB, DTI36P876BB)](https://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/dacor/products/cooking/cooktops-and-rangetops/dti30p876bb/download/Dacor-Transitional-Cookop-30-Induction-Cooktop-Install-Maunal.pdf) — 30-inch cutout 28 1/2 to 28 11/16 inches wide; at least 1 1/8 inches from cutout to the rear wall and 1 1/2 inches from the front edge of the countertop; cabinets above no deeper than 13 inches; surroundings must withstand up to 194°F; at least 5 inches from the countertop top to a drawer or obstruction below; [GE Appliances — Monogram 36-inch downdraft gas cooktop ZGU660/ZGU661, Use and Care and Installation Guide (49-8715)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8715.PDF) — Cutout 34 9/16 inches wide; 30 inches to unprotected cabinets above, never less than 24 inches when protected; cabinets above no deeper than 13 inches; adjacent cabinets 18 inches above the counter or 8 inches to the side; surroundings withstand 200°F; opening must clear the front and rear cabinet supports ## Clearances around and above the opening The cooktop's instructions also set how close walls and cabinets may be. These numbers are about heat and about reaching over flames or hot glass, and they vary between gas, electric and induction models. Two GE cooktops, one gas and one induction, show how much they can differ even from a single maker. - Cabinets above: GE asks for at least 30 inches from the cooking surface to an unprotected cabinet bottom, or 24 inches at the very least with the underside protected by millboard and sheet metal. - Depth of cabinets above: GE's gas downdraft model and Dacor's induction top both limit them to 13 inches deep. - Adjacent upper cabinets: 18 inches above the counter for GE's gas model, or 8 inches to the side if lower; 15 inches for GE's older induction top, or 2 inches to the side if lower. - Back wall: Dacor's induction top needs at least 1 1/8 inches from the rear of the cutout to the wall. - Front edge: the same Dacor top needs at least 1 1/2 inches from the front of the cutout to the front edge of the countertop. ### Backsplash and wall coverings Both Dacor and GE ask that wall coverings, counters and cabinets around the cooktop withstand the heat it produces, 194°F in Dacor's induction instructions and 200°F in GE's gas cooktop guide. Some decorative panels, vinyl-wrapped cabinet doors and adhesive backsplash tiles are not rated for that, and the damage shows as peeling or discoloring close to the top. Source: [Dacor (Samsung) — Transitional 30- and 36-inch Induction Cooktop Installation Manual (DTI30P876BB, DTI36P876BB)](https://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/dacor/products/cooking/cooktops-and-rangetops/dti30p876bb/download/Dacor-Transitional-Cookop-30-Induction-Cooktop-Install-Maunal.pdf) — 30-inch cutout 28 1/2 to 28 11/16 inches wide; at least 1 1/8 inches from cutout to the rear wall and 1 1/2 inches from the front edge of the countertop; cabinets above no deeper than 13 inches; surroundings must withstand up to 194°F; at least 5 inches from the countertop top to a drawer or obstruction below; [GE Appliances — Monogram 36-inch downdraft gas cooktop ZGU660/ZGU661, Use and Care and Installation Guide (49-8715)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8715.PDF) — Cutout 34 9/16 inches wide; 30 inches to unprotected cabinets above, never less than 24 inches when protected; cabinets above no deeper than 13 inches; adjacent cabinets 18 inches above the counter or 8 inches to the side; surroundings withstand 200°F; opening must clear the front and rear cabinet supports; [GE Appliances — Induction Cooktop Use and Care Guide and Installation Instructions (49-8269)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8269.PDF) — Adjacent cabinets 15 inches above the counter or 2 inches from the side; do not block the vent grille or rear airflow openings; countertop able to support 230 pounds; parallel sides and perpendicular rear cut, template recommended; non-hardening caulk may seal the cutout Close on a tape measure laid across an empty rectangular cutout in a stone countertop. ## What the opening must clear underneath A cooktop's body hangs below the counter, and the cabinet has to make room for it. GE's gas downdraft instructions say the front of the opening must clear the cabinet's front support rail and the rear must clear the rear support. A downdraft model adds a blower and a duct that need their own path through the cabinet side, back or floor, and an induction cooktop needs air to reach the fan that cools its electronics. GE's older induction manual warns against blocking the vent grille and the rear airflow openings. In practice that means the space under an induction top cannot be packed solid with storage, and the cabinet should not be sealed off from room air. ### A drawer right below the chassis A drawer immediately under a cooktop is convenient for utensils, but it has to clear the chassis. Dacor's induction instructions require at least 5 inches from the top of the countertop to the top of a drawer or other obstruction in the base cabinet. Deeper chassis, such as downdraft and some gas models, need more, and a drawer box that hits the underside of the cooktop is a common reason a new top will not sit flat. Source: [GE Appliances — Monogram 36-inch downdraft gas cooktop ZGU660/ZGU661, Use and Care and Installation Guide (49-8715)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8715.PDF) — Cutout 34 9/16 inches wide; 30 inches to unprotected cabinets above, never less than 24 inches when protected; cabinets above no deeper than 13 inches; adjacent cabinets 18 inches above the counter or 8 inches to the side; surroundings withstand 200°F; opening must clear the front and rear cabinet supports; [GE Appliances — Induction Cooktop Use and Care Guide and Installation Instructions (49-8269)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8269.PDF) — Adjacent cabinets 15 inches above the counter or 2 inches from the side; do not block the vent grille or rear airflow openings; countertop able to support 230 pounds; parallel sides and perpendicular rear cut, template recommended; non-hardening caulk may seal the cutout ## Stone, solid surface, laminate and wood Every counter material can take a cooktop, but each is cut differently. Granite, quartz and other stone are cut by the fabricator with water-cooled saws, usually in the shop from a template; laminate and wood are cut on site with a jigsaw. GE's instructions ask for an opening with parallel sides and a rear cut exactly perpendicular to them, and suggest making a template for accuracy. The counter also has to carry the cooktop. GE's older induction manual asks for a countertop able to support 230 pounds, far more than the cooktop itself weighs, so the counter around a wide opening must stay rigid. A thin laminate counter spanning a wide opening may need support added underneath. ### Gasket, caulk and the rim of the cutout Many cooktops come with a foam or adhesive gasket for the underside of the rim. GE's induction instructions also allow a non-hardening caulk around the cutout to form a watertight seal, with the excess removed. A hardening adhesive, on the other hand, glues the top to the counter and turns the next service visit into a much bigger job. Source: [GE Appliances — Induction Cooktop Use and Care Guide and Installation Instructions (49-8269)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8269.PDF) — Adjacent cabinets 15 inches above the counter or 2 inches from the side; do not block the vent grille or rear airflow openings; countertop able to support 230 pounds; parallel sides and perpendicular rear cut, template recommended; non-hardening caulk may seal the cutout ## Fit problems that show up later Some installation mistakes stay hidden until the cooktop has been in use for months. When we are called to one of these, the cause is often the opening rather than a part: - A glass top that rocks slightly or cracks from the edge, from a cutout out of square or a high spot on the counter. - Laminate or wood around the top darkening or lifting, from clearances or heat ratings not met. - An induction cooktop that shuts down on long boils, from a cabinet with no path for cooling air. - A top that cannot be lifted out because it was glued in, or because the conduit or gas connector below has no slack. - Spills running under the rim, from a missing gasket or a gap wider than the rim covers. ## Where to stop Cutting stone, moving a junction box or rerouting a gas line is work for the fabricator, an electrician or a gas contractor. Do not lift an existing cooktop out of the counter to measure it yourself unless its breaker is off and it has no gas connection; a gas cooktop's connector and a hard-wired top's conduit are disconnected by someone qualified for each. Written by [CooktopRepair.center technical team](https://cooktoprepair.center/authors/technical-team/). The technicians sent out on the cooktop visits booked through this site. What they write comes from lifting tops out of countertop cutouts and working in the cabinet underneath, checked against the manufacturer's installation and use-and-care guides wherever those are published. Sources: [Dacor (Samsung) — Transitional 30- and 36-inch Induction Cooktop Installation Manual (DTI30P876BB, DTI36P876BB)](https://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/dacor/products/cooking/cooktops-and-rangetops/dti30p876bb/download/Dacor-Transitional-Cookop-30-Induction-Cooktop-Install-Maunal.pdf) · [GE Appliances — Monogram 36-inch downdraft gas cooktop ZGU660/ZGU661, Use and Care and Installation Guide (49-8715)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8715.PDF) · [GE Appliances — Induction Cooktop Use and Care Guide and Installation Instructions (49-8269)](https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-8269.PDF) ## Step by step. Four steps, in the order worth doing them. 01 ### Get the right document Download or unpack the installation instructions for the exact model number, not a similar one. 02 ### Measure the existing opening With any old cooktop out, measure width and depth at front, back and both sides, and each corner's squareness. 03 ### Check the cabinet below Measure from the countertop surface down to any drawer, shelf or rail, and note where power and gas enter. 04 ### Compare before cutting Match every letter on the drawing, including overhead and side clearances, before stone is cut or a top is ordered. For the heart of your home. ## Questions owners ask. ### Can I put a 36-inch cooktop into a 30-inch cooktop's opening? Only if the counter can be recut to the new model's dimensions and the cabinet below is wide enough. Look at both the cutout table and the minimum cabinet width in the new model's instructions. ### Why does my new cooktop not sit flat when the hole is the right size? Usually something below is in the way: a drawer box, a cabinet rail, the conduit or a gas fitting pressing up on the chassis. Less often the counter itself is not level across the opening. ### Do I need a different opening for a downdraft cooktop? Usually yes. The vent adds depth at the back of the cutout, and the blower and duct need space in the cabinet below. Use the downdraft model's own drawing. ## The problems behind it. Each has a page of its own: what it usually means and the causes in the order worth checking. [All 17 problems](https://cooktoprepair.center/problems/) Gas, fire, broken glass or live current ### Glass Cooktop Cracked 6 causes, cheapest first Problem ### Cooktop Fan Runs Constantly 6 causes, cheapest first Problem ### Cooktop Error Code 6 causes, cheapest first ## When it needs a technician. The repairs on the right are where this guide ends when the checks do not settle it. ### Diagnostic visit A visit that runs every burner or zone on the cooktop, looks under it from the cabinet below and names the failed part before anything is ordered. ### Glass top replacement A new glass-ceramic surface for a radiant, induction or gas-on-glass cooktop that has cracked, chipped at the edge or been pitted beyond cleaning. ### Cooling fan and downdraft repair The fan that cools an induction or touch-control cooktop's boards, and the downdraft vent that rises behind the cooking surface or pulls air down between the burners. ## More in installation and setup. The counter cutout and its clearances, the circuit and the junction box, the gas shutoff and connector under the counter, what the cabinet below may hold, and converting a cooktop to propane. [The whole section](https://cooktoprepair.center/guides/installation-and-setup/) Set up to last ### A Cooktop Over a Built-In Oven: Approved Pairs and Cabinet Height Why makers approve stacked pairs by model number, the floor-to-counter height, the regulator elbow on gas tops, mixing brands and service in a shared cabinet. Set up to last ### Under the Cooktop: Junction Box, Conduit and Gas Shutoff What belongs in the base cabinet for gas, electric and induction tops, the circuit and junction box, the shutoff and connector, and what an owner may check. Guides ### All 18 guides Six sections, by what you are trying to find out. --- **[Read on the site: Cooktop Cutout Dimensions and a Counter That Fits](https://cooktoprepair.center/guides/cooktop-cutout-and-countertop-fit/)** **[Book a visit with CooktopRepair.center](https://cooktoprepair.center/schedule/)**