Benchtop Edge Profiles: Which Stone Benchtop Edge Suits 12 mm and 20 mm?
Reviewed by Team Asetica · Sydney · Perth · Melbourne · October 2026
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The most common edge profiles for stone benchtops are pencil round, arris (eased), square, bevel, mitred (including waterfall ends) and shark nose, and your stonemason can cut most of them on Asetica's sintered stone, depending on the colour and thickness. On 12 mm and 20 mm sintered stone, the simple profiles (pencil round, arris and square) are cut straight into the slab edge. When you want a thicker look, the stonemason builds a mitred edge, joining a strip of the same slab at 45 degrees so the benchtop reads as 40 mm or deeper.
- Pencil round and arris are the everyday choices: they soften the corner and suit both 12 mm and 20 mm slabs.
- A square edge looks the sharpest but leaves the corner most exposed to chips.
- Mitred edges, waterfall ends and shark nose edges create a thicker or slimmer look from a standard 12 mm or 20 mm slab.
- On most sintered stone the pattern sits on the surface, so a mitred edge carries the pattern over the edge. Full body colours carry colour and pattern through the slab.
- Your stonemason cuts and quotes the edge. Asetica supplies the slabs.
What are the main benchtop edge profiles?
An edge profile is the shape of the visible front edge of the benchtop. It changes the look of the kitchen, how the edge feels to touch, how exposed the corner is to knocks, and how much work the stonemason has to do. Here are the profiles you will be offered most often.
| Profile | What it looks like | Slab thickness | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pencil round | Small curved radius on the top and bottom corners | 12 mm and 20 mm | Family kitchens, a soft feel under the hand |
| Arris (eased) | Small flat chamfer on the corners, edge stays square | 12 mm and 20 mm | Contemporary kitchens, crisp lines |
| Square | Flat face with a sharp 90 degree corner | 12 mm and 20 mm | Minimal designs; most exposed corner |
| Bevel | Larger angled cut across the top corner | Best on 20 mm or a mitred edge | A defined, angled detail |
| Mitred | Two pieces joined at 45 degrees to look thicker | 12 mm and 20 mm | A 40 mm or deeper look without a thick slab |
| Waterfall | Mitred end that runs the benchtop down to the floor | 12 mm and 20 mm | Islands and feature ends |
| Shark nose | Mitred apron angled back underneath, so the edge looks slim | Built from a mitred edge | A floating, thin-edge look |
Choosing a colour and edge? Order up to 3 free samples, sent the next business day (NSW, VIC and WA only), or see full slabs at our showrooms: Sydney (Padstow, by booking only), Melbourne (South Yarra, walk in Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm) and Perth (Home Base Subiaco, walk in during Home Base hours). Order free samples
Pencil round
A pencil round has a small curved radius on the top and bottom corners, like the rounded edge of a pencil. It is soft under the hand, easy to wipe clean and forgiving in a busy family kitchen. It is one of the simplest edges to cut and works on both 12 mm and 20 mm slabs.
Arris or eased edge
An arris, often called an eased edge, keeps the edge square but takes the sharp corners off with a small flat chamfer. It gives a crisp, contemporary line without leaving a raw corner. It is also commonly used on the top of a mitred edge to soften the joint. Read more in our arris edge guide.
Square edge
A square edge has a flat face and a sharp 90 degree corner. It suits minimal, architectural kitchens, but the corner is the most exposed of any profile, so it is more likely to chip if something hard hits it. Many people who like the square look choose an arris instead to protect the corner.
Bevel edge
A bevel is a larger angled cut across the top corner, so the angle becomes a visible feature rather than a small softening. Because it cuts deeper into the slab, it is better suited to 20 mm slabs or to the face of a mitred edge than to a plain 12 mm edge.
Mitred edge and waterfall ends
A mitred edge is how a thin slab is made to look thick. The stonemason cuts the benchtop and a strip of the same slab at 45 degrees and joins them, so the front edge can read as 40 mm, 60 mm or deeper while the slab itself stays 12 mm or 20 mm. The pattern wraps over the corner, which is why mitred edges are the usual choice on marble look and other veined colours, while pencil round or arris edges suit plainer colours.
A waterfall end uses the same joint to carry the benchtop down the side of an island to the floor. It is the most striking option, and also one of the most involved for the stonemason, so it needs accurate cabinetry and an experienced fabricator.
Shark nose edge
A shark nose edge is built from a mitred apron that is angled back underneath the benchtop. From standing height you see a slim, sharp top edge while the benchtop still has depth, which gives a floating look. Because it relies on a mitre and an angled cut, ask your stonemason whether it suits your slab and cabinetry before you commit.
Which edges suit 12 mm and 20 mm sintered stone?
Asetica's slabs are 3200 x 1600 mm in 12 mm or 20 mm, depending on colour. Both thicknesses take the simple profiles, and both can be mitred. As a rule of thumb:
- 12 mm: pencil round, arris and square on the slab edge, or a mitred edge when you want more visual weight. See our 12 mm vs 20 mm thickness guide.
- 20 mm: the same profiles plus deeper cuts such as a bevel, and mitred edges for a 40 mm or deeper look.
- Printed surface vs full body: on most sintered stone the pattern sits on the surface, so the face of a cut edge shows the slab's base colour. A mitred edge carries the pattern over the edge instead. Asetica's full body colours (Super Taj, Silver Root Brown and Premium Travertino, all 20 mm) carry colour and pattern through the body, so a profiled edge or a chip shows less contrast. Ask your stonemason to show you a cut edge sample.
How do I reduce the risk of chips on a stone edge?
- Soften the corner. A pencil round or arris is less exposed than a sharp square edge.
- Protect the busiest edges. Around the sink, dishwasher and cooktop, pots and pans hit the edge most often.
- Do not use the edge as a tool. Avoid knocking heavy cookware, opening bottles or leaning hard objects on the edge.
- Use an experienced stonemason. Dense, thin slabs need the right tooling and a stonemason who regularly works with sintered stone and porcelain.
- Check the support. Overhangs and mitred aprons need the cabinetry and substrate your stonemason specifies.
Who does the work?
Asetica is a trade wholesaler: we supply the slabs to stonemasons, cabinet makers and builders. Your stonemason measures the kitchen, recommends an edge for your slab and layout, cuts and shapes it, and installs the benchtop. They also quote the final price, including the edge. If you do not have a stonemason yet, contact us and we can refer you to one who works with Asetica slabs.
Comparing edges and colours? Order up to 3 free samples, sent the next business day (NSW, VIC and WA only), then take your plans to your stonemason. Choose your samples
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular edge profile for stone benchtops?
Pencil round and arris (eased) edges are the most common choices on stone benchtops. Both soften the sharp corner, suit 12 mm and 20 mm slabs, and are among the simplest edges for a stonemason to cut. Mitred edges are the usual choice when you want the benchtop to look thicker.
What is the difference between a pencil round and an arris edge?
A pencil round has a small curved radius on the top and bottom corners. An arris has a small flat chamfer instead of a curve. Both take the sharp point off the corner; the pencil round feels softer, and the arris keeps a crisper, more square line.
How do you make a 12 mm benchtop look thicker?
Ask your stonemason for a mitred edge. A strip of the same slab is cut at 45 degrees and joined to the benchtop so the edge reads as 40 mm or more, while the slab itself stays 12 mm or 20 mm. The same joint is used to run a benchtop down the side of an island as a waterfall end.
Which edge profile is least likely to chip?
Edges with the corner removed, such as a pencil round or arris, are less exposed than a fully square edge. Any stone edge can still chip under a hard knock, so avoid banging heavy pots on the edge and choose a softened profile in busy family kitchens.
Who cuts the edge profile on a stone benchtop?
Your stonemason. Asetica supplies the slabs; the stonemason templates the kitchen, cuts the benchtop, shapes the edges and installs it. Talk to them about your edge early, because it affects how the slabs are cut.
How much does a mitred or waterfall edge cost?
Ask us for a quote. Asetica supplies slabs to the trade, so your stonemason quotes the final installed price for your job. For indicative slab prices, see our sintered stone price guide. Mitred and waterfall edges take more cutting and joining than a simple pencil round or arris, so they add to the stonemason's labour.
More guides from Asetica:
- What Is an Arris Edge on a Benchtop?
- 12mm vs 20mm Stone Benchtops: Which Thickness to Choose
- How Much Does Sintered Stone Cost in Australia?
Asetica Surfaces is a trade wholesaler supplying sintered stone slabs to stonemasons, cabinet makers, builders, architects and designers across Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Slabs are 3200 x 1600 mm in 12 mm or 20 mm, depending on colour, and backed by a 25-year Asetica warranty. Asetica does not cut, install or quote direct to homeowners; your chosen stonemason does. See the range at our Perth (Home Base Subiaco) and Melbourne (South Yarra) showrooms, or book a visit to Sydney (Padstow). Call 1300 161 388.
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