Eased Edge Countertop: A Fabricator's Guide to the Best Choice
Written by Granite Guy Inc., Southborough, MassachusettsUpdated: January 2026
Why 90% of today's homeowners choose two simple edge types—and what happened to all those fancy profiles
What is an eased edge countertop? It's a simple, clean profile with a slight 1/8-inch radius on the top and bottom corners — just enough to eliminate sharpness while keeping contemporary lines. You might also hear it called a straight polished edge or 1/8" radius edge.
After fabricating over 10,000 countertops across Greater Boston since 1995, I can tell you this: about 90% of our installations use just two edge profiles — and the eased edge is the clear winner.
While most countertop articles list 15+ elaborate edge types, the reality is dramatically different. Modern homeowners have figured out what we fabricators learned the hard way — simple, functional edges work better with both today's design preferences and the fundamental properties of stone.
Here's the real story behind countertop edges, from someone who's cut, polished, and installed them by hand through three decades of industry evolution.
🪨 Eased Edge on Granite
Granite's hardness makes it ideal for the eased edge profile. The subtle 1/8" radius polishes beautifully on granite's crystalline surface, and the simple geometry means fewer stress points where chips could start.
Whether you're working with a busy pattern like Bianco Antico or a dramatic movement stone like Titanium, the eased edge lets the granite do the talking. I've installed eased edge granite countertops in thousands of Boston-area kitchens, and it's the combination I recommend most often.
⚖️ Eased Edge vs. Other Profiles: Quick Comparison
Eased vs. Mitered: Eased is a profile shape; mitered is a thickness technique. You can have both — a mitered edge with eased corners is our most common combination for islands.
Eased vs. Bullnose: Bullnose rounds the entire edge, which looks softer but lets spills travel underneath to your cabinets. Eased gives you safety without the spill problem.
Eased vs. Pencil: These are nearly identical. Pencil edge has a slightly more pronounced radius. Many fabricators use the terms interchangeably.
Eased vs. Ogee: Ogee adds decorative S-curves that collect dust and require more maintenance. Choose ogee only if your kitchen has formal traditional millwork to match.
🏆 Eased Edge Countertops: Why This Simple Profile Dominates
Eased edge countertops have become the clear winner in modern kitchens, and there are solid reasons beyond just following trends.
You might also hear this called a straight polished edge or a 1/8-inch radius edge. This profile features a subtle curve on the top and bottom corners—just enough radius to eliminate sharp edges while maintaining clean, contemporary lines.
The Visual Psychology Behind Eased Edges
Here's something most homeowners don't realize:
A heavily rounded profile, like a full bullnose, actually steals visual mass from the stone—making a 3cm slab appear thinner. The clean lines of the eased edge preserve that substantial, thick appearance that showcases your investment.
After installing thousands of countertops, I've seen how this subtle detail affects the entire feel of a kitchen.
✅ Why Eased Edge Works With Every Stone Type
Whether you choose granite, quartz, marble, quartzite, or soapstone, the eased edge profile adapts beautifully.
Unlike complex profiles that can highlight imperfections or create weak points in certain materials, the simple radius works with the natural properties of stone rather than fighting against them.
In my experience with Brazilian stones particularly—drawing from my heritage in Minas Gerais where soapstone craftsmanship goes back generations—the eased edge respects the material. It doesn't force the stone into shapes that create stress points or chipping hazards.
Most quartz manufacturers actually recommend eased edges in their warranty guidelines because they reduce stress on the material. That's a strong endorsement from the people who know their product best.
📐 Mitered Edge Countertops: Creating a Thicker Appearance
The mitered edge countertop is our second most popular option.
Here's what most people don't understand: a mitered edge isn't really a "profile" in the traditional sense—it's a fabrication technique. We cut the stone face at a 45-degree angle, glue the pieces together, and create whatever thickness appearance you want. Your 3cm countertop can look like it's 4, 5, or even 6 centimeters thick.
🔧 What Most Articles Don't Mention
Even with a mitered edge, we still need to finish the actual corners.
That means applying an eased edge (the profile we recommend for almost all applications) to the top and bottom where people will actually touch and interact with the countertop.
The mitered face gives you the visual thickness. The eased edge corners make it functional. This combination delivers a substantial, modern look that's become increasingly popular in contemporary and transitional kitchens throughout the MetroWest area.
📉 The Decline of Ornate Edges: What Actually Happened
If you've looked at older kitchen magazines or toured antique homes, you've seen elaborate countertop edges—ogee profiles, DuPont edges, triple pencil details, and intricate curves that mirror traditional wood moldings.
Twenty years ago, we fabricated these elaborate profiles regularly.
And honestly? It was a nightmare.
🛠️ The Pre-CNC Reality
Before CNC machines transformed our industry, every elaborate profile was hand-routed and hand-polished. An ogee or DuPont edge required skilled craftsmen working inch by inch.
Then there were laminated edges—gluing two pieces of stone together with different edge profiles on each piece. A single countertop could take days, sometimes weeks to fabricate. The results were beautiful but incredibly heavy, and the cost reflected all that handwork.
🪵 Why Wood Details Don't Translate to Stone
Here's something I've tried to explain to customers for decades:
Those elaborate edge profiles look amazing in antique homes with huge wood moldings because wood and stone are fundamentally different materials.
Wood is flexible, bends without breaking, doesn't chip, and holds intricate curves for centuries. Stone is the opposite—brittle, hard, unforgiving, and prone to chipping at tight corners.
Those same tight corners that look elegant in oak or mahogany become chipping hazards in granite or marble. The curves that a master woodworker creates with ease become stress points in stone that can fail under normal use.
After 30 years of seeing what works and what doesn't, I can tell you: trying to replicate elaborate wood details in stone simply isn't practical. The physics don't cooperate.
👻 Edge Profiles That Disappeared (And Why)
Some edge profiles from my early years have almost completely vanished.
The Original "Waterfall Edge" wasn't what we call a waterfall countertop today (where stone continues down the side of an island). It was an actual edge profile with three large radiuses. Beautiful in concept, but those multiple curves created weak points and finishing challenges.
The Royal Edge combined a mini-ogee and mini-DuPont into one router bit. It looked impressive initially, but customers complained about chipping at all those sharp corners. Despite the elaborate appearance, it wasn't functional for everyday kitchen use.
Both taught us the same lesson: form has to follow function with natural stone.
⚠️ Why Full Bullnose Edges Can Cause Problems
I need to be direct about bullnose edge countertops because I've seen the problems they cause firsthand.
A full bullnose—where the entire edge is rounded into a half-circle profile—feels smooth and looks elegant. Many customers are drawn to it, especially families with young children concerned about sharp corners.
💧 The Spill Problem Nobody Mentions
Here's the practical issue:
When something spills on a counter with a full bullnose edge, that liquid follows the smooth curved radius all the way down to the bottom edge.
It's basically like a slide—liquid rolls under instead of falling straight down.
Instead of dripping straight down at the counter's face, the spill travels under the curve and often drips directly into the cabinets below. Over thousands of installations, I've seen this cause real damage—water stains in cabinet boxes, warped shelving, and ruined contents.
The same smooth curve that makes the edge comfortable to lean against also makes it a highway for liquids.
💡 Better Alternatives
If you love the look of rounded edges, a half bullnose provides some of the same aesthetic with better liquid management.
But for most applications, the eased edge gives you safety (no sharp corners) without the spill problems. For families with young children, it's the best of both worlds—corners that won't hurt little ones, and spills that won't damage your cabinets.
🔍 Other Countertop Edge Options We Can Fabricate
While 80-90% of our customers choose eased or mitered edges, we can fabricate specialty profiles for specific design requirements. Here's an honest assessment of each.
Traditional Edge Profiles
Ogee Edge — The classic S-curve profile that was everywhere in the 1990s and early 2000s. It still works in formal traditional kitchens with elaborate crown molding, but dust and grime collect in those grooves. It also adds fabrication time and cost.
DuPont Edge — Sometimes called an inverted ogee, this features a convex radius creating a stepped appearance. It demands a kitchen design that supports traditional aesthetics.
Bevel Edge — A 45-degree angled cut on the top edge only. This adds subtle definition without maintenance challenges—a good middle ground between modern and traditional.
Rounded Edge Profiles
Half Bullnose — A rounded top edge with a flat bottom. This provides child-friendly curves with better liquid management than full bullnose. Works well in casual, transitional kitchens.
Pencil Edge — Similar to an eased edge with a slightly more pronounced radius, about the diameter of a pencil. Some fabricators use this term interchangeably with eased edge.
Specialty Profiles
Chiseled or Rock Face Edge — A raw, natural-looking texture that reveals the stone's character. Popular for rustic applications, outdoor kitchenskitchens, and fireplace surrounds.
Double Ogee — Two concave curves stacked together for an elaborate traditional look. Rarely requested today, but achievable for restoration projects or high-end traditional homes.
Triple Pencil — Three small radiuses layered together. Interesting texture, but those tight grooves are difficult to keep clean.
📋 Important Considerations for Specialty Edges
If you're considering any specialty edge profile, here's what you should know.
💰 Cost & Time — Specialty edges require additional fabrication time, which affects both scheduling and cost. The more elaborate the profile, the more labor involved—even with modern CNC equipment.
🧹 Maintenance Reality — Complex profiles create more surface area for dust, grease, and grime to accumulate. That ogee curve might look stunning at installation, but consider whether you'll maintain it properly over the next 20 years.
🪨 Material Compatibility — Some profiles work better with certain stone types. Harder materials like granite and quartzite hold intricate details well, while softer stones like marble may chip more easily at sharp profile transitions.
✅ Choosing the Right Edge for Your Kitchen
After fabricating countertops through three decades of design trends, here's my honest guidance:
Choose an eased edge if you want a clean, contemporary look that's easy to maintain. It works with any stone type and makes your countertop appear thick and substantial. This is our recommendation for 90% of installations.
If you're unsure, an eased edge countertop is almost always the right call.
Choose a mitered edge if you want a thicker appearance, especially on islands or peninsulas where the edge will be prominently visible. Works beautifully in modern and transitional kitchens.
Choose a specialty profile if your home has formal traditional design elements like elaborate crown molding and furniture-style cabinetry—and you're willing to commit to additional maintenance.
🚫 Avoid full bullnose if your countertop sits above cabinetry where spills could cause damage.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is an eased edge countertop?
A. A countertop with a slight 1/8-inch radius on the top and bottom corners. It removes sharpness while keeping clean, modern lines.
Q. Is eased edge the same as pencil edge?
A. Nearly identical. Pencil edge has a slightly more pronounced radius, but many fabricators use the terms interchangeably.
Q. What's the difference between eased and mitered edge?
A. Eased is a profile shape. Mitered is a thickness technique that makes your countertop look thicker. You can have both — a mitered edge with eased corners.
Q. Is eased edge or bullnose better?
A. Eased, for most kitchens. Bullnose lets spills travel underneath to your cabinets. Eased gives you rounded corners without the drip problem.
Q. Does eased edge cost more?
A. No. It's typically the standard edge included in your quote. Fancy profiles like ogee or dupont add cost.
👋 See Your Edge Options in Person
Reading about edge profiles only goes so far.
At our Southborough countertop store, you can see and feel actual edge samples across different stone materials. You'll understand how light catches each profile and get honest guidance on what works best for your specific kitchen and lifestyle.
After 30 years in this business, I've learned that the best edge choice isn't about following trends — it's about matching your countertop to how you actually live.
That's a conversation worth having in person.
Granite Guy Inc. has served Greater Boston and MetroWest Massachusetts since 1995. Contact us at 508-460-7900 to schedule a showroom visit and discuss edge options for your project.
