How to Measure a Grill Cutout

A built-in grill hangs in the island by its top lip (sometimes called the flange), which rests on the countertop. Everything below the lip, the grill body or firebox, has to fit inside the opening. So you're measuring the hole, not the countertop and not the old grill.

• Width: left to right across the opening, from one inside edge of the countertop to the other.
• Depth: front to back, from the inside of the front edge to the back wall of the opening.
• Height: from the top of the countertop down to the floor of the opening, or to whatever supports the grill from below (a shelf, rails or the jacket base).

Some manufacturers measure height from the countertop surface, others from the underside of the counter. The installation manual will show which on its cutout diagram.

This is where most fit problems start. Grills are sold by a nominal size (30-inch, 36-inch, 42-inch), but that name doesn't describe the opening they need. A 36-inch grill might need an opening of roughly 34 inches wide, or a bit more or less, depending on the brand. The outside dimensions of the grill don't tell you either, because the lip overhangs the opening on all sides.

Every built-in grill has a published cutout dimension, usually on a diagram in the installation manual and often on the product spec sheet. It gives the required width, depth and height of the opening, sometimes with a tolerance. That's the number to compare to your measurements. The manufacturer designs the lip, the venting and the clearances around that spec, so matching it is how you get a grill that sits flat, seals properly against the counter and has the air space it was designed for.

Some practical points about cutout specs:

• Specs can change between model years. Use the manual for the exact model you're buying.
• If the grill needs an insulating jacket for a combustible island, the jacket has its own, larger cutout. Use that spec instead.
• Some specs list a minimum depth that includes room behind the grill for gas connections. Don't skip it.
• When your opening is between two specs, ask the dealer or manufacturer whether the lip will cover the difference.

With your measurements, compare against the cutout specs of grills you're considering. Our guide to replacing a built-in in the same cutout covers what to do if nothing lines up exactly, and choosing a built-in grill covers everything beyond fit. If you'd rather have someone else measure, a tech can do it during a grill inspection.