Slab format decides how many joints your finished surface has, how much material you waste, and whether two people can carry it up a stairwell. Here is how to choose between the four formats we ship most: 1200×2400, 1200×2700, 1600×3200 and 800×2600 mm.
Start from the joint you can live with
Sintered stone is chosen precisely because it removes grout lines. Work backwards from your wall or counter height:
- 2.4 m ceiling, wall cladding: a 1200×2400 slab covers floor-to-ceiling in one piece with no horizontal joint.
- 2.7 m ceiling (common in Middle East and Asia): 1200×2700 covers it in one piece. This is the single most common reason to choose 2700 over 2400.
- 3.2 m feature walls, full-height lift lobbies: 1600×3200 covers the height and gives a 1.6 m wide panel — fewer vertical joints on a long wall.
- Stair cladding, window reveals, furniture: 800×2600 is the efficient choice; you cut strips from a narrower slab with less waste.
The waste calculation most people skip
A 3.6 m island in 12 mm needs a run longer than any single slab provides in one piece, so you will join it. Plan the joint at a sink or hob where it reads as intentional.
Waste factor by format, for a typical kitchen:
| Format | Usable area | Typical waste | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200×2400 | 2.88 m² | 15–20% | Good for backsplashes and vanities |
| 1200×2700 | 3.24 m² | 10–15% | Best all-round format |
| 1600×3200 | 5.12 m² | 8–12% | Lowest waste on large projects, hardest to handle |
| 800×2600 | 2.08 m² | 12–18% | Strips, reveals, furniture |
Handling: the constraint nobody mentions until delivery
A 1600×3200 12 mm slab weighs roughly 150 kg. That is a four-person lift with vacuum cups, and it will not go up a narrow service stair. Before specifying 3200 mm, confirm:
- Access route width and turning radius
- Lift dimensions and door height (a 3200 slab needs a 3.3 m clear diagonal or a vertical lift)
- Whether a crane or slab lifter is available on site
1200×2700 at 9–12 mm is the pragmatic compromise: cover most wall heights in one piece, still handlable with two people and cups.
Bookmatched layouts
If you want a mirrored vein pattern on a feature wall, you must order an A/B pair from the same slab set, and you need an even number of panels across the wall. Decide the wall elevation first, then choose the format — not the other way round. A 4.8 m wall with 1600 mm panels gives three panels, which cannot bookmatch symmetrically; four 1200 mm panels can.
Quick decision table
- 2.7 m walls, general residential: 1200×2700 × 9 mm
- Kitchen counters and islands: 1200×2700 × 12 mm
- Hotel lobbies, feature walls, bookmatched: 1600×3200 × 12 mm
- Commercial kitchens, heavy impact: 1600×3200 × 15 mm
- Stairs, reveals, furniture: 800×2600 × 9 mm
All five formats are produced in-house at MENGNA SURFACES with matching thickness availability; samples of any format ship within 48 hours.