“After some trials and errors, we came up with the solution. A core of particleboard and a layer of solid wood on the outside – or thick veneer,” says Johnny. “It’s a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern manufacturing methods. Paper-thin veneer has been used in fine, decorative furniture making for centuries, but for our countertops we’re using a much thicker layer of wood.” The thick veneer makes the surface hardwearing, and it saves raw material – a lot of it. From the same amount of wood needed to make one solid countertop, it’s possible to produce five thick veneer countertops.
KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island, oak/veneer, 188x106.7x3.8 cm (74x42x1 1/2 ")
Price $ 369.00
How to get it
Available services
Key features
25 year limited warranty
Thick veneer countertops combines the best of solid wood and veneer. With efficient use of natural resources, it offers a unique pattern and a durable surface that can be sanded. Available to take home today.
Article Number502.976.40
Product details
25-year Limited Warranty. Read about the terms in the Limited Warranty brochure.
The countertop is made of particle board covered with a top layer of solid wood. This method allows us to use less wood in production.
The size of the countertop is perfect for a kitchen island or breakfast bar.
You can cut the countertop to the length you want and cover the edges with the included edging strip.
Countertop with a thick oak veneer, a durable natural material that can be sanded and surface treated when required.
Layer construction adds stability and makes the countertop less sensitive to humidity, thus, less likely to bend, split or crack than solid wood.
For quick installation and easy maintenance the countertop is pre-treated with hard wax oil.
The countertop has a narrow stave design that gives it a timeless and versatile look that complements both modern and traditional kitchens.
Designer
IKEA of Sweden
Good to know
Oak is an exceedingly strong and durable hardwood with a prominent grain. It darkens beautifully with age acquiring a golden-brown undertone.
Not suitable for use in damp rooms.
Please note that the actual colours of our products may vary slightly from the colours shown online.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Every countertop is unique, with varying grain pattern and natural color shifts that are part of the charm of wood.
2 edge bands, 110 cm each, included.
Materials and care
Material
- Top/ Edge:
- Thick oak veneer, Oil-acrylic
- Back side:
- Laminate
- Main parts:
- Particleboard
Care
Areas where the countertop may dry out, such as edges and areas around the sink and cooktop, require frequent treatment.
The countertop surface is pre-treated at the factory with hard wax oil. Due to the nature of the material, treat the edges and cut-outs with wood treatment oil, prior to installation.
To ensure that your countertop ages gracefully, treat it regularly with wood treatment oil; it gives the surface a beautiful sheen, protects the wood and prolongs the life of the countertop.
Safety and compliance
Supporting legs are required when an overhang exceeds 10". The maximum distance between these legs should not be more than 32".
Assembly and documents
Assembly instructions
KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island502.976.40Advice and care instructions
KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island502.976.40KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island502.976.40Measurements
- Length: 188 cm (74 ")
- Depth: 106.7 cm (42 ")
- Thickness: 3.8 cm (1 1/2 ")
Packaging
KARLBY
Article Number502.976.40- Width: 113 cm (44 ½ ")
- Height: 5 cm (1 ¾ ")
- Length: 196 cm (77 ¼ ")
- Weight: 46.91 kg (103 lb 7 oz)
- Package(s): 1
Ratings and reviews
KarlbyDorothyI am very happy with the Karlby counter top.
GreatPatriciaLooks great in my laundry room. Love the colour and the touch.
Nice island counterLynneIt’s just beautiful. Was so happy with it that I also bought the kitchen counters.
Beautiful addition to my new IKEA kitchenAnnetteThe Karlby oaken butcher block island slab was custom cut (make sure you have a new saw blade) and makes a fantastic addition to my new black and beige IKEA kitchen. The included trim needed extra adhesive to stay on. It is one of the costlier countertop/island options.
Nice looking but be aware of waterJunAfter leaving a small puddle of water on it for a day, the wood veneer was completely lifted and damaged.
Great countertop!MyrtleLove the look of this countertop that we use as a kitchen island. Cleans up easily. Does not stain or streak. Mixes well with painted cupboards and drawers. Size exactly as stated. Easy to install
PerfectDwightIt was perfect. Had to cut it easy to do great price.
Replacement Dining TabletopSimonOur family has recently expanded and our beloved dining table just wasn’t big enough for all of us to sit down together for a meal. We purchased the Karlby countertop and fitted it directly to our dining table. Problem solved!
Kitchen island countertopKathrynLooks beautiful and the large surface area gives me lots of work space.
Top is nice, edge banding sucks.Anonymous reviewerWe got the 72×42 large counter top in Walnut. It's a nice finish, however it needed to be cut to size and re edged using the supplied "peel and stick" veneer edge band. After cutting to size, and attaching the edge banding (to which I was very skeptical of, however it was easier than making several little blocks of real walnut and gluing them) I used, and rolled said edge band on. It did not last. After wiping down the top with a damp rag to clean it, 3 sections bubbled. No amount of clamping would re-adhear them. So in the end the top came off. Went back to my garage and was pieced here and there with real wood and actual wood glue. I openly expect it to happen again to other section of the edge banding. Buyer beware if you have to cut it.
Laundry room countertopJenI purchased this island countertop to use over my washer and dryer in my laundry room. It worked absolutely perfectly and looks great. Used back slice for laundry room shelf. There was still a big enough slice left over to use as a small shelf in my en suite bathroom. Love it!
Used as table top.JohnGreat matt finish, resists water marks, etc.
Nice cheap island top with a bow in itAnonymous reviewerinstalled on our island and noticed it has a bow in it, not all that happy with it but don't think I can return it. cheap, get what you paid for I guess.
Second time buying thisAnonymous reviewerThis is the second time we have bought this island top for our home. We bought it a few years ago in our first house and it was great & wore very well so when we just did our kitchen reno we had to include it again! It's the perfect size for an island top and you can't beat the price. We did quartz on the rest of the countertops and the combination of wood and stone looks great. We sealed it using the Ikea sealer once/year and it was easy to do. Only small problem is this second island top had a small ding out of the top when we opened the package, but we figured over time it would get some small scratches and we could live with it (wasn't worth a complicated return)I would highly recommend this product and would buy again.
Walnut butcher block countertopJennBeautiful countertop! Very happy we purchased it from IKEA!
This is a good deskAnonymousI use this as a desk top paired with 2 white ALEX drawers. Fits 3 monitors and small printer. Looks great.
Nice island with some flawsAnonymous reviewerWe purchased this island for simplicity and it has done the trick. The island did some bowed in the box however, but we didn't really noticed until it was too late. I would recommend checking the item fully before install.
Nice stain and affordable, but scratches easilyKathyPaired this counter top with the off-white Grimslov cabinets and it looks great. It warms ups the kitchen with a vintage/country feel. The only downside is that we find it scratches easily. Unfortunately due to the scratching, we wouldn't recommend this product.
Defective warped productAnonymousWe bought this product last week. The countertop was warped. The width of the surface was about a quarter of an inch lower on either ends. There was a visible batch of extra layer of glue at the bottom side about 9 by 12 inches by 1/8 inch thick. Please be aware that the packaged size was a few inches wider than listed on the website. You may want to unpack and inspect this product at the store before taking it home. It is a very heavy and awkward product to return. Very disappointed with the quality of this Ikea product.
Customer reviews
4Average rating
76Reviews
SustainabilityPeople and planet
Sustainable life at home
Better countertops with fewer trees
At IKEA we have a tradition of trying to utilize materials in the best possible way. For our countertops in thick veneer it means that we combine old craftsmanship with modern manufacturing methods. It makes the countertops easier to install, more stable and more resistant to humidity compared to solid countertops. And since we use the whole tree – even the crooked branches and the small twigs – we can save natural resources too.
Story
Better countertops by using wood smartly
Wood is a precious natural resource. Even though it’s a renewable material it needs to be handled responsibly. One way to do it, is to use the wood more efficiently. That’s what we do with our kitchen countertops in thick wood veneer.
“At IKEA we have a tradition of trying to utilize the materials we have in the best possible way,” says Johnny Rietz, who’s been involved in developing the kitchen countertops in thick veneer. The work started in 2008 when IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad, visited one of our suppliers and asked a simple question that took some time to answer: ‘How can we make this product using fewer trees?’
Less is more
No wood is wasted
Another advantage with this production technique is that you can use the whole tree; the stem as surface, and scrap bits – curvy, bent branches and small twigs – for the particleboard on the inside. The end result is a countertop that is every bit as genuine as solid wood, only more stable and more resistant to humidity. “Sometimes a small, harmless question can make a big difference. That’s exactly what happened with our kitchen countertops. It started as a challenge to use resources wiser, and proved to have positive effects not only for the environment, but also the quality. I think it’s great when that happens!” says Johnny.
Material
What is veneer?
A veneer is a thin wooden sheet fixed on things like particleboards to add a durable surface and a natural wood look – so we enjoy the many benefits of wood without using solid wood. The most common veneer types are birch, ash, oak and beech and we’ve made a special UV lacquer that helps preserve the wood's natural structure. A benefit with a slightly thicker veneer is how you can repair and sand the surface if it’s damaged to give furniture a longer and more beautiful life.
Quality
Built and tested to last
We believe that our kitchen countertops should meet your highest demands when it comes to design and performance, without compromise. That’s why we test our countertops, and put them up against the everyday challenges they’ll face in your kitchen: liquids, oil, food, steam, heat, bumps and scratches. When they’ve passed our testing, we know they’ll last, and we guarantee it with our 25 year limited warranty.