“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 worktops 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 worktop, it’s possible to produce five thick veneer worktops.
KARLBY Countertop for kitchen island, oak/veneer, 74x42x1 1/2 "
Price $ 359.00
How to get it
Available services
Collect 359 points with
It's OK to change your mind
Low Price Guarantee
Price drops? Get the difference back within 90 days with IKEA Family
More ways to pay
Checking payment options...
Product features
25 year limited warranty
Thick veneer worktops 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 worktop 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 worktop is perfect for a kitchen island or breakfast bar.
You can cut the worktop 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 colors of our products may vary slightly from the colors shown online.
Not suitable for outdoor use.
Every worktop is unique, with varying grain pattern and natural color shifts that are part of the charm of wood.
2 edge bands, 43¼" 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 worktop 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 worktop 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 worktop.
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: 74 "
- Depth: 42 "
- Thickness: 1 1/2 "
Packaging
KARLBY
Article Number502.976.40- Width: 44 ½ "
- Height: 1 ¾ "
- Length: 77 ¼ "
- Weight: 103 lb 7 oz
- Package(s): 1
Reviews
terrible quality.VictorThe quality feels too much like paper.
The size I neededJimI couldn’t find any top in 42” width, and then I found this. Works well, looks good, but they do bow a bit
Terrible. This didn't last a year!LisaIkea had lowered the quality on this and will not stand by warranty! They said it was normal ware and tear. Tha counertop stains and warps from water. DON'T waste your money on this.
Scratches and dents easilyKevinAlmost immediately after installing, it was getting scratched by things as simple as light weight cardboard boxes on it. Then I accidentally dropped a couple things on it like a small cabinet handle from a height of maybe 2-3 feet and it dented easily. We haven’t even begun to start using it as a kitchen counter yet, but I don’t see any way that it’s going to survive the daily use of plates and bowls being set on it. It’ll be trashed with a couple weeks. I’m going to have to start looking for a solid butcher block. This is just a laminate over composite wood.
Nice quality and colorLizaGreat quality, we used it for our laundry counter tops and make it look nice and fully renovated.
Made a tableGwynethI made a counter height kitchen table out of this when I couldn't find any liked after months of shopping. It's large enough for my whole family to sit at or provides extra prep space in a large kitchen with little counter space.
Very disappointedSaraWe worked with the Ikea kitchen rep, we knew we would have to cut the counter. They gave us a thin strip of wood to glue over the cut so that the particle board doesn't show. It's a terrible solution. Cracks. Bubbles. Pops off. Three pieces have chunked off. I would never purchase this product again.
The worst part is- we contacted Ikea to see about purchasing another thin strip since the first is cracked and broke. They informed us we would have to purchase a whole new counter to get the strip.
Great for over a washer & dryerLeahBought this to use over our front load washer & dryer in the laundry room. We've had it for two years, and it still looks amazing. We used the smaller size to cut & build a shoe bench which we also love.
Work tableReneIt’s the perfect size for my quilting
Waist a money. OverpricedLudaNot solid butcher blocks countertop. Poor quality. Very disappointed.
Craft Table CountertopBonneI built a craft table using the Karlby as my countertop. I love it! And, highly recommend it.
Love it!JosieLove it!
Wonderful Product - SHORT SUPPLYWilliamThese are beautifully finished countertops and a perfect alternative for a different than quartz look.
Had a difficult time with "out of stock".
Been waiting for our last one for over a month.
Worth the wait, by the way!!
Perfect for Standing Desk topRojalUsed this as a standing desk top at home. Very good finish and looks awesome. Also very sturdy.
Great counter top. Used inBeckyGreat counter top. Used in laundry room.
Worked perfectlyAndreaWe used it for a game PC desk and it worked great for school and play
StunningRachelLove the warmth the wood gives to our Island. Guests love the natural feel of the wood and how it adds visual interest to our kitchen
Looks good but scratch as easy as a scratch ticketAnonymousBeautiful coloring and looks great, but within a couple of days of installing we sustained a scratch from sliding a chopping board across the countertop. Thinking that maybe we had been too rough We have been super careful since. It’s now been just over 2 months and even with being over paranoid about it we have managed to pick up a few more scratches - it’s just annoying and not as hardy as you would expect of a countertop- it will need to be Replaced, but will likely be looking for a different product.
Better than expected and beautiful!AnonymousWe’ve had this now on our island we made for four months now. We are in love. So happy we found this. The price is amazing. And it’s also cheap enough that if anything ever happens to it, we can stomach the cost of ripping it off and replacing it. It’s holding up super nice! No dents or anything and I have two kids. We bought place mats to eat in just to help as we’ve only had granite tops anywhere. We love this and the color. We have a ranch and needed an island of some type to fill this space nicely. This was an amazing purchase and I love walking into my house and seeing this everyday. Well worth the money!! I wish I could post a photo of our finished island!
DecentAnonymousLove the aesthetic but it’s not as durable as I’d like. Scratches very easily.
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 worktops 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 worktops 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 worktops 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 worktop 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 worktops. 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 attached to things like particleboard 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.