Benchtops
Your benchtop is a balance of looks, durability, budget — and weight. On a tiny home on wheels, a heavy stone top can eat a big chunk of your trailer's weight allowance. Pricing is shown per country; regions marked "being researched" are coming soon.
Benchtop options
Laminate
A decorative surface bonded to a particleboard or MDF core. The budget favourite — modern laminates convincingly mimic stone and timber.
Advantages
- Cheapest option
- Light — good for a THOW
- Huge range of looks
- DIY-friendly to fit
Disadvantages
- Not heat-resistant (use a trivet)
- Can swell if water gets into joins
- Hard to repair if damaged
Indicative pricing
Timber / Butcher Block
Solid or laminated timber. Brings warmth and can be sanded back and re-oiled over the years. A popular, characterful tiny-home choice.
Advantages
- Warm, natural look
- Can be sanded and refinished
- Mid-weight
- Repairable
Disadvantages
- Needs oiling every year or so
- Can stain or mark near the sink
- Careful sealing needed around water
Indicative pricing
Bamboo
Strips of bamboo laminated together — harder than many hardwoods, light, and sustainable. A great fit for an eco-minded tiny home.
Advantages
- Very hard-wearing
- Lightweight and sustainable
- Distinctive look
- Lighter than stone
Disadvantages
- Still needs oiling like timber
- Fewer suppliers
- Mid-range price
Indicative pricing
Porcelain / Sintered Stone
A high-performance, heat- and scratch-resistant surface. The compliant premium choice since engineered quartz stone was banned in Australia in 2024.
Advantages
- Extremely durable and heat-resistant
- Very low maintenance
- Premium look
- Safe alternative to banned engineered stone
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Heavy — a real weight cost on a THOW
- Professional install needed
Indicative pricing
Stainless Steel
A commercial-kitchen surface — hygienic, heat-proof and seamless. Suits an industrial look and is relatively light.
Advantages
- Hygienic and heat-proof
- Seamless, no joins to leak
- Relatively light
- Very durable
Disadvantages
- Shows fingerprints and scratches
- Industrial look not for everyone
- Can dent
Indicative pricing