What Size Backsplash Behind Stove? 30 and 36 Inch Ranges
8 min read
A backsplash panel behind a stove is usually as wide as the range (30 or 36 inches) or as wide as the hood above it, and as tall as the open wall between the countertop line and the bottom of the hood, microwave or cabinet. For a 30 inch range that often means a panel about 30 inches wide and 18 to 30 inches tall. For a 36 inch range, about 36 inches wide and 24 to 36 inches tall. The exact height depends on what hangs above your range, so measure your own wall before you order.
Three common setups, three different heights
Width is the easy part. Height is where kitchens differ, and it comes down to what sits above the range.
Range with a hood above
Wall hoods and under-cabinet hoods are typically mounted somewhere between 24 and 36 inches above the cooking surface. The right height is set by the hood and range manufacturers, so two kitchens with the same range can have very different gaps. Most people fill the whole space from the countertop line up to the underside of the hood.
Range with a microwave or cabinet above
An over-the-range microwave hangs much lower than a hood. The open wall under it is often only 13 to 18 inches tall, sometimes a little more. That makes this the setup where a standard panel height is least likely to fit and a custom height is most common.
Open wall with nothing above
With an island hood, a downdraft vent or no upper cabinets, nothing sets the top edge for you. Here the panel acts more like a framed piece of art. A square as wide as the range, or a panel 24 to 36 inches tall, covers the zone where most splatter lands.
Why the panel is usually as wide as the range or the hood
Standard US ranges are 30 or 36 inches wide, and the hood above is normally the same width or a size larger. Matching the panel to one of those two lines makes it look planned. A panel narrower than the range tends to look like it was the wrong size, and it leaves the outer burners spraying onto painted wall.
Match the range width if the panel sits between upper cabinets or existing tile. Match the hood width if the hood is wider than the range and the wall is open on both sides. If tile already runs along the wall, the panel has to fit the opening that is left.
Where the bottom edge goes
Countertops are typically about 36 inches off the floor, and the cooking surface sits at roughly the same level. The bottom edge of the panel normally lines up with the countertop, so it meets the side counters or existing backsplash in one straight line.
Check which kind of range you have. A slide-in range has no raised back, so the wall is visible right down to counter level. A freestanding range often has a back guard with the controls on it that rises several inches above the counter. You can run the panel down behind it or start just above it. Decide before you measure.
Size table for 30 and 36 inch ranges
These are starting points using common standard sizes. Your measurements decide the final size.
| Your setup | Typical open wall height | 30 inch range | 36 inch range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-range microwave | About 13 to 18 inches | 18"H x 30"W if it fits, otherwise custom height | Custom size (30 inch microwaves are the norm, so check the width above) |
| Hood mounted low | About 24 to 26 inches | 24"H x 30"W | 24"H x 36"W |
| Hood mounted high | About 30 to 36 inches | 30" x 30" | 30"H x 36"W or 36" x 36" |
| Open wall, nothing above | Your choice | 30" x 30", or 24"H x 30"W for a lower band | 36" x 36", or 30"H x 40"W to extend past the range |
If your gap falls between two standard heights, you have two options. Pick the smaller standard size and leave a strip of wall showing under the hood, or order a custom size cut to your opening. A panel that is too big is not an option, because tempered glass cannot be trimmed after it has been tempered.
How to measure the wall
Walls, counters and cabinets are rarely perfectly square, so one measurement is not enough. Use a steel tape and write everything down to the nearest 1/16 inch.
- Mark your edges. Decide where the panel starts and stops: counter line or top of the back guard at the bottom, underside of the hood, microwave or cabinet at the top, and the cabinets, tile or range width at the sides.
- Measure the width in three spots. Top, middle and bottom. Keep the smallest number.
- Measure the height in three spots. Left, center and right. Keep the smallest number.
- Subtract clearance. Take about 1/8 inch (3 mm) off each side that meets a fixed edge. A panel squeezed between two cabinets loses 1/4 inch of width in total.
- Check for obstacles. Note any outlet, switch, gas shutoff or hood trim inside the area, and measure from the left edge and the bottom edge of the panel area to each side of the obstacle.
The clearance lets the panel go in without scraping and allows for walls that are slightly out of square. On an open wall where no edge touches anything, you do not need to subtract.
The short version of these steps is on our measuring and installation page.
What to do about outlets
An outlet directly behind the range, down near the floor, is hidden and does not affect the panel. An outlet or switch in the visible wall above the counter does. You have three choices:
- Order a cutout. A glass panel can be made with an opening for the outlet or switch. The cutout has to be made before the glass is tempered, so the position must be measured exactly.
- Size the panel to miss it. If the outlet sits near the edge of the area, a slightly narrower or shorter panel may clear it completely.
- Have it moved. This is a job for a licensed electrician, not a DIY step.
When to order a custom size
Standard sizes work well on open walls and under many hoods. Go custom when:
- The gap under a microwave or cabinet is shorter than the smallest standard height at your width.
- The panel has to fit tightly between cabinets or tile, where a 30 inch panel will not go into a 30 inch opening.
- Your range is a less common width, such as 24 or 48 inches.
- You need an outlet or switch cutout.
GetBacksplash panels are 4mm tempered glass, made to order, with custom sizes and cutouts available on request. Send your three width and three height measurements through the contact page and say which edges touch a cabinet, hood or tile.
Check the color before you commit to the size
Screens show color differently, and a design also changes with the panel shape. A piece of wide landscape art is cropped differently on a short 18 inch panel than on a square one, while a repeating pattern from the marble and stone group is more forgiving.
If color matters next to your cabinets and countertop, order a sample first. A 6x6 inch sample of any design costs $19.99, and the amount is credited back on a full-size order when you message us with the sample order number.
Safety clearances come from your manuals
This guide covers fit and appearance. The distance between burners and a hood, microwave or cabinet is a safety matter set by your range and hood manufacturers and by local code. Fit the panel to the wall you have, not the other way around. For more on heat and glass, see is a glass backsplash safe behind a stove.
Quick answers
What size backsplash do I need for a 30 inch range?
About 30 inches wide. Height depends on what is above: roughly 18 inches or less under a microwave, 24 to 30 inches under most hoods, and 24 to 36 inches on an open wall.
What size backsplash do I need for a 36 inch range?
About 36 inches wide, typically 24, 30 or 36 inches tall depending on your hood height. Measure from the countertop line to the underside of the hood before choosing.
Should the backsplash be wider than the stove?
It can be, if the wall is open and the hood is wider than the range. It should not be narrower than the range, because the outer burners will splatter the bare wall.
How high should a backsplash go behind a stove?
Most go from the countertop line to the underside of the hood, microwave or cabinet. With nothing above, 24 to 36 inches of height covers the main splatter zone.
Can a glass backsplash be cut to fit after it arrives?
No. Tempered glass cannot be cut or drilled after tempering, so the size and any outlet cutouts have to be correct when you order.
Once you have your smallest width and height written down, the rest is choosing a design. The most popular designs are a good place to start, and the installation guide covers what happens after the panel arrives.
