A built-in hob installation looks simple on the surface. You measure your countertop, call a technician, and two weeks later you're cooking on a gleaming new surface integrated into your cabinetry.
In reality, almost every kitchen surprises us. The gas line runs in an awkward location, your countertop slopes slightly, and ductwork above doesn't align with space below. These complications aren't showstoppers, but they separate smooth installations from ones that stretch into weeks of negotiation.
Proper built-in hob installation requires understanding several connected systems before you commit to buying. Your cutout dimensions must match your countertop exactly. Your gas supply needs to reach the installation point safely. Ventilation planning must happen simultaneously with hob selection, not after installation has already started. Get these right upfront, and you'll have a hob that sits perfectly in your kitchen for the next decade.
Understanding Built-In Hob Dimensions: Your Starting Point
Your kitchen's layout determines which built-in hob will fit your space. We manufacture hobs across a range of widths: 30cm through to 110cm. Some work well in compact apartment kitchens, while others suit sprawling islands where two people cook together. The width you choose depends entirely on your countertop space and your cooking patterns.
The cutout is what truly matters. This is the rectangular opening in your countertop where the built-in hob sits. A three-burner model typically needs a cutout around 560mm × 480mm. Larger models with four burners typically need 750mm × 480mm to 900mm × 520mm. Every hob model differs slightly in its cutout requirements. We publish exact cutout dimensions on each product page.
A single millimetre of measurement error can cascade through your entire installation. You cut your countertop, the hob doesn't fit properly, and now you're choosing between shimming (inelegant and questionable) or cutting again. The correct approach is straightforward: measure your countertop, find your hob model on our site, look up its exact cutout specifications, measure a second time, and only then cut.
Clearance: The Space Your Hob Needs Around It
A built-in hob extends beyond the visible cooking surface and requires clearance around it. These requirements exist for both safety and practical cooking function. This spacing matters because pot handles extend further than pots themselves, and cooking requires full arm movement.
Try sliding a wok onto a burner when cabinets sit three inches away. It becomes an awkward, uncomfortable exercise. The clearance on each side exists for cooking comfort, and without it, using your hob becomes a daily frustration.
Behind your hob, the 5cm gap prevents condensation from settling against the wall and allows heat to dissipate properly. Above the hob, clearance becomes critical for safety. Gas flames generate significant heat, and combustible materials need at least 600mm of clearance (more if unprotected). Most kitchen cabinets sit 700mm above the hob, a distance proven by thousands of installations.
Measure everything before installation work begins. We've seen renovations where these clearances were overlooked, resulting in cramped kitchens and the need to reposition cabinets.
Gas Lines: The Infrastructure Your Hob Needs
Built-in hobs require gas supply, but your kitchen's gas routing might not match what your hob needs. Different gas types operate at different pressures, and LPG and PNG are not interchangeable.
A hob designed for one gas type won't work properly on the other without professional nozzle replacement. Before purchasing your built-in hob, confirm which gas your kitchen has available and check the hob's product page to verify compatibility.
The piping that delivers gas has specific requirements. Not all materials work in every situation. Wrought iron, galvanised steel, brass, copper, and stainless steel are approved options. Plastic piping is prohibited beneath slabs or where pressures exceed certain thresholds. If your kitchen's gas line runs underground or through the building structure, rigid metal becomes mandatory by building codes.
This is where most kitchen renovations encounter problems. An uncertified technician might connect your hob, and it works fine for weeks. Then a leak appears, or pressure drops, or insurance questions the installation later.
A certified professional (specifically, a Gas Safe registered engineer for PNG systems) costs more upfront but tests pressure, checks for leaks, verifies all connections, and documents everything because your warranty, insurance, and safety all depend on proper documentation. Hire the certified technician, as skipping this creates a liability disguised as a savings.
Ventilation: Choosing Your Kitchen Chimney With Your Hob
Your built-in hob and your kitchen chimney must work together as partners. Many people choose the hob first, then add ventilation later. This approach creates inadequate extraction that leads to regret over years. Plan ventilation and your hob selection together instead.
The foundational rule: your chimney must be at least as wide as your hob. A 60cm hob requires a 60cm chimney at minimum, and a 90cm hob requires a 90cm chimney at minimum. A wider chimney is acceptable, but a narrower chimney creates gaps where smoke escapes. Smoke from the outer burners will drift past a too-narrow chimney and settle into your kitchen.
Width matters, but suction capacity matters more. This is measured in cubic metres per hour (m³/h), and a chimney that looks impressive might move air inadequately.
Your kitchen's size and your cooking style determine what you need. A small kitchen with light cooking needs around 1,000 m³/h, regular Indian cooking with moderate frying typically requires 1,200 m³/h, and heavy cooking with frequent deep frying or tandoor-style work demands 1,400 to 1,600 m³/h.
This calculation involves your kitchen's total volume multiplied by an intensity factor, then adjusted for ductwork complexity.
Most kitchens underestimate their ventilation needs. A chimney that appears visually adequate often isn't. The result is lingering cooking smells, grease accumulating faster on walls and ceilings, and filters clogging prematurely. You discover the problem slowly over months, not immediately.
Your chimney should sit 24 to 30 inches above the hob surface. This distance is critical for proper ventilation performance. Too low and you risk heat damage to the hood, while too high means rising smoke loses velocity before reaching it. This height works across all hob types.
We manufacture both hobs and chimneys. When you're selecting a hob, identify the matching chimney at the same time. Your kitchen's ventilation performance over the next decade depends on getting this right from the start.
The Countertop: Supporting Your Built-In Hob
Your built-in hob sits on your countertop, and the countertop material matters for long-term performance. The material needs stability and proper support underneath, with granite and quartz handling hob cutouts without difficulty, whilst laminate and wood veneer need reinforcement beneath the opening to prevent flexing over time.
Whatever material you select, seal the edge around the cutout to prevent the exposed countertop core from absorbing moisture and deteriorating.
Built-in hobs are typically around 52cm deep. Your countertop needs sufficient depth to accommodate that measurement plus the 5cm rear clearance we discussed earlier. Standard modular kitchens typically have countertops between 60 and 65cm deep, which works well. A countertop that's too shallow creates clearance problems or requires the hob to sit flush against the wall.
The hob's weight requires proper support underneath. The installer will secure it using clamps or fasteners from beneath the countertop. This secures the hob and prevents moisture from entering the space below. Without proper clamping, the hob can shift during use, creating gaps that compromise the seal and void your warranty.
Our hobs come in several finishes:
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Frosted Black Glass
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Black Tempered Glass
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304 Grade Stainless Steel
Most models include a stainless steel moulded edge strip that protects against chipping and extends the visible lifespan of your hob. It's a detail that makes a significant difference over years of use.
Common Installation Mistakes
We see installations fail in recurring patterns:
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Imprecise measurement: Measure width, depth, and height, then have someone else verify independently. Confirm your countertop is level.
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Ignoring product specifications: Each model is engineered differently with unique cutout dimensions, clearance requirements, and compatibility. Reviewing specifications takes fifteen minutes. Ignoring them costs weeks and thousands in rework.
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Insufficient landing space: Your built-in hob needs minimum 12 inches on one side and 15 inches on the other for setting cookware.
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Poor kitchen workflow: Your hob, sink, and refrigerator should form a triangle. Fix this during design, not after installation.
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Undersized ventilation: Choose a chimney before installation. Upgrading later is expensive, and cooking odours linger with inadequate extraction.
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Gas line shortcuts: Use a certified technician. Uncertified installations void your warranty and expose your insurance.
Before You Buy: Your Installation Checklist
Answer these questions before committing to a hob purchase. They're straightforward, take 30 minutes, and prevent weeks of installation problems:
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Measure exact countertop dimensions (width, depth, height) and verify whether your countertop is level
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Check your gas type available in your kitchen (LPG or PNG)
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Confirm gas line access: Can a certified technician reach the gas connection from where your hob will sit?
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Plan ventilation: Is space above hob adequate for chimney? Can you fit a chimney as wide as your hob? Will ductwork need rerouting? Does ceiling height accommodate 24–30 inch installation distance?
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Verify electrical supply: Is there an outlet near where your hob will be installed?
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Identify professional availability: Have you found a certified gas technician? What is their availability?
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Ensure clearance spacing: Can you achieve required spacing (50mm front/sides, 60mm rear, 400mm from adjacent cabinets, 700mm overhead)?
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Arrange countertop sealing: Does your contractor understand proper edge sealing around the cutout?
Our Built-In Hob Range
We manufacture more than 50 hob models spanning 30cm to 110cm width. We offer this range because kitchens vary significantly. A compact apartment requires something different from a farmhouse kitchen with a central island. For each kitchen space, there's a hob model that fits properly.
Materials vary across our range. Frosted Black Glass hides fingerprints and grease better than polished surfaces. Black Tempered Glass provides clean lines and a modern appearance. 304 Grade Stainless Steel delivers a professional aesthetic. Most models include a stainless steel edge strip that reduces chipping and extends the hob's visual lifespan.
Every model publishes detailed installation requirements on its product page covering width, depth, cutout dimensions, clearance needs, gas compatibility, and ductwork recommendations. Reading these specifications for your specific model is the most important step for successful installation.
Our customer care team operates at 1800 180 2221. They can answer specific questions about your kitchen's configuration or connect you with a Kaff dealer in your area. The store locator at kaff.in/store-locator helps you find retailers nearby.
The Installation Sequence
Successful built-in hob installation follows a logical order. Start by measuring your kitchen to understand what is actually possible in your space, including countertop condition, gas line location, and the space available for a chimney.
Use those measurements to select a hob model that fits your constraints rather than forcing a model into a space where it doesn't fit properly. Plan your ventilation simultaneously, selecting your chimney at the same time as your hob.
Engage a certified professional for gas connections and installation. This is the area where shortcuts cost significantly more than they save.
Each step informs the next. Reverse the order or skip steps, and you create delays, costs, and frustration. Follow this sequence, and you get a hob that integrates smoothly into your kitchen.
The best installations are the ones you stop thinking about. The hob sits there, works perfectly, and becomes part of your kitchen's design. That outcome requires knowledge, planning, and precision upfront, and while none of it is complicated, all of it is necessary.
FAQ: Installation Questions
Q: What cutout dimensions do I need for a built-in hob?
A: Cutout size varies by hob model. Three-burner hobs typically require around 560mm × 480mm, while four-burner models range from 750mm × 480mm to 900mm × 520mm. Every hob model publishes exact cutout dimensions on its product page. Look up your specific built-in hob model before cutting your countertop.
Q: Is 60cm countertop depth sufficient for my hob?
A: Yes. Standard hobs are around 52cm deep, so 60cm depth accommodates the hob plus the 5cm rear clearance required. Most modern kitchens feature countertops between 60 and 65cm deep, which works well.
Q: What is the difference between PNG and LPG hobs?
A: PNG operates at lower pressure than LPG, which affects burner design. A PNG hob has larger jet openings than an LPG version. You cannot swap one for the other without professional nozzle adjustment. Confirm which gas is available in your kitchen before selecting your hob.
Q: Do I need a certified technician to connect my gas hob?
A: Yes, you must use a certified professional. For PNG systems specifically, a Gas Safe registered engineer is mandatory. An uncertified installation voids your warranty, jeopardises your insurance, and creates safety risks.
Q: What is the correct height for my kitchen chimney above the hob?
A: Position your chimney 24 to 30 inches above the hob surface. Below this height you risk heat damage to the hood. Above 36 inches, rising smoke loses velocity before reaching the hood. Most installations use 26 to 30 inches.
Q: Can my chimney be narrower than my hob?
A: No. A too-narrow chimney allows smoke from the outer burners to escape. Your chimney must be at least as wide as your built-in hob for proper ventilation.
Q: How do I check if my countertop is level?
A: Use a spirit level across your countertop surface. If it slopes or dips, you need to level it before the hob installation begins. An unlevel surface causes the hob to sit unevenly, affecting sealing and performance.
Q: What landing space do I need on either side of my hob?
A: Maintain at least 12 inches of countertop space on one side and 15 inches on the other. This is where you set cookware and utensils while cooking. Less space makes cooking awkward and unsafe.
Q: Can I reroute the gas line if it is in an inconvenient location?
A: Yes, rerouting is possible, but it adds cost and installation complexity. A certified technician can advise whether rerouting is practical for your kitchen and what the process involves.
Q: What do I do if my kitchen doesn't meet all clearance requirements?
A: Modify your kitchen layout as needed. This might mean shifting cabinetry, adjusting the built-in hob's position, or rerouting ductwork. Plan these modifications before buying your hob, not after.
Q: What clearance spacing is required for a built-in hob?
A: Maintain 50mm on the front and sides, 60mm at the rear, 400mm from adjacent cabinets, and 700mm overhead above combustible materials. These spacings ensure safe operation and comfortable cooking.
Q: Can I install my hob myself if I have DIY experience?
A: No. Gas hob installation requires certified professional expertise. Even countertop cutting and sealing demand precision and proper technique. Always use qualified professionals for this work.
Q: What happens if my hob doesn't fit during installation? A: Stop work immediately and contact your technician and Kaff customer care at 1800 180 2221. Do not proceed if something seems wrong or doesn't fit as expected.
