Planning a Custom Shop Counter

What should a shop counter do?

A shop counter usually handles several jobs at once: taking payment, wrapping or packing items, displaying products, storing supplies and hiding cables. Listing these jobs before design begins prevents a counter that looks good but forces staff to work around it every day.

1. Payment. Space for the terminal, a receipt printer and a cash drawer if you use one.
2. Packing. A clear surface for bags, tissue, boxes and tape, ideally within arm's reach.
3. Display. Impulse items, a showcase section or promotional space.
4. Storage. Shelves or drawers for bags, stationery, spare stock and cleaning items.
5. Cables. Routes for power and data that stay hidden but remain reachable.

Ask your staff what slows them down at the moment. Their answers are often the most useful design input.

If you are a cafe or service business, add the items specific to you, such as a pick-up shelf, a queue rail or space for a display chiller. Food licensing and kitchen compliance remain the operator's own matter and are outside a counter joinery scope.

How do I decide the size and layout?

Work out the size from the equipment, the number of staff and the queue space in front of it, then check against the unit plan. A counter that is too large crowds the entrance, while one that is too small pushes work onto the shelves behind it.

• Mark where customers will queue and where doors swing.
• Place the counter where staff can see the entrance and the shop floor.
• Allow staff to move behind it without turning sideways.
• Consider whether one or two staff will use it at peak times.
• Leave room for future equipment, such as a second terminal or label printer.
• Check that drawers and doors can open fully without hitting walls or stools.

Also think about what customers see. A tidy front, a place to rest a bag and a clear spot to tap a card all make the counter feel easier to use.

Cut a cardboard or tape outline on the floor of the unit. Standing behind it for a few minutes often reveals problems that a drawing hides.

What heights are typical for a counter?

Many service counters sit around 900-1,050 mm high, but treat this as a starting point to confirm with your staff and equipment. Standing staff, seated staff, tall terminals and customer comfort can all change the right height for your shop.

Mock up the height with a table or boxes and ask your staff to work at it for a few minutes. Confirm final dimensions on site before production.

How do I make a counter accessible?

Include at least one lower or clear section where customers who use a wheelchair, or who find a higher surface difficult, can pay and be served comfortably. Think about reach, knee space, and clear approach as well as the height of the counter top.

• A lower section or a pull-out surface alongside the main counter.
• A clear approach path without steps or displays in the way.
• Card terminals positioned where they can be reached and read easily.
• Good lighting on the payment area for reading screens and receipts.

Requirements differ between buildings and uses. Check with your landlord or mall management about approvals and any rules that affect your layout, and confirm the details during the site assessment.

Which materials suit a shop counter?

A counter takes more knocks, spills and wiping than most fixtures, so choose surfaces for durability and cleaning first, then appearance. Laminate, veneered timber, solid surface, timber, stone-look boards and metal are all common, each with different wear, cleaning and maintenance trade-offs that are worth comparing before you commit.

Think about the surface where staff place bags and drinks, the edge customers lean on, and the front panel that gets kicked.

• Laminate: practical, wide range of looks, easy to wipe.
• Timber or veneer: warm and natural, needs a sealed, protective finish.
• Solid surface or stone-look: seamless, hard-wearing, cost depends on thickness and fabrication.
• Metal: strong edge protection or feature panels, shows marks differently by finish.

Many counters mix a tough top surface with a different material on the customer-facing front. For more on shelving and fixtures, see the materials guide.

Where do power and data points go?

Plan power and data points before the counter is built, so cables run through the joinery rather than across the floor. Mark where each device sits, then ask for outlets and cable openings positioned near them, inside the counter body and accessible for servicing.

• Terminal, printer, scanner, screen and charging needs.
• Data connection for payment and inventory systems.
• Cable openings and routes that avoid sharp edges and pinch points.
• Ventilation if equipment sits inside a closed cabinet.
• Access panels for future changes.

Electrical points and wiring are generally a separate scope from carpentry. Some works may need submissions by qualified professionals; these should be identified at the site assessment stage. See commercial electrical works for how this is normally split.

What should I prepare before asking for a quotation?

Bring a floor plan, unit photos, a list of equipment with approximate sizes, your preferred materials and your target opening date. With these, a contractor can propose a counter layout and identify what needs to be confirmed on site. Also mention any brand look you want to match, such as colours, logos or existing fixtures.

Each project is planned to begin with a site assessment, followed by layout and material discussion. If you would like to talk through your counter, send us your floor plan and we'll discuss your scope. You can also read the commercial carpentry page for what this scope usually covers.

See Carpentry