The most common reason a built-in oven is returned is that it does not fit the housing. The confusion is that ovens are described by the cabinet opening they need, called the aperture or niche, while people measure the old oven. Here is how to measure the housing itself.
What to measure
- Aperture height: the clear vertical opening inside the housing, from the shelf the oven sits on to the underside of the panel above. A single oven needs 590mm to 600mm; a compact oven needs 450mm; a built-in double oven needs 880mm to 890mm; a built-under double oven needs 720mm.
- Aperture width: the clear opening between the cabinet sides, normally 560mm to 568mm for a 60cm oven.
- Depth: from the front edge of the cabinet to the back panel or wall, allowing for the oven’s depth plus 35mm to 50mm for the cable and ventilation. Most single ovens are 550mm deep.
Single, double and built-under
A single oven fits a tall housing at eye level or an under-worktop housing beneath a hob. A built-in double oven only fits a tall housing because it is around 89cm tall. A built-under double oven is 72cm tall and sits under the worktop, usually with a hob above. If your current oven is a built-under double, a tall double will not fit and vice versa.
Ventilation
Ovens vent through the front, above the door, so they need no gap at the back beyond the cable space. Some hob and oven combinations need a ventilation kit or a minimum gap between the hob base and the oven top, which the hob’s installation sheet states.
Electrical connection
Single ovens under 3kW usually plug into a 13A socket; ovens above 3kW, including most doubles, need a dedicated cooker circuit connected by an electrician. The connection type is on every product page, so check it before ordering if you are not sure what the housing has.
Trims and fillers
If the new oven is slightly shorter than the old aperture, a trim strip covers the gap. Most brands sell a 60cm to 45cm reducer and matching fillers. If the aperture is too small, the housing has to be modified; it is cheaper to pick an oven that fits.
See all built-in ovens with their aperture sizes listed on each product page.