Where to find metal counter edge trim - steel, aluminum, and faux -

metal countertop edging for the kitchen — I used steel edging from New York Metals to edge my kitchen countertops surfaced with Formica boomerang laminate.

There are only a few places to find metal kitchen countertop edging for a midcentury, vintage or retro kitchen. On this page, I outline where to find this kind of edging, which is meant to edge laminate — Formica, Wilsonart, etc. — countertops in authentic period style. I also point you to examples from readers’ actual kitchen project… I show a video of my own steel-edge kitchen countertop, and I point you to historic references. All with the goal: To help you decide which style of metal edging you might prefer and to help make it easier for you to find it.

1. Stainless steel countertop edge:

U-shaped snap-on stainless steel countertop edging is my favorite — I used it in my kitchen remodel. To do my countertops we used three different pieces — (1) a snap-on countertop edge, (2) a “cove” molding to connect the countertop with the backsplash, and (3) a smaller snap-on top edge of the backsplash.
The only source that I know of for this stainless steel edging is >> New York Metals <<. Note: For stainless steel, go straight to the pieces named “SS”-followed by a number. My husband gets huge credit for discovering New York Metals. They have been making this edging for decades. 10+ years now into my kitchen, this edging is looking as great as the day it went in!

Above: In this video, I show you my stainless steel edging including all the pieces and how they work. I also talk about how I designed the countertops. Here is a story in which I write out and show the three pieces that I used.

2. Aluminum countertop edges:

red kitchen countertop — Author Bonnie Jo Campbell used simple nail-on aluminum molding to edge the countertop in her darling kitchen remodel.

RetroTrims aka Eagle Moulding — manufactures a variety of aluminum countertop edgings. They tell me: “Eagle Mouldings is the largest supplier of aluminum retro trims and mouldings. We stock corrugated or fluted face nosing, angles, bar and tee’s, coves, and plain or smooth nosing and tees. Our retro polished aluminum and chrome looking aluminum trims are available in polished, Brite Dipped, satin or clear, bronze, and black or standard mill finish. Our custom and OEM aluminum extrusion services allow us to meet any need our customer may have. We can cut to length or miter, punch, drill and countersink, form or bend any extrusion to specifications as well as offer many standard and custom anodized colors.”
Bars & Booths has 1.5″ flat, ribbed aluminum countertop edging. There are also other sizes. They offer metal edging with space to insert vinyl or laminate as an accent — but this is 3″ wide, typically a size reserved to for tables, not countertops.
Brunneret has a number of aluminum banding pieces. In addition to straightforward 1.5″ step-nosing edging design, it also looks like it offers a 1.25″ aluminum molding designed to hold price tags — but instead, you could insert a colored strip of laminate or vinyl (?) and get that banded color edge look— worth a try or call to see. Note: Typical kitchen countertop edging, per my experience, is 1.5″ — but that is not a hard and fast rule. They have a similar such design in 7/8″ width. Thanks to reader Bill for this tip.
New York Metals — also carries a variety of aluminum countertop edge pieces. You can get it either with a brushed/matte finish or with a shiny polished finish.
One reader used aluminum tee-molding from McMaster-Carr.
Jean’s husband found some aluminum molding at Home Depot that he used to trim the Satin Glide-style bathroom vanity he made. Also see this Alexandria Muolding at Home Depot. Be aware: A kitchen countertop is usually 1.5″ tall; if you choose a narrower/less deep countertop edge, you will need to plan accordingly. Joan also said she jury-rigged some aluminum molding found at Home Depot: “When we put a new layer of Formica on our kitchen counters, we went to Home Depot and got some inexpensive metal edging, carefully bent it around the corners, glued it and then put some decorative screws in. I think it was a very inexpensive option and it still looks great!”
Note, for this story I aimed to call out the actual manufacturer-retailers; their products also may be found at other online retailers. For example, in the past readers have recommended Outwater Plastics as a source, but my recent check of their online catalog now indicates they are getting their trim from one or more of the manufacturers I have just identified above. I also received this tip from reader Bill about another company, Orange Aluminum that I *believe* is retailing trim from one or more of the manufacturers above. Thanks, Bill!

Our go-to kitchen sink also has a metal edge — the Kohler Delafield with metal “hudee” ring

3. Look locally and save on shipping:

I have heard from some readers in the past that local stores may carry some of these products. If you can find stock locally, you may save a lot on shipping, as this stuff often ships in 12′ lengths — oversized and a potentially relatively high shipping charge. I have no research on unique local retailers — this may be determined by local and regional preference. If you have the time to do your research locally, you may be able to save money on shipping.