Shop Counters

Cash Wrap Counter

A transaction-focused retail counter that holds the POS, payment terminal, bag storage and impulse-buy display in one footprint. The standard starting point for most independent retailers.

Glass Display Counter

A display-led retail shop counter built around a tempered glass top and front to showcase products while keeping them secure. Widely used in jewellery, optical and bakery retail alongside glass shelves for tiered height behind the bench.

Service Counter

A non-transactional retail counter that handles enquiries, fitting, click-and-collect or returns without holding the till. Typically taller (1050–1100mm) to suit standing consultations.

Reception Counter

A first-contact retail store counter positioned at the shop entry to greet customers, take bookings or direct foot traffic. Standard in salons, clinics and gyms.

Checkout Counter

A high-throughput shop counter built for fast scan-and-bag transactions, usually one of several lanes. A powder-coated steel frame with a laminate top is the most common build.

Jewellery Display Counter

A high-security retail counter built to hold small, high-value items behind tempered glass with lockable rear access. Usually paired with internal LED lighting and acrylic risers to create tiered product height inside the case.

Bakery and Food Counter

A food-safe display retail counter with refrigerated or ambient glass display and a stainless steel work zone. Used in bakeries, delis and takeaway retail.

Pharmacy Counter

A regulated-use retail counter with a consultation zone, dispensing window and lockable scheduled-medicine storage. Height (1050mm) and knee clearance are typically AS 1428.1 compliant. Pairs well with retail pharmacy shelving behind the bench.

Boutique and Fashion Retail Counter

A design-led store counter where the front panel functions as a brand statement piece. Feature veneer, 2-pac painted or fluted finishes are common in fashion and beauty.

Wrap-around Counter

A U-shaped or partial-island retail counter that surrounds the staff member on three sides, suited to two-queue service zones in hardware or large-format retail.

L-shaped Counter

A two-axis retail counter that runs along a wall and turns 90° into the shop, separating two functions, typically POS and display, on one connected footprint.

Modular Retail Counter

A panel-based shop counter built from interchangeable modules that can be reconfigured as the shop layout changes. The lowest entry price point and the most flexible option for pop-ups and growing stores.

Type	Typical Shop Use	Standard Width (mm)	Standard Height (mm)	Common Material	Storage Capacity	Price Range (AUD)	Best For
1. Cash wrap	Fast retail transactions	1200–1800	900–950	Timber laminate + steel frame	High	$650–$1,800	Fashion, gift, convenience
2. Glass display	Display of high-margin product	1000–1500	900	Tempered glass + timber base	Medium	$750–$2,200	Optical, watch, bakery
3. Service	Enquiry, returns, click-and-collect	1500–2400	1050–1100	MDF + laminate	Medium	$550–$1,400	Pharmacy, hardware, sports
4. Reception	First-contact greeting	1500–2000	1050	Timber veneer or 2-pac MDF	Low	$900–$2,500	Salon, clinic, gym
5. Checkout	High-volume scan-and-bag	1500–2100	900	Steel frame + laminate top	Medium	$700–$1,600	Supermarket, hardware barn
6. Jewellery display	Small high-value items	900–1200	900	Tempered glass + timber/steel	Low	$1,200–$3,500	Jeweller, watch retailer
7. Bakery and food	Refrigerated or ambient display	1500–2400	900–950	Stainless steel + tempered glass	Medium	$1,500–$4,500	Bakery, deli, takeaway
8. Pharmacy	Consultation and S4 storage	1800–3000	1050	Anti-microbial laminate	High	$1,400–$4,200	Pharmacy, medical retail
9. Boutique	Brand-statement front	1200–1800	950	Feature veneer or 2-pac	Low	$1,100–$3,200	Fashion boutique, beauty
10. Wrap-around	Two-queue service zone	2400–4000	900	Modular timber laminate	High	$2,200–$5,500	Hardware, sports, large retail
11. L-shaped	Wall-corner POS	2000–3500	900	Laminate panels	High	$1,400–$3,800	Newsagent, gift, mid-size fashion
12. Modular	Reconfigurable layout	1200–4800	900	Flat-pack melamine	Variable	$400–$1,800/module	Pop-up, kiosk, market

Retail Counter Materials and Finishes

The material you choose affects how long the counter lasts, how it looks and how much it costs to maintain.

Melamine

A budget flat-pack option suited to pop-ups and temporary fit-outs. Durable for 5–7 years under light use, but chips at the edges under daily retail traffic.

Timber Laminate

The most common choice for independent retail. It handles 8–12 years of daily use, comes in a wide range of colours and finishes, and is the practical midpoint between cost and presentation.

Tempered Glass

Used for display sections rather than structural surfaces. It adds a premium finish and keeps the product visible and secure. Pair it with acrylic shelves or acrylic display and acrylic slatwall accessories inside the display section for tiered arrangements.

Powder-coated Steel

The most durable frame material, suited to high-traffic environments like supermarkets and hardware stores. Heavy, but it won't flex or rack over time.

Acrylic

Used for display inserts, sign holders and riser sections within the counter. Light, easy to clean and optically clear. Pairs well with an acrylic sign holder for pricing and product labelling at the counter surface.

Material	Durability (Years)	Finish Quality	Weight per Linear Metre (kg)	Price per Linear Metre (AUD)
Melamine	5–7	Low	18–22	$80–$120
Timber laminate	8–12	Mid	22–28	$130–$220
Solid timber veneer	12–18	Premium	24–32	$250–$450
Tempered glass	10–15	Premium	14–20	+$180–$350 over base
Powder-coated steel	15–20	Mid	28–38	$200–$320
Acrylic	4–6	Mid	10–14	$90–$160

Retail Counter Dimensions and Standard Sizes

Standard retail counter height is 900mm for transaction and display surfaces, and 1050mm for consultation and service counters. The difference matters: 900mm is comfortable for a standing transaction, while 1050mm creates a natural barrier that signals a service interaction rather than a sale.

Depth runs from 500mm for narrow display counters to 750mm for checkout lanes that need a full bagging area. The standard for most retail cash wraps is 600–700mm.

Width starts at 1000mm as a practical minimum and runs to 1800mm for a standard cash wrap. Wrap-around and L-shaped configurations can span 2400mm and beyond.

Where accessibility is required, AS 1428.1 specifies a knee clearance section of at least 850mm high × 800mm wide × 500mm deep. Reception and pharmacy counters include this as standard; other counter types can be specified with an accessibility add-on.

Counter Type	Height (mm)	Width Range (mm)	Depth (mm)	Knee Clearance Section	AS 1428.1 Compliant
Cash wrap	900–950	1200–1800	600–700	Optional add-on	On request
Glass display	900	1000–1500	500–600	Not standard	No
Service	1050–1100	1500–2400	650	Optional add-on	On request
Reception	1050	1500–2000	500	Standard	Yes
Checkout	900	1500–2100	750	Standard at one lane	Partial
Jewellery display	900	900–1200	500	Not standard	No
Bakery and food	900–950	1500–2400	650	Optional add-on	On request
Pharmacy	1050	1800–3000	650–750	Standard	Yes
Boutique	950	1200–1800	550	Optional add-on	On request
Wrap-around	900	2400–4000	600	Standard on one face	Yes
L-shaped	900	2000–3500	600	Optional add-on	On request
Modular	900	1200–4800	600	Module add-on	Yes

Design Features Worth Building In

• Storage layout: staff reach is 400mm forward and 300mm down from the standing position. The most-used items (bags, receipt rolls, returns slips) belong in that zone. Drawers deeper than 450mm are rarely worth the cost.
• POS integration: build in concealed conduit, grommeted cable holes, a terminal arm and a receipt-printer well at the design stage. Retrofitting these later typically costs $200–$400 AUD per counter.
• Lighting: 3000K LED suits jewellery counters; 4000K works for fashion and bakery. Target 2,200 lumens per linear metre with counter-top downlights at 500–700 lux.
• Customer-side display: a 150–200mm ledge at 750–850mm height is enough to hold confectionery, gift cards, magazines and sample-size products at the point of transaction. Pair it with display stands and a slat wall panel behind the counter for a complete impulse-buy zone.

How to Choose the Right Retail Counter for Your Shop

Step 1: Function

Decide whether the counter's primary job is transaction processing, product display or service consultation. That determines the height, depth and storage configuration before anything else.

Step 2: Footprint

Measure the available floor space and mark out where staff will stand, where customers queue, and where the POS and bagging area need to sit. A counter that blocks natural traffic flow will cause problems daily.

Step 3: Material and Budget

Match the material finish to how long you plan to use the counter and how hard it will be used. Timber laminate covers most retail applications at a practical price; veneer and 2-pac are worth the premium for permanent boutique fit-outs.

Step 4: Standard or Custom

Standard widths (1200mm, 1500mm, 1800mm) suit most floor plans and dispatch faster. Non-standard dimensions, curved fronts or integrated refrigeration go through customised shopfitting solutions, with quotes returned within 24 hours.

Retail Counter Installation and Delivery

A standard pre-built retail counter takes 1–3 hours to install. A custom-built counter with integrated glass, lighting and POS prep takes 4–8 hours, depending on counter size, number of glass sections, conduit routing, and whether an accessibility section is included.

Dinya Shopfittings installs Melbourne metro counters as part of the build price. Pre-assembled counters freight Australia-wide with assembly instructions or an installer referral included.

On-site requirements: clear floor space, power within 2m for tools, and a minimum 1200mm doorway clearance for a fully assembled 1500mm counter.

Get Started with Dinya Shopfittings Today

Still working out which retail counter suits your store? The Dinya team is happy to help you find the right type, size and finish for your fit-out.

Browse online, get in touch, or come into the Melbourne showroom and see the range for yourself. Custom sizes quoted within 24 hours.