The cheapest place to cut a corner
Nobody chooses a kitchen because of its edge banding, and almost every kitchen that looks tired after three years is tired at the edges first.
Edge banding - the detail that decides how furniture ages
Edge banding is the strip that seals the exposed edge of a board. It stops moisture getting into the core and it is the first thing to fail on cheap furniture. Thickness matters: 0.8mm to 2mm PVC survives daily knocks, while thin 0.45mm tape lifts at corners. Laser or PUR bonding leaves no visible glue line.
Last reviewed by R. Jaya Kumar, Founder on 15 September 2026.
Edge banding compared
| Type | Durability | Visible glue line | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.45mm PVC | Low - lifts at corners over time | Usually visible | Internal, low-contact edges | ₹ |
| 0.8mm PVC | Medium | Slight | General carcass edges | ₹ |
| 2mm PVC or ABS | High - takes knocks and cleaning | Slight, with a softened radius | Shutter edges and any edge you touch daily | ₹₹ |
| Laser or PUR bonded | High - sealed, no gap for water | None | Premium shutters, wet zones | ₹₹₹ |
Where we use it
Wardrobe + window seat
Bedroom
Common mistakes
- Accepting 0.45mm tape on kitchen shutter edges. It is the cheapest saving in a quote and the most visible failure two years later.
- Leaving internal cut edges unbanded where the eye does not go but water does - the underside of a sink base, for example.
- Matching the band to the laminate by eye rather than by decor code.
Questions
How thick should edge banding be?
On edges you touch every day - shutters and drawer fronts - 2mm is worth the small extra cost, because it survives fingernails, cleaning cloths and the vacuum cleaner. Internal edges that nobody touches can be thinner. Ask for the thickness to be written into the quote rather than assumed.
What is laser edge banding?
A method that melts a functional layer on the band itself instead of using a separate glue line, so the joint reads as a single piece with no dark seam. It looks cleaner and, because there is no glue gap, water has nowhere to enter. It costs more and needs the right machine.
Can edge banding be repaired?
A lifted edge can be re-bonded, and a damaged band can be replaced on most shutters without remaking the shutter. What cannot be undone is the swelling underneath if water has already reached the core, which is exactly why the band matters.
See it, don't just read it
Our experience centre in Belathur has the actual samples, and a working kitchen built from them.