The Gastronorm and 840 Systems Explained: How to Build a Modular Food Counter
Two sizing standards govern almost every professional food counter: Gastronorm (GN) and the 840 system. Gastronorm is the global sizing standard used across professional kitchens and catering, built around a 530 × 325 mm full-size module that divides into halves, thirds, quarters and sixths. The 840 system was developed to fit within a standard 840 mm deep counter, with five fixed module sizes that can be positioned horizontally or vertically to create multiple structured layouts without wasted space.
Master both, and you can reconfigure a deli, cheese or butcher's counter in minutes instead of rebuilding it: every dish, tray, slab, stand and riser shares the same footprint logic. This guide sets out the complete size tables for each system, explains why modular sizing pays off, and shows which Dalebrook ranges belong to which standard.
What is Gastronorm (GN)?
Gastronorm, commonly known as GN, is the global sizing standard used across professional kitchens and catering. Using GN-compatible products allows counters to remain adaptable, scalable and efficient: any combination of fractional sizes tiles neatly into the full 1/1 footprint, so pans, platters and displays from different suppliers all fit the same wells and chiller decks.
These are the GN sizes used across the Dalebrook range:
| GN size | Footprint (mm) | Typical use on the counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1/1 GN | 530 × 325 | Full-size base module; large platters and slabs |
| 1/2 GN | 325 × 265 | Half module; the workhorse for crocks and platters |
| 1/3 GN | 325 × 176 | Three across one full module |
| 1/4 GN | 265 × 162 | Quarter module for smaller lines |
| 1/6 GN | 176 × 162 | Smallest fraction; toppings, garnishes, tasters |
| 2/4 GN | 530 × 162 | Full width, quarter depth; long narrow displays |
Because every fraction is derived from the same 530 × 325 mm module, a 1/1 well can hold one 1/1 platter today, two 1/2 platters tomorrow, and a 1/2 plus two 1/4s at the weekend, all without a single gap.
What is the 840 system?
The 840 system was developed to fit within a standard 840 mm deep counter, the depth found across retail and fresh food environments. This footprint allows flexible configuration: products can be positioned horizontally or vertically to create multiple structured layouts without wasted space.
The system uses five module sizes:
| 840 module | Footprint (mm) |
|---|---|
| Large | 280 × 420 |
| Square | 280 × 280 |
| Medium | 280 × 210 |
| Small | 280 × 140 |
| X Small | 140 × 210 |
The arithmetic is the point: two Large modules placed end to end span 840 mm, exactly the depth of the counter. A Large plus two Medium, or a Square with a Small and two X Smalls, fill the same run. Every module is a clean fraction of the 840 mm depth, which is why layouts stay tight from the glass to the back of the counter.
Why modular sizing pays off
- No wasted space. Both systems tile completely, so the chilled deck you pay to run is covered edge to edge with saleable product, not gaps.
- Reconfigure without reinvesting. Swap a Large 840 dish for a Square plus a Small when a line changes; the counter absorbs the change instantly.
- Mix ranges freely. A GN slab, a GN crock and a GN buffet stand from different collections share the same footprint, so finishes can change while the layout holds.
- Scale across sites. A planogram built in GN or 840 modules transfers to any counter using the same standard, which keeps multi-store presentation consistent.
Dalebrook designs to these recognised professional sizing systems deliberately, to ensure flexibility and compatibility across service environments. In our shop you can put that to work directly: category pages let you filter by Gastronorm size and by 840 size, so you can shortlist only the pieces that drop into your existing layout.
How to build a modular counter: stands, platters, risers
Step 1: structure with buffet stands
Start with height at the back. Dalebrook's stackable Rectangular Buffet Stands are built to support 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 and 2/4 GN platters and come in 54 mm, 100 mm and 200 mm heights (for example TB3200, the 1/2 GN stand at 306 × 256 × 54 mm). Multiple height options create clear sight lines and improve product visibility without increasing the footprint. Browse the full line-up in our display collection.
Step 2: dress with platters and slabs
On and around the stands go the presentation surfaces. The Elements GN slabs in Urban, Tura and Carrara finishes cover every size from 1/4 GN up to the full 1/1 GN (TCN9211, 530 × 325 × 20 mm), and the Slate Effect gastro platters (such as TBS9911 in 1/1 GN) give the classic dark backdrop that makes cheese and charcuterie colours sing. For loose product, GN-footprint crocks and dishes drop into the same grid.
Step 3: layer with risers
Layered layouts guide flow and increase perceived abundance, which is why risers finish the build. HPL three-tier riser sets are engineered for demanding counters: the high-pressure laminate withstands moisture and heavy use, and the open structure allows airflow beneath chilled units, keeping food fresh during service. They are manufactured to the 840 footprint (such as TGY84063, 840 × 630 × 100 mm in Bellato Grey) with matching Gastronorm versions on a 795 mm footprint, corner and squircle sets for curved counters, five finishes and custom sizes on request. See the options on our HPL risers page.
Which Dalebrook ranges fit which system?
Built on the 840 footprint
- Aalto — five sizes plus corner shapes; the trays double as reduced-capacity inserts for their matching dishes (Large dish TB2435, 280 × 420 × 60 mm).
- Frame — designed for fresh food areas; the elevated profile keeps liquids contained and silicone feet stop movement on the counter.
- Mino — hammered-finish dishes with wider silicone feet for improved stability; the 280 × 140 × 60 mm deep dish TB8313 is a best seller.
- Mineral — matt-textured buffet dishes with light-catching particles, 1.5 to 3.3 litres, sized to the 840 mm buffet footprint.
- Wavy — the classic curved platter collection, on the 840 system footprint.
- HPL risers — the three-tier sets above, in 840 and GN versions.
Built on the Gastronorm footprint
- Elements dishes and slabs — Urban, Tura and Carrara finishes; dishes sit on silicone feet and stack when not in use.
- Fleur — melamine crocks with a shaped rim in a variety of colours, secured with silicone feet on a GN footprint.
- Slate Effect gastro platters — 1/1 to 1/4 GN in a lightweight slate look.
- Ore — the stackable hot-counter range in Gastronorm sizes.
Many more GN-compatible serving pieces live in our trays category.
The counter that never stands still
A food counter is not a fixture; it is a layout that should change with the season, the promotion and the day's delivery. Build it on Gastronorm and 840 modules and every change becomes a rearrangement rather than a refit. Pick your system, filter the shop by GN or 840 size, and every piece you add from now on will fit the last one, and the next.
