Built IN and Built UNDER ovens...what's the difference?

[Briony32]

Does anyone know what the difference is?
I want to buy a double oven (60cm wide) to fit in an Ikea kitchen. I will buy a separate integrated hob from Ikea but want to get the double oven from somewhere else as Ikea don't do single width double ovens (one on top of other). I don't know if we'll need a carcass or not.
I've been looking at appliances online, and they talk about Built IN and Built UNDER. Is there a difference?
www.ao.com/l/double_ovens-built_in/1-9/42-46/

Built under has a height restriction of 720mm. Built in can be up to 1200mm.

Mainly due to height restrictions of work surfaces for a built under.

Built in usually go at midlevel in cupboard space.

Built under is under the hob. Built in is eye level

If you have the choice, go for built in so the oven is at eye level. It's much easier to see stuff in the oven, and to lift out heavy dishes, if you don't have to bend down.

We swapped last year from a range cooker to a built-in oven, and I would never go back.

Built In is also safer if there are children around

IKEA do have single width built in double ovens. I've got one. Bought about 2 months ago.

Yes IKEA do double built in ovens. As explained its at eye level. You will need a carcass for it to go in.

Thanks people. I should have said I wanted an under the work surface type oven as an eye level one doesn't fit in with kitchen layout. So that would be built UNDER. We are having a kitchen design rethink though due to recent building work so will take on board your comments about eye level being better.....

They are not very glamorous but a freestanding cooker/mini range is your best bet for a decent sized double oven under the worktop. Otherwise you just lose lots of space to the cupboard you put it in. I see the ergonomic advantage of a waist-level (not literally eye level) oven but we just could not make it work with our layout.
Obviously you have to clean round it from time to time but as a cooker I'm very happy with mine and I don't find personally find the bending a chore - it's a compromise but we are OK with it.

As an alternative could you have your double oven in one of those mid-height (about 1500mm high) units e.g. like this. There is nothing to stop your fitter sawing the top off a taller IKEA unit or installing the oven at a different level if you want. - it's just pieces of chipboard.

I like the idea of a freestanding range RaisingSteam but husband prefers not. I think they are good as you can take them with you when you come to sell.

Do you mean one like this? www.ao.com/product/BC3913TCSS-Baumatic-Dual-Fuel-Range-Cooker-Stainless-Steel-30196.aspx They seem a bit expensive at £590 and this is the cheapest.....

Well more like this sort which is a double oven in a 60cm space. I think £600 ish is about the going rate for a decent one but then you don't have to buy a cupboard or hob separately. It took me ages to get over the feeling it was the sort of thing my mother's generation would choose but now it's in, I don't really notice the look. A 90cm one would have looked more contemporary but I need the cupboard space.