Double Ovens vs Single Ovens: Which Is Right for Your Kitchen?

Single and double ovens explained

How they compare at a glance

Single ovens in depth

The main practical advantage of a single oven is capacity. A dedicated single cavity of 70 litres or more gives you more usable space for large joints, full roasting trays, and multiple shelf levels than the main cavity in most double ovens, where physical height is shared between two compartments. If you regularly cook large Sunday roasts or bake large batches in one go, a large single oven often serves that purpose better than a double.

Single ovens also make more sense in standard kitchen layouts where a tall housing unit has not been planned. They slot into a 60cm wide cabinet at worktop level or slightly above, and installation is generally more straightforward than a column double oven requiring purpose-built cabinetry.

For smaller households or anyone who typically cooks one dish at a time, heating a single large cavity for every meal is also more energy-efficient than maintaining two cavities. Running only what you need is the most practical approach when the second cavity would rarely be used.

Double ovens in depth

The core advantage of a double oven is the ability to cook at two different temperatures simultaneously, without any compromise between them. Roasting a joint at 200°C in the main cavity while baking a sponge at 160°C in the top, or running the grill in the upper oven while the main oven finishes a casserole: these are situations where a double oven removes the juggling that single-oven cooking requires.

This matters most for households that regularly cook multi-course meals, batch cook for the week, or cook for more than four people regularly. The time saved in meal preparation compounds over weeks and months of regular use, which is why households that cook frequently often find a double oven pays back its higher cost in convenience.

Built-in column double ovens position both cavities at a comfortable working height, which also has an ergonomic benefit: no bending to reach the main oven. Built-under models offer two cavities in a standard under-worktop format and are a more compact option where a tall housing unit is not part of the kitchen plan.

Installation and space considerations

Installation is a meaningful practical consideration and one the original purchase decision often underestimates.

Single oven installation

A standard single built-in oven fits a 60cm wide housing unit and requires a cut-out height of approximately 595mm. Built-under models sit below the worktop in the same standard unit width. Both can be fitted by a kitchen installer or competent person and connect via a standard 13-amp plug in the case of lower-powered models, or a hardwired connection for higher-powered multifunction models. Replacing a single oven with another single oven is generally the least disruptive installation scenario.

Column double oven installation

A column built-in double oven requires a purpose-built tall housing unit, typically 888mm to 900mm in height with a standard 60cm width. This unit must be specified at the kitchen design stage; retrofitting a column oven into a kitchen not originally planned for one involves cabinetry modifications. The CATA UBDO901 models, for example, have a product height of 890mm and require a corresponding housing unit.

Built-under double oven installation

A built-under double oven fits beneath the worktop in a standard 60cm wide base unit, making it a more accessible option for kitchens not designed around column housing. The trade-off is that both cavities are below worktop height, which means more bending when loading and unloading.

CATA double ovens

The CATA double oven range currently centres on the UBDO901 column built-in models, available in black glass and stainless steel finishes. Both share the same 90cm housing format and offer a large main cavity with true fan cooking alongside a smaller, independently controlled top cavity.

For single oven options, the CATA single oven range includes models from 54 to 78 litres across multifunction and fan-assisted configurations.

Which should you choose?

The decision comes down to three honest questions: how often do you genuinely need two cooking environments at once, does your kitchen have room for a column housing unit, and does the additional cost make sense for your cooking habits?

A single oven is the right answer for most people. If your household typically cooks one or two dishes per meal, rarely entertains large groups, and values simplicity and cost-efficiency, a well-specified single oven handles everything you need without the overhead of two cavities to manage. A large-capacity single oven often provides more practical usable space for the kind of cooking most families actually do.

A double oven earns its extra cost if you cook multi-course meals regularly, batch cook for the week, or frequently host gatherings where timing multiple dishes at different temperatures matters. If you already have or are planning a tall housing unit as part of a kitchen renovation, this is the moment to install a column double oven. Retrofitting later is expensive.

Built-under double ovens offer a middle path: two cavities in a standard base unit footprint, without requiring new tall cabinetry. They are worth considering for any household that wants the flexibility of two cavities but is working within an existing kitchen layout.

Frequently asked questions