Price of Granite Quartz Marble Countertops

Expect prices for granite, quartz, and marble countertops to range from $45 to $200 per square foot, including installation. One way to reduce the price of granite countertops is to opt for a thinner slab. Use a 3/4″ thick stone instead of the typical 1-1/4″ thickness.

Once you’ve established the budget for your bathroom or kitchen remodel project, the next step is to identify the types of countertops that match your budget. Knowing the cost of different countertops can also help you decide on the amount of counter space you need, allowing you to rework the plans early in the project if necessary.

The cost of a countertop depends on the material price and the quantity needed to cover your cabinets, islands, vanities, and similar surfaces. There are attractive bathroom and kitchen countertop options for every budget, starting at $35 per square foot installed and going up to over $200. This guide primarily focuses on the costs for kitchen and bathroom countertops.

If you’re still searching for countertop materials, our countertop guides contain a wealth of information, including the pros and cons of countertops for all material options. Here’s an overview of countertop cost comparisons, factors affecting price, and how to save money on each material without sacrificing the quality of professional installation.

We also evaluate ongoing maintenance costs for each material based on their need for sealing regularly and the cost of cleaning products and possible repairs. Ratings are low, moderate, and high.

Note: We aim for price consistency throughout the site, but prices change quickly in the countertop industry. New products in each material type arrive on the market and could either reduce or increase the cost range limits.

MARBLE COUNTERTOP COST

Marble is ultra-luxurious, although it’s a bit of a diva. If you’re willing to take care of your marble countertops, they will maintain their beautiful appearance for the lifetime of your home. The key is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for sealing, use, daily care, and cleaning. A Calacatta marble kitchen countertop is not recommended for heavy use or in areas where young children might not take the necessary precautions to avoid staining and chipping.

Marble countertop: $75 to $250 per square foot
Maintenance costs: high

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON MARBLE COUNTERTOPS:

Install marble tiles instead of slabs. Choose more affordable marble shades and colors. This doesn’t mean the material is any less beautiful.

Some of the most common colors are considered the most beautiful, although personal preferences vary considerably. Taking good care of the countertops will also reduce maintenance and repair costs.

GRANITE COUNTERTOP COST

While marble intimidates many homeowners, granite is enthusiastically embraced. With its rise in popularity, prices have become more reasonable, especially for granite tiles. Like marble, follow the care guidelines (which are more flexible than those for marble) and you’ll have countertops for a lifetime.

Granite countertop cost: $45 to $200 per square foot
Maintenance costs: moderate to high

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON GRANITE COUNTERTOPS:

Install tiles instead of slabs; if you choose slabs, select a more common granite color and style, which doesn’t mean less attractive. Consider installing a wooden border on your granite countertops, which can protect against expensive chips.

QUARTZ COUNTERTOP COST

Sometimes called simply quartz, other times called engineered stone, it is a beautiful product. It offers a greater variety of colors than granite and can also withstand better under certain conditions, although it doesn’t quite match the raw beauty of granite. One of the advantages of an engineered product is that pigment can be added to produce a wider range of colors than found in natural stone. However, the color is consistent rather than varied like natural stone. Polymer binders and resins are mixed with 90% crushed quartz to create a shiny, non-porous, highly durable countertop.

Quartz countertop cost: $55 to $155 per square foot
Maintenance costs: low

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS:

As with other materials, tiles cost much less than slabs. However, your cost savings are somewhat offset by the fact that tiles may require more time and material to install, increasing labor costs.