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Jun. 17, 2024
Made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, quartz countertops are arguably the most durable option for kitchens. Theyre also some of the most eye-catching. They come in a wide variety of colors, including fire-engine red and apple green, as well as earthy browns, blacks, and creams, with sparkles and veining for the look of granite or marble. But unlike natural-stone slabs, which are mined, these slabs are engineered in a factory.
Their primary ingredient is ground quartz (about 94 percent), combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also help make these counters stain and scratch resistantand nonporous, so they never need to be sealed. Compare that with granite, the reigning king of high-end countertops, which typically requires a new protective top coat at least once a year.
In the past, the biggest knock against quartz was that it lacked the patterns and color variations you get with natural stone. But thats a moot point now, with all the manufacturers offering multihued slabs with enough flecks, swirls, and random patterning to make them almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
They were once available only with a polished finish; now you can get one with a honed, sandblasted, or embossed treatment. So if its the look of matte limestone, textured slate, or glossy granite that you want, theres a quartz countertop for you. Read on for help picking one to match your budget, your cooking and cleaning needs, and your style. Well go over the pros and cons of quartz countertops so you can make the best choice.
Expect to pay about the same as you would for natural stone, around $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation.
Natural-quartz crystals are mined, then ground into a dust or an aggregate thats fused with resin binders under intense heat and pressure to form a solid slab. Pigments added during the process impart color to the countertop.
DIY or hire a pro?
Like natural stone, quartz slabs are very heavy. And though the added resins make them more flexible, they, too, can crack if not properly handled. Work only with certified installers.
Where can you buy it?
Order through kitchen-design showrooms or from home centers and big-box stores, such as The Home Depot, IKEA, and Lowes.
How long do they last?
For as long as you have your kitchen. Quartz countertop manufacturers provide warranties ranging from 10 or 15 years to lifetime, depending on the company.
Here are the pros and cons to consider when deciding to go with quartz.
Its low-maintenance.
Unlike natural stone or wood, it never needs to be sealed. Just wipe with soapy water for daily upkeep. Surface stains can be removed with a gentle cleansing scrub. Avoid scouring pads, which can dull the surface, and harsh chemicals that could break down the bonds between the quartz and resins.
Its antimicrobial.
Resin binders make quartz counters nonporous, so stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew cant penetrate the surface.
Its design-friendly.
Some makers offer jumbo slabs for uninterrupted runs of countertop. But even with standard slabs, typically 60 by 120 inches, the seams can be almost imperceptible; added resins allow cleaner cuts without chipping as stone does. The resins also make quartz more flexible than natural stone, allowing fabricators to bend and shape it into sinks or the sides of a curved island. And its versatile enough to be used on floors and wallsfabricators can even cut the slabs into standard tile sizes.
Its pricey.
Compared with DIY options, such as wood, laminate, and concrete, which can cost less than $10 per square foot, quartz, like granite, is expensiveabout $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation. Acrylic solid surfacing, another competing option, costs about $40 to $80 per square foot installed.
It cant take extreme heat.
Quartz counters are heat and scorch resistant, but only up to a point. Most manufacturers say their products can handle up to 400 degrees F, but a sudden change in temperature or sustained heat from a pan left on the counter may cause the surface to crack. To be safe, always use a trivet or a hot pad.
It cant weather outdoor use.
Install it outdoors in an uncovered area, and youll void the warranty. Direct sun beating down on it day after day can cause colors to fade or the countertop to warp or split over time. Currently, none of the major manufacturers offers an outdoor-approved quartz counter.
iStockShop around to compare colors and prices. Some quartz makers sell exclusively through big-box stores; other slabs are available only through independent kitchen and bath showrooms.
Pick your brand and color, and set up a time for a fabricator to visit your home to take measurements and make a template of the tops of your base cabinets.
Unless you are keeping existing fixtures, you supply the dimensions for the sink and faucet cutouts as well as any drop-in appliances, such as a cooktop.
Get a price quote and place your order. Once the fabricator knows the complexity of the installation, including the edge profile, number of slabs, and cutout details, they can quote the actual cost of the entire job.
Wait, but not too long. Assuming your base cabinets are in and your kitchen is otherwise complete, the fabricator can get the slab from the distributor or direct from the manufacturer and shape it to your specs in about a week.
If youre using multiple slabs, consider asking the fabricator to get them from the same manufacturing batch to ensure the best possible match.
Schedule the installation. The fabricator lays the slab directly on top of cabinets; in general, no plywood underlayment is required. Its held in place with silicone-based construction adhesive, and any seams between slabs are filled with color-matched epoxy resin.
Undermount sinks are installed with clips (and sometimes wood braces) that attach to the underside of the countertop. Expect installation for a typical kitchen to take from a few hours to a day.
Brown veining against a sand background. Giallo Michelangelo, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.*
*All prices include installation.
Recycled-glass flecks glisten in a blue-gray base. Calm Springs, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.
Earthy recycled-glass particles add sparkle. Forest Snow, Eco by Cosentino, about $62-$78 per sq. ft.; ecobycosentino.com
Tan watermarks speckle a brown base. Vintage Limestone, Viatera by LG, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
Vibrant blue highlighted with translucent particles. Celestial Blue, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.
Small iridescent blue and charcoal flecks. Waterford, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
Gray striations for the look of Carrara. Tranquility RU613, HanStone, $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Solid turquoise with a contemporary feel. Slice of Ice CW102, HanStone, about $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Reddish-brown lines mimic veining. Ivory Wave MV620, HanStone, about $55-$95 persq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Black and gray-blue streaks against taupe and cream. Praa Sands, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A lively solid. Green Fun, Silestone by Cosentino, about $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Subtle cream veins look nature-inspired. Piatra Grey, Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Granite-like veins and light-reflecting crystals. Canterbury, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
Metallic flecks impart shine. Chrome, Silestone by Cosentino, about $70-$89 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Gray-toned particles and swirls on white. Atlantic Salt, Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Thin white lines overlay a jet-black base. Black Knight , Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
A matte-finish warm gray. Altair, Silestone by Cosentino, about $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Copper-colored flecks add depth. Mariposa Buff MV410, Samsung, about $50-$60 per sq. ft.; staron.com
This sandy hue has faint color gradations. Sugar Storm, Viatera, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
A granular texture imitates fossil and shell fragments. Natural Limestone, Viatera, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
Like a slice of blue mineral chunks. Ocean Palace , Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
It doesnt get much more luxurious than a semiprecious-stone countertop formed from real slices of colorful quarried crystals, such as agate and amethyst. Added resins work like a glue to bind the gems together into a continuous countertop while also making it stain and scratch resistant. These opulent tops would add a dramatic look to a small kitchen island, a built-in bar, or a powder-room vanity.
Shown: Concetto Collection in Brown Agate, Rose Quartz, and Tiger Eye, about $400 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Just about any edge profile that you can get with stone can be replicated with quartz. The standard eased edge, slightly rounded over so that there arent any sharp angles, and the more fanciful ogee, which resembles an S curve on its side, are two of the most popular treatments.
Your fabricator will help you select an edge that suits your kitchens style and the countertops thicknesstypically ½, ¾, or 1¼ inchesand will shape the profile using a template provided by the manufacturer. Fabricators can also do custom designs, such as a chiseled, raw edge (shown) or a gently cascading three-level waterfall-style profile. Keep in mind that the more complex the edge, the higher the cost.
Shown: Desert Limestone with chiseled edge, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
This slate-gray countertop has a muted, lived-in look to match the zinc stools and the weather-beaten-steel pendant light. Open shelves and painted cabinets with bin-pull drawer hardware add to the kitchens homey appeal.
Shown: Fieldstone, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A white countertop with subtle gray veining, a glossy finish, and a simple eased edge makes a crisp contrast with the green-painted cabinets and sleek stainless-steel fixtures and appliances.
Shown: Misty Carrera, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Two warm countertop colors complement the stained wood cabinets. A washstand-style curved backsplash behind the range adds a vintage note. On the island, a 5-inch mitered edge profile gives the work surface a chunky, furniture-like look.
Shown: Nottingham (perimeter), and Sussex (island), about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A black-and-white color combination is always a classic. Here, the dark countertop pairs with the lighter perimeter cabinets. The contrasting scheme is reversed on the island, where an ogee edge profile adds an extra dose of sophistication.
Similar to shown: Zodiaq Galaxy Black and Cloud White, $60-$100 per sq. ft.
You wont find ready-made slabs for kitchen counters, but home centers now offer smaller bathroom vanity tops with faucet drillings and undermount-sink cutouts. Expect to pay $350 to $900 for a vanity top, depending on the size and color.
Home-furnishings manufacturers are also catching on to the pluses of quartz. Room & Board offers dining, cocktail, accent, and counter-height tables with five different quartz-top options and a choice of bases.
Get a custom-look vanity for less by wedding a prefab counter (sink included) with a stock cabinet.
Shown: Solieque Bisque Baroque, from $640; homedepot.com
You arent just limited to using quartz in the kitchen, check out these smart and unique use-cases.
Mix and match quartz tops and wood bases for an updated farmhouse table.
Shown: Linden walnut table with white quartz top, from $1,700; roomandboard.com
Unlike marble, quartz wont be marred by an errant splash of bath oil.
Shown: Blizzard, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Quartz is antimicrobial, so it wont harbor bacteria from soiled clothes. Just be sure to clean up bleach spills quickly to prevent damage.
Shown: Brentwood, $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
In a fully tiled shower, a corner seat crafted from a quartz remnant means fewer grout lines to keep clean.
Similar to shown: Ultra White, $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
You can stop worrying about red-wine rings; because quartz is nonporous, vino cant penetrate it.
Similar to shown: Tranquility, about $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Quartz can withstand very high temperatures as long as the heat is indirect. So go ahead and surround your firebox with it.
Shown: Concrete, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
By topping your nightstand with quartz, you wont need a coaster to keep morning coffee or tea spills from staining.
Shown: Ashford, $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
Several key factors determine what youll pay to install new quartz countertops in your home. Understanding these cost factors allows you to estimate your overall investment and look for ways to save money.
The biggest component of your total quartz countertops cost is the price of the engineered quartz slabs themselves. Prices range from $40 to more than $100 per square foot depending on the brand, color patterns, and thickness. Thicker slabs over 3 cm and premium designer colors or patterns cost more.
You can expect to spend around $50 to $70 per square foot for most mid-range quartz countertop slabs from leading brands like Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone, and Vicostone. The total cost obviously goes up the more surface area you need old countertops to cover.
In addition to the quartz itself, youll need to pay professional quartz countertop prices and installation costs. This includes:
Initial Template and Fabrication $200 to $500
Delivery $100 to $500
Installation Labor $40 to $100 per hour
Minor Electrical, Plumbing, and Carpentry work to remove old counters/sinks, install new sink cutouts, etc.
In total, expect to invest $2,000 to $4,500 or more to hire countertop professionals to fabricate and install your new quartz surfaces properly, depending on the scope of work needed.
A few additional considerations also impact the total project cost:
With competitive price and timely delivery, sailquartz sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Backsplashes Integrating backsplashes add $10 to $25 per square foot
Edges & Treatments Decorative edges like ogee, bevel, and bullnose run $15 to $30 per linear foot
Sink Cutouts Specialized sink cutouts add $100 to $500+ per opening
Removal & Disposal Taking out old laminate or tile counters costs $2 to $6 per square foot
Getting estimates from local countertop installation pros is the best way to gauge precise costs based on your kitchen or bath layout, materials selected, and installation requirements.
Now that you know what goes into pricing quartz and granite countertops together, what is the typical overall investment for a new kitchen or bath installation?
The average total cost to purchase and install quartz counters falls between $3,000 and $4,500. However, its common to spend anywhere from $2,000 up to $6,000 or more depending on several cost factors:
Quartz prices per square foot Low to high-end material grades
Surface area needed Smaller galley kitchens to larger open layouts
Edge treatments Standard to premium decorative edges
Cutouts Number/complexity of sink or cooktop cutouts
Labor rates Regional variances in installation costs
Use $80 per square foot as an approximate midpoint for estimating purposes if youre planning for new higher-end quartz kitchen countertops with a backsplash and standard edge detail.
Actual costs can be lower or higher for different quality slabs, installation requirements, and depending on your geographic area.
Quartz often costs more than laminate or ceramic tile but is comparable to or cheaper than many other countertop materials, especially natural stone. Heres how quartz counters stack up cost-wise against popular alternatives:
Laminate $20 to $50 per square foot
Tile $10 to $40 per square foot
Butcher Block $30 to $70 per square foot
Concrete $50 to $100 per square foot
Soapstone $70 to $100 per square foot
Marble $60 to $150+ per square foot
Granite $80 to $150 per square foot
So while not the absolute cheapest option, quartz delivers serious value, especially for a low-maintenance solid surface that competes favorably with premium materials like granite.
While quartz counters offer an attractive combination of aesthetics, performance, and affordability, several design choices can drive your total investment up quickly:
Kitchens with more extensive countertop square footage especially open floor plans integrating an island require larger, darker quartz countertops slabs and more installation time, increasing costs. Adding quartz surfaces in multiple bathrooms also ups the price tag proportionally.
While a standard eased or rounded top edge is the most affordable, decorative treatments like ogee, DuPont, triple bullnose, or mitered add from $3,000+ for a full kitchen.
Standard rectangular sink or stove cutouts are simple to fabricate. However incorporating a lot of cutouts for vessels, cooktops, trivets, etc, or special edge details around openings increases costs.
Vivid saturated solids along with luxury patterns or imported stones cost over 50% more than mainstream whites, grays, and blacks, sometimes exceeding $100 per square foot.
Most quartz counters are made from 2 cm slabs. Going up to a 3 cm thickness boosts durability but also increases cost by 25% or more. Jumbo slabs run up charges exponentially.
Leading manufacturers like Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone already command a 10-20% premium over secondary brands. Designer collections from these companies run even higher.
With the many factors that change quartz pricing, it pays to understand where upgrades drive your budget up the most. Having realistic expectations of costs allows you to allocate your spend appropriately to best match your space, functionality requirements, and style priorities.
If your quartz quote came in higher than expected, dont lose hope! Here are smart ways to scale back expenses without sacrificing overall quality:
Stick with a mainstream brand to save up to 20% over boutique designer labels
Ask about remnant pieces for discount quartz perfect for narrow walls or islands
Use a simplified edge style like standard eased or pencil round
See if your contractor offers free sink cutouts some do!
Install the backsplash yourself after the counters are in
Choose a 2 cm thickness unless you need extra durability
See if DIY big box stores offer lower prices on popular colors
Supplement with ceramic tile islands matching your counters
Shopping sales and clearance for quartz remnants, taking on some finish work yourself, and keeping countertop edges even and thickness modest offer the simplest ways to reduce costs without affecting durability or function. And be sure to get at least 3 quotes from reputable local contractors to stimulate countertop pricing competition!
If youve started seriously pricing quartz counters from different manufacturers, youve likely noticed a wide range of prices and qualities even among leading brands! Heres a look at some of the top national companies producing and installing quartz countertops along with typical per-square-foot costs:
Caesarstone Founded in Israel, Caesarstone remains an industry leader, offering around 50 colors and styles, including some with up to 93% quartz content. Their slabs run from $50 to $89 per square foot installation-ready.
Cambria Based in Minnesota, Cambria has over 120 premium quartz products. They are known for striking designs but their signature quartz comes at a premium $65 to $95 per square foot common.
Silestone Part of the Cosentino Group in Spain, Silestone boasts over 70 vivid colors and patterns. Mid-grade options run around $55 to $75 per square foot.
Vicostone This fast-growing brand founded in Vietnam offers two tiers: the Prime+ line from $50 to $65 per square foot and the premium Royalstone selection topping $100 per square foot.
In addition, home improvement stores tend to keep costs on the more affordable end for stock colors and smaller projects, charging $45 to $65 per square foot supplied and fabricated.
Local and regional brands vary widely in quality and pricing, so be sure to vet options thoroughly and look for a quartz slab that comes with long warranties against defects before purchasing. Reviews of fab shops using the slabs can provide helpful insight as well into durability.
In addition to the engineered quartz materials themselves, labor cost for fabricating and installing counters properly makes up a significant portion of your total project investment. Here is a closer look at typical charges to expect:
Local countertop shops use the dimensions of your existing counters or take measurements to craft a template. This is used to fabricate your counters to be installed later. Expect to be charged around $400 for templating and fabrication fees.
Most quotes include at least one basic cutout for an under-mount kitchen or bathroom sink at no additional cost. Some charge $100 to $200 per opening. Complex cutouts for cooktops or trivets cost $200 to $500 in extra fabrication fees.
It costs around $100 to $300 to carefully transport your finished quartz pieces from the fabricator to your home, including unloading, staging, and removing packaging debris.
Typical installer hourly labor runs $50 to $120 based on regional rates and company reputation. Count on spending $800 to $2,500 or more depending on the scope. Island counters, tile demolition/disposal, and other variables affect the labor costs.
Installing a matching quartz backsplash adds at least $400 but often runs $700 to $1,500 or more. The exact price depends on the amount of linear footage needed and tile height.
Minor plumbing, electrical, or carpentry repairs to update sinks, fixtures, walls, etc bump overall project fees up further. However, addressing issues now prevents problems down the road.
If going completely DIY on quartz countertop colors and the installation seems daunting, another option is to purchase pre-fab quartz pieces from home improvement stores. While still heavy and challenging to install perfectly, this lets you supply the materials at wholesale costs. You would then just hire local countertop pros or carpenters for an hourly rate to install your counters.
Fortunately, you arent necessarily stuck paying top dollar if your budget is tight. There are a few options to equip your home with beautiful new quartz surfaces without overspending, including:
Pricing quartz by the slab means paying for large surface areas, even if your counters dont need that much material. Some home improvement warehouses sell pre-cut stock sizes of popular quartz colors at nearly half the per-square-foot cost of full slabs. If you can work with narrower 25 depths and standard 8 lengths to minimize seams, this is an affordable choice that Professional installers can still work with.
Speaking of DYI, ambitious homeowners with some construction experience can buy quartz remnant slabs or pieces to fabricate for their own kitchen or bath remodels. While certainly not easy work, this lets you supply the real stone yourself at a low cost. You would then just pay local countertop or carpentry pros hourly installation rates to complete the job, avoiding paying retail markups and fabricator fees.
Another DIY-friendly option is using large-format porcelain, ceramic, or natural quartz tile rather than a fully integrated slab. Highly realistic 12 x 24 tiles are available from top brands like Caesarstone and Silestone, often at less than $10 per square foot. And professional tile installers can handle the template and precise cutting work fairly affordably. The grout lines add visual breaks that can hide imperfections from DIY installations.
Lastly, check smaller nearby stone yards, importers, and distributors for quartz deals. Without big brand name markups, you can sometimes source remnant slabs or stock colors for $10 to $15 less per square foot than nationally known labels. Just be diligent about vetting quartz quality, warranty coverage, and the reputation of your fabricator.
Saving on costs doesnt need to mean settling for laminate! With handy tips like these, you can still enjoy natural quartz surfaces at affordable prices.
Now that you know approximate per-square-foot to install quartz countertops, prices and options to lower costs, lets examine true full installation expenses. Below is a sample price estimate for installing 30 square feet of new Caesarstone quartz counters including a sink cutout and standard eased edge in a suburban Midwest home.
Note regional rates result in slightly lower nationwide installation charges on average than coastal markets. Rural areas also tend to hit the low ranges while major metros can reach the higher ends due to cost of living differences.
Materials 30 sq ft of $75 per sq ft Caesarstone quartz = $2,250
Sink Cutout Fabrication 1 basic cutout at $0 = $0
Edging 30 linear ft eased edge at $2 per ft = $60
Template and Fabrication Fees $400 flat charge
Delivery 1 truckload flat fee = $150
Installation 2 workers x 2 days x $100 per hour = $1,600
Backsplash Install (DIY sourced) $0
Tax ~10% on materials = $226
Total Investment = $4,686
As you can see, a professionally installed higher-end quartz kitchen countertop upgrade averaging $150 per square foot all-in fits squarely in the middle of the typical range. And that allows for a premium brand, full custom fabrication and installation, durable eased edging, taxes, etc.
Based on the breakdown above, you could potentially trim $800 or more off by installing your own tile backsplash, choosing a budget quartz line, or handling other finish work yourself. Or costs might rise closer to $6,000+ if you have a larger kitchen, opt for thicker materials, exotic imported stones, hand-polished edges, or intricate cutouts.
Either way, understanding precisely what goes into the cost of new quartz counters helps avoid budget pitfalls. Be sure to get itemized estimates from at least three local quartz countertop installation companies to compare bids effectively.
In addition to kitchen overhauls, quartz makes an exceptional (and eye-catching) upgrade over worn laminate bathroom counters and dated ceramic tile. The water-resistant, non-porous makeup stands up to splashes and humidity while adding modern style.
So how much does installing a new quartz vanity top run compared to other counters? Here is a realistic breakdown:
Laminate $200 to $400
Cultured Marble $350 to $700
Quartz $500 to $1,200
Granite $800 to $1,500
Marble $1,200 to $2,000+
At $75 to $100 per square foot installed, clear-edged slab quartz offers serious value, outpricing natural stone options. And the variety of colors suits modern, transitional, or traditional spaces beautifully.
Are Quartz Countertops Worth It?
With mid-range prices higher than basic options like laminate, are quartz counters ultimately worth the extra investment? Given consumer trends and the huge functional benefits quartz offers, the answer for most homeowners is a clear yes!
Installing new quartz surfaces makes excellent sense in your home renovation budget because:
Quartz matches or beats granite and other high-end natural stones for visual elegance and luxury appeal. Even designer brands cost less than exotic marbles or soapstones.
The stain, scratch, and heat resistance stands up better than almost any material, retaining beauty despite busy kitchens.
Simple cleaning and maintenance needs also minimize lifetime ownership costs.
The added resale value of $1,000+ per kitchen makes upgrades worthwhile. Stats show that modernized kitchens and baths sell homes faster and for higher prices.
Extended warranties against defects provide lasting peace of mind.
Quartz offers great flexibility too integrating beautifully as kitchen islands, bathroom vanities, laundry rooms, bar tops, fireplace surrounds, and everywhere else an extremely durable yet eye-catching surface is valued. That versatile, upscale functionality at mid-range prices seals the decision for many homeowners.
The company is the world’s best Super Jumbo Quartz Slabs supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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