Ranking Granite vs Quartz vs Marble Countertops

Granite vs Quartz vs Marble: Countertop Cost Comparison

Quartz and granite are better “bang for your buck” options for most homeowners.

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The difference in cost between low-grade and high end countertop materials is massive, even when the material is the same. Homeowners can easily spend $100+ more per square foot for luxury countertop material over budget options.

To standardize our cost comparison, we chose to compare granite, quartz and marble on the average cost of mid-range, builder grade materials.

Granite countertops: Mid-range price, mid-range quality

Mid-grade countertop granite costs approximately $90-150 fully installed in most parts of America. Unlike quartz composite, granite is a fully natural stone countertop material, which is the primary factor in its cost.

What affects the cost of granite countertops?

The primary cost driver of granite happens after installation. Granite’s porous nature is susceptible to absorbing liquids and germs (more on that later) — it must be re-sealed and maintained on an annual basis to retain its look and value.

Quartz countertops: Budget friendly countertop option

Builder grade, mid-range quartz for countertops cost approximately $65-110 per square foot, installed. Most countertop quartz used in American homes is mined in Brazil, and shipping the raw materials accounts for a bulk of their cost.

What affects the cost of quartz countertops?

The primary driver of quartz cost is fabrication and delivery. Quartz countertops are composite slabs — about 80% quartz (or quartzite) and 20% resin and polymers to increase hardness. Your quartz slab is mined in South America, and either fabricated there or shipped to a U.S. facility for construction.

Marble countertops: Luxury design upgrade option

Expect to pay no less than $125-150 per square foot for fully fabricated and installed marble counters. It’s common for the price of quality marble installation to reach $200+ per square foot.

Don't believe articles that claim “a new countertop made of marble” costs $60/square foot. Those prices reflect extremely low end material and are for a plain slab — they do not account for delivery, fabrication or installation.

What affects the cost of marble countertops?

The cost of marble is primarily driven by its perception as a luxury item. Marble is certainly a gorgeous stone material and coveted by luxury homeowners — but marble’s “street cred” still inflates its market value higher than other stone surfaces.

Buying a new countertop for your Dallas-Fort Worth kitchen? Make sure you read the upcoming HOMR Buying Guide that ranks the top Dallas countertop companies.

Granite vs Quartz vs Marble Countertops: Durability and ease of care Rankings

You can’t measure the durability of a countertop material with one metric. An extremely hard stone countertop may still be susceptible to heat damage, and a heat resistant material can still be porous and allow liquids to permeate its surface.

To get a true overall view of their durability, we ranked granite, quartz and marble in 5 important categories:

• Overall Hardness
• Moisture Resistance
• Germ Resistance 
• Chip and Scratch Resistance
• Heat Resistance

Let’s examine how easy it is to maintain and care for granite, quartz and marble countertops before we reveal our final durability rankings.

Granite: average durability, but great for cooks and home chefs

Granite countertops are easier than marble to care for, and slightly more difficult to maintain than quartz. Granite is the right countertop material for homeowners looking for highly heat resistant material that won't experience many spills or exposure to acidic liquids.

Proper annual sealing of your granite slab will be your best friend and ensure less bacteria and liquids seep into the otherwise porous granite material.

Best for: Heat resistance, scratch resistance

Shortcomings: Porous and susceptible to bacteria and liquid retention

Annual sealing required? Yes
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Quartz: highly scratch resistant, poor heat resistance

Quartz and quartzite countertop material is harder than marble and granite, and the most resistant to chips and scratches. The manufactured stone is enhanced with resin and polymers to eliminate porous sections, making quartz incredibly germ-resistant and safe against liquid spills.

The one drawback of a quartz kitchen countertop is a lack of heat resistance. Don't place hot pots, pans or baking sheets on your quartz counters — signs of scorch and burn damage will appear quickly.

Best for: Moisture resistance, anti-bacterial nature

Shortcomings: Poor heat resistance

Annual sealing required? No
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Marble: Beautiful, but high maintenance

Caring for marble counters is more difficult than granite or quartz. Marble is easier to scratch and chip than both of them, and it absorbs stains from food pigments — don't leave sauces and other spills on marble for long.

Marble isn't quite as heat resistant as granite, but it performs better than quartz in this department. Marble countertops are generally heat resistant up to 350°F-375°F.

Best for: Luxury aesthetics

Shortcomings: Porous material that stains easily

Annual sealing required? Yes
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Granite vs. Quartz vs. Marble: How to Design with Each Material

The best stone countertop material for kitchen design comes down to personal style and preference.

As one former kitchen remodeling contractor told us. “It's basically deciding which rock you think looks prettier.”

There are beautiful ways to incorporate granite, quartz and marble counters into your overall kitchen design. Let’s look at a few trendy and timeless design options for each.

Granite countertop design: go bold and feature veins

Trendy homeowners are turning to bolder, darker tones of granite slab for their kitchen countertops. Earth tone and black are the 2 most popular non-white granite countertop colors. Black is a striking, luxurious choice that will instantly become a conversation starter.

Be sure to pair darker countertops with plenty of light sources, especially in kitchens without many windows. Try black granite for a luxurious touch in smaller or narrower kitchen spaces — they look great in galley kitchens.

Quartz countertop kitchen design trends

White quartz counters are wildly popular in modern kitchen design. White quartz brings a fresh, clean look to transitional and modern farmhouse kitchens while taking a backseat in your overall color scheme.

We like Silestone by Cosentino products for their versatile array of white quartz countertops. Popular quartz Silestone countertop colors include Silestone Miami Vena (a white marbled aesthetic) and Silestone Blanco Maple (off-white).

Marble countertop kitchen design is all about luxury finishes

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Marble countertops and island counters work best in timeless, traditional kitchen design. If your kitchen is more of a showpiece and less of a “working kitchen”, marble is a wonderful option. (If you’re working with food and liquids often, be very careful with marble’s porous nature.)

Carrera marble is well-liked as a more affordable marble brand — but if you’re going to splurge, why not really splurge? We like Vermont Danby marble for its white color and light veining. It’s also one of the harder marble options on the market.

Why do homeowners equate marble with luxury design?

So why is marble still the epitome of luxury kitchen design? Old habits die hard — and in the case of marble, very old habits. The ancient Greeks valued marble as a sign of wealth, power and status. Over 2,500 years later, marble is still the gold standard of elegant kitchen materials.

Unlike quartz slab — which is a partially man-made material — marble is natural stone. That means there’s a limited supply, and limited supply of a luxury material only drives its value higher. No matter how much granite and quartz beat marble on price and durability, marble still wins the day in luxury home kitchen design.

Want a more in-depth comparison of granite countertops vs quartz countertops? Check out our upcoming HOMR Buying Guide and see if engineered quartz is really a better option than natural stone granite.