Countertop prices installed

Countertops can be installed in traditional, indoor, and outdoor kitchens. You may find some materials perform poorly outdoors, depending on your climate. Ultimately, the cost is dependent on the material cost and amount needed. Below are the average costs based on the most common sizes for indoor and outdoor kitchens. Most outdoor kitchens need between 12 and 20 square feet of material. If your kitchen requires more or less material, your costs could be different.

Low-cost materials like laminate do not perform well in outdoor kitchens. However, most solid materials do, except for concrete in cold climates. Solid surface, most stones, and recycled glass perform well in this environment. Most kitchens need around 30 sq. Some larger kitchens may need up to 40 sq. You can also have smaller galley kitchens or larger kitchens with islands 1 , peninsulas 2 , and perimeter countertops. Your costs could be higher or lower than average in both instances.

Many countertops work well in the kitchen. Determining the right one for your space depends on your lifestyle, home, and preferences. The kitchen countertop material impacts the price and your lifestyle.

Consider maintenance, durability, appearance, and cost when making your decision. Several materials work well in the kitchen, but not all are right for every home. Each material has a wide range of costs due to color, grade, rarity, and manufacturer. These factors may also influence how well a particular product works in your home. Laminate countertops are made of multiple layers laminated together with a long-wearing top layer.

The material is fairly thin, so it is usually mounted on a wood or particleboard 3 underlayment. It can have multiple edge types, comes in many patterns, and can have an integral backsplash. Some luxury types also have an undermounted sink installed. Laminate is very readily available and can be found in many big box stores. Butcher block countertops can be made from many wood types. Each is made up of many pieces of wood tightly glued. They can be made of long pieces of wood, shorter sides of wood, or the ends.

Each one has costs, functions, and durability. You can mix finishes and woods for a custom top with personality. Quartz countertops are manmade. Quartz is the strongest natural material used in construction, which makes these countertops durable. The resin ensures they resist scratching, staining, and burning. They come in a wide range of colors, styles, and finishes. Slate is a metamorphic stone made from sandstone.

It is formed in thin sheets that stack tightly. The slate can be one color or multi-colored. Some slates can be polished, others must be honed or have a slightly textured surface. The more brittle the slate, the harder it is to find a large slab, increasing costs.

Stainless steel countertops are made of thin metal sheets. This metal is wrapped around a wood base for thickness. The steel comes in different gauges or thicknesses. The thicker the steel, the more durable and costly it is. Steel countertops come in a wide range of finishes and styles. Porcelain slabs are made of compressed clay dust that has been fired to very high temperatures. The finished slabs are stain, scratch, and heat-resistant.

They come in many colors and styles and mimic other materials. The slabs are often thinner than other countertop materials. The thicker the slab, the higher its costs.

Concrete countertops are a solid material formed differently than others. It is poured in a mold in your kitchen or at a different site. It can be molded to any shape, given any edge, and given multiple colors, finishes, and surface textures. Due to how it is made, the bulk of the cost is for fabrication and installation. Soapstone is a unique natural tone made mostly of talc.

It has a soft and soapy feel, which is how it gets its name. It is stain and heat-resistant but can scratch. It develops a natural patina 5 , and many choose to oil their countertop to help the patina develop evenly.

Without oiling, it can develop darker and lighter areas. Solid surface countertops are made from plastic - acrylic or polyester. The slabs are formed in a mold and can be given a wide range of colors, finishes, and styles. The material is non-porous, but it stains, scratches, burns, and melts.

It is slightly higher in maintenance than many other types. Stains and scratches buff out with a green scrubbing pad. Granite is a natural material that contains high amounts of silica, feldspar, quartz, and mica.

Each piece is different, which makes every countertop unique. Granite comes in a wide range of stones, from common to exotic. The rarer the stone, the higher its cost. Granite is mostly sold as a slab but can be found in tile and modular forms. Marble is also a natural stone but composed mostly of calcite. This is a much softer stone than granite. Marble stains and etches easily. It requires sealing to impede staining. Marble countertops are often honed to avoid etch marks shown on polished finishes.

Quartzite is a natural stone made mostly of metamorphosed quartz. It is dense and durable and much less likely to stain or etch than other natural stones. It comes in many colors and styles. It can mimic marble in many instances but with better durability.

The rarer the stone, the higher its costs. Recycled glass countertops come in two types - solid and crushed glass. Solid glass is poured and comes in many colors and styles. Crushed glass is held together with a resin, much like quartz countertops. Both are highly resistant to stains, scratches, and heat. Copper countertops are made similarly to stainless steel. Thin sheets of the material are warped around a wood base. The copper sheets come in different thicknesses or gauges. The thicker the copper, the higher its cost.

Copper has a living finish. This means it dulls in untouched areas and remains bright in places infrequently touched. Zinc is a soft metal that can be used like copper or stainless steel for a countertop. The sheets of metal are formed around a wooden base. Zinc comes in different thicknesses or gauges. The thicker the zinc, the more durable the countertop, but the higher the expense. Zinc can also have a living finish, darkening in areas not touched frequently. Talk to local pros to get quotes for your kitchen countertop installation Get Quotes.

Countertops are often sold by the centimeter. The most common measurement is 3 cm, with a few materials available in 2 cm and 4 cm. You can also find 1 cm thick quartz countertops for commercial spaces - these have a built-up edge to appear thicker.

Stone countertops are too fragile to be this thin. Metal countertops are sold by the gauge over a thick piece of wood, while porcelain countertops are sold in 6 mm and 12 mm thicknesses. All other slabs are generally available in 3 cm thicknesses as average, with limited availability for 2 cm and 4 cm.

The centimeters are a more accurate measurement for slab material. The only material that can be safely installed in this thickness is quartz. Even so, the material must have a built-up edge and be installed over a plywood 6 or MDF underlayment. This material is usually sold in bulk for commercial applications.

Many marbles come in this thickness because the slabs are not large enough to be thicker. Some granites are also available at this thickness, but the colors may be more limited. A countertop of this thickness often needs a built edge and an underlayment 7 , increasing costs. This is the most common thickness for slab countertops.

Most countertops come in this thickness, including quartz, marble, granite, soapstone, and quartzite. No underlayment is required at this thickness, and it can also take any edge without building it.

This size is roughly equivalent to 2-inch thick countertops. Not all material is available in this thickness. Some popular, strong marbles like Bianco Carrara can be found in this thickness, as can some granites. You can pour a concrete countertop to this thickness or get the illusion of this thickness with metal countertops, which use an underlayment.

At this thickness, you need faucet extenders for a faucet to be installed. Many people view countertops by their material type, but how the counter is formed or presented also impacts the cost and installation. There are several types of counters, with some categories having more than one material choice. You can use specialty, designer, or exotic tiles on your countertop. Doing so increases the cost. Tile countertops can be a great way to experiment with color, design, and pattern.

Tile countertops are most common in the Southwest but make a great statement anywhere. Many tiles work on a countertop, from simple ceramic tiles to exotic stones. Cast-in-place countertops are made of concrete and right in your kitchen on your cabinets.

A frame is built to hold the concrete, which is poured or cast into the mold. Concrete takes several weeks to cure, so this method is only recommended for new builds or major renovations when you are not residing in the home. This is a good method for unique shapes or layouts because concrete is brittle and hard to transport.

Not many materials are available modular. Granite is one, and you may find some modular gauged porcelain slabs. A modular countertop is like an oversized tile countertop. There are much larger sections that fit together rather than small tiles. You can get the countertop for a lower cost because it is not one large slab but has fewer seams 8 than tile.

This is another method of creating a concrete countertop. The concrete is cast in its mold at another location. It is finished off site and transported to your home for installation. This can be a better fit for homeowners who want access to their kitchen while the concrete is curing. The cost is higher for this method because concrete is hard to move. Slabs are one of the most common types. This is a large piece of material that can be cut in many ways, including curved countertops or organically shaped countertops.

Many materials come in slab, including all stones, quartz, recycled glass, and solid surface countertops. They are fabricated off site and transported to your home. Because of the nature of most slab material, go to a fabricator to view the slabs in person when making your selection. Most countertops have different edge treatments to complete their look.

The edges vary by the material, thickness, and how it is made. Some edges cannot be obtained on thinner materials without building up the edge with additional material. Others may not be able to achieve certain edges because of how the material is made. The following edges can be applied to 3-cm thick or higher slab countertops and some 2-cm thick countertops.

A few can also be used on other materials. Costs are priced by the linear foot and are an additional charge, with the exception of the eased edge. An eased edge is included with most countertops at no cost.

This is the most common edge. Rather than square with a hard edge, the eased edge is slightly rounded or beveled at the top, depending on the fabricator. Essentially, the top edge is taken from a sharp line to a softer one. This gives the countertops a more welcoming appearance. Eased edges are common for families with children because they are easy to care for and do not have sharp edges.

It takes the edge from a square to a more pronounced angle than the eased edge. This can give the countertop more of a geometric or contemporary appearance. This edge is more interesting but still easy to clean and care for.

There are no crevices or rounded areas for dirt or food to collect. The bottom section is still squared off. This rounded top makes the countertop smoother and sleeker. This edge is a good option for transitional-style kitchens. It is also easy to clean and care for. A full bullnose is sometimes also known as a pencil edge. This edge is rounded on the top and bottom. One the downside, if anything abrasive or acidic is left on it, it can damage the surface; and it is not fully heatproof, not does it weather well, so it is not good in outdoor kitchen areas.

The slab is very heavy, and you may have to upgrade your cabinets to be able to handle the weight. Portfolios and showrooms are a great way to see the countertops with certain paint colors and cabinets, along with light similar to the amount of natural light your kitchen might have. Some top brands are:. Availability can fluctuate depending on which brand you choose, as much of the stone is imported. When purchasing, keep in mind how long the warranty lasts for. All good quartz countertop providers will have a 10—year to lifetime warranty in place to cover any damage that may occur once the countertop has been installed.

Most of the time, it will only cover manufacturing defects; and they will repair or replace the quartz if they find your damage falls under that description.

Some go further to say the warranty is only valid for the person who had the quartz installed in a single-family residence. The warranty is only transferable if the original owner registered the warranty and then notified the company of the new owner of the home. Get free estimates. How much will your project cost? Granite Cost Quartzite Vs. Quartz Delivery As with every home improvement material, materials can vary dramatically based on how close you are to a major city because of the difference in delivery costs.

Old Countertop Removal Cost If you are remodeling your kitchen and need your old countertops removed, ask the contractor to include the cost for this in the quote. Want to know how much your quartz countertops will cost? Get 3 free quotes from HomeGuide in just a few minutes. Engineered Quartz is the most popular choice for homeowners and it is also less likely to crack during installation.

Author: Daniel W. Millions of people ask HomeGuide for cost estimates every year. We track the estimates they get from local companies, then we share those prices with you. Your total cost will depend on the size, thickness, level, and type of granite installed. Get free estimates from granite countertop installers near you. Granite is a popular choice among homeowners and comes in many different colors, designs, and patterns to choose from for every budget. Prices are highly dependant on the type of granite selected, its size, level, and thickness.

Other factors include the finishing texture applied and any special edging features. When considering natural stone for your countertop installation , granite is becoming as valued as marble countertops, and having it installed will increase the resale value of homes for many owners. Your countertops should be a minimum of 24 inches deep to provide ample space and overhang.

An average kitchen countertop surface is inches wide and 24 inches deep, which comes out to around 27 square feet of space. Here are the average installation costs for that amount of countertop space:. When thinking about the design for your countertops, the simpler the design, the lower the cost. When complexity is introduced to the design, the cost will spike because of the difficult nature of working with granite.

The price depends on the type of counters being removed and the size. Be wary of trying to remove the countertops yourself to save money, as you can easily damage your cabinets. Granite suppliers usually categorize their granite stock into groups by number or letter based on their look rather than their quality. The most plentiful, readily available granite falls into level 1 or A.

Ultimately you could say there are three levels of granite based on patterns, grains, and colors. Many of the more exotic slabs of granite are hard to find and more fragile, hence the higher cost. Although we price the granite in the table above per square foot, most stone yards require you to buy it by the slab. Most kitchens will need two slabs. Slabs quarried in countries with high labor rates and the additional high shipping costs associated with granite fall into higher levels.

Sourcing granite from within the US will result in a lower cost of materials for your project. On average, the cost you end up paying for the granite of your choice will depend on a combination of its color, design, and pattern.

The variety of colors and patterns that you can see in granite slab countertops come from the presence of the minerals biotite, muscovite, and pyroxene. Granite comes in a wide variety of colors. Lighter colors like green, beige, and white are more common and easier to cut. Less common colors for granite will cost more because they are rare, i.

White granite has perhaps the cleanest look among all the choices of granite colors. The cost of granite countertops will depend on the size of different sections of your home. Most consumers elect for simple rounded or flat edges. When requesting quotes, check to see what additional costs are applicable for a different finish when deviating from the standard.