Kitchen Countertop Materials: 10 Options Compared

MilyaHome Planner Team · June 11, 2022

Granite, marble, quartz, steel, glass, tile, solid surface, laminate, wood and bamboo, sorted by price and eco-friendliness, with what each one asks of you in installation and care.

You are planning a kitchen renovation. The layout is clear, the cabinets are chosen, and one question is left that moves the budget more than most: what will the countertop be made of? Kitchen countertop materials differ in three ways that matter to you: what they cost, who can install them, and how much care they need afterwards.

This guide sorts them into three groups:

• the most expensive;
• the least expensive;
• the most eco-friendly.

For each material you get what it is, why people choose it, and what it costs you beyond the price.

What are countertops made of?

Most kitchen countertops are made of natural stone, engineered stone (quartz), metal, glass, tile, a resin-based solid surface, laminate or wood. The groups differ in price, installation and care.

The price is not only about the material. It also depends on how rare the material is and how hard it is to cut, shape and fit in your kitchen.

Which countertop material is most expensive?

Natural stone is the first guess, and it is correct. Quarrying the stone costs money, and the installation adds more. Quartz, seamless stainless steel and most glass are expensive too.

Natural stone: granite, marble and soapstone. For a seamless countertop, a slab is prepared and cut to the measurements of your kitchen. Some stone options can be customised, others cannot.

Why people choose it: a well-prepared stone countertop that gets proper care is durable. The trade-off: stone is porous, so it is vulnerable to stains. Seal it from time to time, or the stains will spoil the look.

Common mistake: planning to install a natural stone countertop yourself. Most stone counters need a specialist to prepare and fit them, so include installation in the budget from the start.

Quartz. Quartz is an engineered stone. Its structure resists damage better than natural stone, it comes in many more colours, and it is easier to make to custom measurements and designs. The trade-off: it costs no less than natural stone.

Stainless steel. You often see steel counters in cooking shows, Gordon Ramsay's for example, because they are practical to work on. But a professional kitchen and a home kitchen have different needs, so think twice before you choose steel for yours. A seamless steel surface also costs a lot to make.

Recycled aluminium. Aluminium is another metal for a countertop, and it is usually recycled. It adds a visual effect to the surface and little else. Certified specialists who can make such a countertop are also hard to find.

Glass. Almost any glass countertop is very expensive. There are three types:

• a recycled glass slab;
• recycled glass tile;
• a solid glass slab.

The recycled slab and the solid slab cost the most, for two reasons. They are rare, and making them takes special equipment and deep knowledge.

Which is the cheapest countertop material?

A countertop does not have to be natural or seamless. Cheaper materials suit more modest needs, and doing part of the work yourself lowers the cost again. If you do the renovation yourself, know what you want and have a limited budget, tile is a good choice.

Tile. To make a tile countertop, you need to learn the basic principles of working with tile, and that does not take long. Ceramic and other tiles come in many sizes, which gives you more design options. Tiles are easy to clean and maintain, and they resist heat and damage in normal use.

Want more value from tile? Modular granite and granite tiles are on the market. They have almost the same properties as a solid granite slab, but you can customise them and install them yourself more easily.

Solid surface. These countertops are made of ATH, acrylic, epoxy and other resins. This makes them cheaper than natural materials, with no loss of function or durability. The trade-off: there is no 100% protection from small scratches. When a scratch appears, the surface can be repaired without replacing the whole countertop.

Laminate. A laminate countertop has a particleboard base covered with a thin layer of printed plastic. It is affordable, easy to use, and comes in many designs and custom sizes. The trade-off: a laminate countertop always has seams.

What are the most eco-friendly countertop materials?

Wood. Wood is the natural material that makes a kitchen feel warm. It fits almost any kitchen, painted or in its natural colour. You can make the countertop from solid wood or from recycled wood, which still looks stylish.

Why it works: one material suits almost every kitchen style. The trade-off: wood is easy to care for, but the care must be regular. Without it, a wooden countertop becomes a hygiene problem in your kitchen.

Bamboo. Bamboo is a natural resource that renews very quickly. Few kitchens use it for countertops, and because it is rare, a bamboo countertop is quite expensive.

So which material should you choose? No single answer fits every kitchen. Stone, quartz and glass cost the most. Tile, solid surface and laminate cost the least. Wood and bamboo are the natural options. Your choice depends on your budget, on who will install the countertop, and on how much care you will give it.

A countertop is easier to judge in your own kitchen than as a sample in a showroom. Draw your kitchen in the Home Planner App, select a kitchen cabinet and choose Change Countertop to compare marble, granite, wood and tile in 3D before you order anything. In the same app you can measure your space, make 2D/3D floor plans, furnish the room with products from world-famous brands, create visualisations, and start from ready-made layouts for the bedroom, bathroom, living room and other rooms.