Countertop cost by material
The table below is the countertop calculator’s 2026 installed range for a standard 40 sq ft kitchen — demo of the old tops, an undermount sink and a cooktop cutout, a 4-inch backsplash, an eased edge, and plumbing reconnect. Only the slab changes between rows; fabrication, cutouts, and installation are the same.
| Material | 40 sq ft kitchen installed | Notes |
|---|
| Laminate | $3,600 – $6,100 | Cheapest; not stone; 10–20 yr life |
| Butcher block | $4,500 – $7,800 | Warm wood; needs oiling; can scorch/scratch |
| Granite | $5,600 – $9,800 | Natural stone; seal every 1–2 yrs; heat-proof |
| Quartz | $5,800 – $10,000 | Engineered; non-porous; no sealing |
| Marble | $6,600 – $11,500 | Classic look; softer; stains and etches |
| Quartzite | $8,100 – $14,000 | Natural stone; harder than granite; premium |
Why the labor barely changes
Homeowners expect the price gap between materials to be huge and are surprised it isn’t. The reason is that a countertop job is mostly not the stone. Templating, cutting, edge polishing, demo and haul-away, sink and cooktop cutouts, the backsplash, and plumbing reconnect are the same labor whether you finish in granite or quartz. Only the slab differs, and mid-grade granite and quartz land close together at the wholesale level.
That is why the two most popular premium surfaces — granite and quartz — are within a few hundred dollars of each other installed. The real spread is between tiers: laminate at the bottom, quartzite and exotic marble at the top. For the full granite-vs-quartz breakdown, see quartz vs granite countertop cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much do countertops cost for a kitchen?
A standard 40 sq ft kitchen runs about $3,600–$6,100 installed in laminate, $5,600–$9,800 in granite, $5,800–$10,000 in quartz, and $8,100–$14,000 in quartzite in 2026 — including demo, cutouts, a backsplash, an eased edge, and plumbing reconnect. Larger kitchens and fancier edges cost more.
What is the cheapest countertop material?
Laminate is the least expensive at about $3,600–$6,100 installed for a 40 sq ft kitchen, followed by butcher block at $4,500–$7,800. Both come in well under the stone-tier materials (granite, quartz, marble, quartzite), which start around $5,600.
Is quartz or granite more expensive?
They are nearly the same — about $5,800–$10,000 for quartz versus $5,600–$9,800 for granite on a 40 sq ft kitchen, a difference of only a few hundred dollars. The choice comes down to maintenance (quartz never needs sealing; granite does) rather than price. See the full quartz-vs-granite comparison for details.
How much does a quartzite countertop cost?
Quartzite is the most expensive mainstream surface at about $8,100–$14,000 installed for a 40 sq ft kitchen in 2026. It is a natural stone that is harder than granite and resembles marble, which is why it commands a premium over quartz and granite.
Do countertop prices include installation?
The ranges here are fully installed — they include templating, fabrication, demo of the old tops, sink and cooktop cutouts, a 4-inch backsplash, an eased edge, plumbing reconnect, and labor. A bare “per square foot” slab quote excludes most of that, which is why complete-job pricing runs higher than a slab-only figure.
Which countertop should you pick?
- Tightest budget? Laminate or butcher block.
- Want premium stone, zero maintenance? Quartz.
- Cook hot and love natural stone? Granite.
- Want the hardest natural stone, budget no object? Quartzite.
Countertop cost calculator →
