The short answer
Quartz and granite cost within about 5% of each other installed. For a typical 40 sq ft kitchen, the countertops calculator puts granite at about $5,500–$9,400 and quartz at $5,800–$10,000 — granite roughly $300–$600 cheaper, because the slab is the only part that differs. Fabrication, demo, sink and cooktop cutouts, the backsplash, and plumbing reconnect cost the same either way. So price is rarely the deciding factor between these two.
What actually separates them is maintenance and character. Granite is natural stone — every slab is unique, it shrugs off a hot pan, but it is porous and should be sealed every year or two. Quartz is engineered stone (ground quartz bound in resin) — non-porous, never sealed, and consistent slab to slab, but it can scorch under real heat and a few colors fade in direct sun. The figures below are planning ranges, not bids; price your exact kitchen with the countertop cost calculator.
| Kitchen size | Quartz installed | Granite installed | Difference |
|---|
| 30 sq ft (small / galley) | $4,700 – $8,000 | $4,400 – $7,600 | Granite ~$300–$400 less |
| 40 sq ft (standard L-shape) | $5,800 – $10,000 | $5,500 – $9,400 | Granite ~$300–$600 less |
| 55 sq ft (large / U-shape) | $7,500 – $13,000 | $7,100 – $12,300 | Granite ~$400–$700 less |
| 70 sq ft (island + perimeter) | $9,300 – $16,100 | $8,700 – $15,100 | Granite ~$600–$1,000 less |
Why they cost about the same
Homeowners expect a big price gap and are surprised there isn’t one. The reason is that a countertop job is mostly not the stone. Look at what goes into the installed price — the same line items the calculator prices individually:
- Templating and fabrication — measuring, cutting the slab to your layout, and polishing the edge. Identical labor for quartz and granite.
- Demo and haul-away of the old counters — the same regardless of what replaces them.
- Cutouts for the sink, cooktop, and faucet — priced per cutout, material-independent.
- Backsplash, edge work, and installation labor — the same crew, the same day.
- Plumbing reconnect — disconnecting and re-hooking the sink and faucet.
Only the slab itself differs, and mid-grade quartz and mid-grade granite land close together at the wholesale level. That is why the installed gap is a few hundred dollars, not a few thousand. Where the numbers do move sharply is up the material ladder:
| Material (40 sq ft kitchen) | Installed range | 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 | $5,500 – $9,400 | Natural stone; seal every 1–2 yrs |
| Quartz | $5,800 – $10,000 | Engineered; non-porous; no sealing |
| Marble | $6,500 – $11,100 | Classic look; softer; stains and etches |
| Quartzite | $8,100 – $14,000 | Natural stone; harder than granite; premium |
Quartz: engineered and maintenance-free
Quartz counters are about 90% ground natural quartz bound with resin and pigment, sold under names like Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI Q. Because the surface is non-porous, it never needs sealing, resists stains and bacteria, and wipes clean with soap and water. Color and pattern are consistent slab to slab, which makes it easy to match a big kitchen or order a remnant later.
The trade-offs are real but narrow. The resin binder means quartz is not fully heat-proof — a pan straight off the burner can leave a scorch mark, so you use a trivet. A handful of colors can fade in strong, direct sunlight, which matters for a sunroom island but not most kitchens. And on a large run, seams are visible if you look for them. For a 40 sq ft kitchen quartz runs about $5,800–$10,000 installed.
Pick quartz if: you want a set-and-forget surface, a consistent modern look, or you are done thinking about maintenance.
Granite: natural stone with a little upkeep
Granite is quarried natural stone, so every slab is one of a kind — the movement, flecks, and color are yours alone. It is extremely hard, scratch-resistant, and genuinely heat-proof; you can set a hot pot on it without a second thought. For a 40 sq ft kitchen granite runs about $5,500–$9,400 installed, a touch under quartz.
The catch is that granite is porous. It should be sealed when installed and roughly every 1–2 years after — a $15–$25 bottle of sealer and 20 minutes of your time, or about $150–$250 to hire out. Skip it and an unsealed spot can absorb oil or wine and stain. Edges and corners can also chip under a hard knock. None of this is onerous; it is simply the maintenance rhythm natural stone asks for in exchange for its looks and heat resistance.
Pick granite if: you want a genuinely unique natural surface, you cook hot and hard, or you like the character of real stone and don’t mind an annual seal.
The cost of ownership difference
Since the two are within a few hundred dollars at install, the honest tiebreaker is upkeep. Over ten years granite’s sealing adds up to almost nothing if you do it yourself — call it $50–$150 in sealer across the decade — or $750–$1,500 if you pay a pro to seal every couple of years. Quartz’s decade of maintenance is soap and water.
So the full picture: granite is slightly cheaper to buy and, if you do your own sealing, stays a hair cheaper to own; quartz costs a bit more upfront and buys you a decade of never thinking about it. Neither is “the expensive one.” Match the surface to how you cook and how much maintenance you want, and price your exact layout:
Countertop cost calculator →
Frequently asked questions
Is quartz or granite cheaper?
For a 40 sq ft kitchen, granite runs about $5,500–$9,400 installed and quartz about $5,800–$10,000 — granite is roughly $300–$600 (about 5%) cheaper. The gap is small because fabrication, demo, cutouts, and installation are identical for both; only the slab price differs. The decision usually comes down to maintenance and looks, not price.
How much does a quartz countertop cost?
A 40 sq ft quartz kitchen runs about $5,800–$10,000 installed in 2026, including demo, an undermount sink and a cooktop cutout, a 4-inch backsplash, an eased edge, and plumbing reconnect. A smaller 30 sq ft job runs about $4,700–$8,000; a larger 70 sq ft kitchen about $9,300–$16,100.
How much does a granite countertop cost?
A 40 sq ft granite kitchen runs about $5,500–$9,400 installed in 2026 for the same complete scope — demo, cutouts, backsplash, edge, and plumbing reconnect. A 30 sq ft job runs about $4,400–$7,600, and a 70 sq ft kitchen about $8,700–$15,100. Add roughly $100–$400 if the installer seals the stone on the way out.
Does quartz or granite need sealing?
Granite is porous natural stone and should be sealed at install and roughly every 1–2 years after. A bottle of sealer is $15–$25 and the job takes about 20 minutes, or roughly $150–$250 to hire out. Quartz is engineered and non-porous — it never needs sealing, which is its main cost-of-ownership advantage.
Does quartz or granite last longer?
Both last decades and usually outlive the kitchen they are in. Quartz resists stains and scratches and never needs sealing, but it can scorch under a hot pan and a few colors fade in direct sun. Granite is extremely heat- and scratch-resistant but porous, so it needs periodic sealing and can chip at an edge. Neither wears out on a normal maintenance schedule.
Which adds more resale value, quartz or granite?
Both are premium stone-tier surfaces that buyers and appraisers rate well above laminate or tile, and the two are treated similarly on value. Quartz has been the more-requested finish in recent years, but in most markets either one satisfies the “stone countertop” expectation. The bigger value driver is that the counters are stone at all, not which stone you pick.
Which should you pick?
- Want zero maintenance? Quartz — non-porous, never sealed, consistent color.
- Cook hot and hard, or love natural stone? Granite — heat-proof and one of a kind, in exchange for an annual seal.
- Tightest budget? Laminate or butcher block come in well below either stone, at the cost of durability and resale appeal.
- Want the softest classic look and will baby it? Marble — beautiful but it stains and etches.
- Want the hardest natural stone and have the budget? Quartzite — harder than granite, premium price.
Sources and assumptions
