Quartz Countertop Cost Guide: What Quartz Counters Cost in 2023
Factor this into your bathroom or kitchen remodel budget.
You're doing a kitchen remodel or bathroom makeover and leaning toward quartz counters for their durability and easy maintenance—but as you may know, quartz countertops cost more than other popular countertop materials like granite and even marble. So, how much should you budget for countertops made of this pretty engineered stone?
Quartz countertop costs can vary tremendously (more on that soon!), but you should expect to pay between $100 to $200 per square foot installed, says Bob Bakes, cofounder and head of design at Bakes & Kropp, a kitchen design and cabinetry company. More expensive slabs deliver richer colors and textures, he says.
But here's where a quartz countertop cost analysis can get a little tricky: You typically have to buy the whole slab, Bakes explains. In the rare case that the supplier and fabricator are the same party, you might be able to get the material priced by the square foot. But as far as budgeting for quartz countertop costs, experts say you should plan on buying the material in full slabs.
Generally speaking, quartz doesn't tend to have the same natural look as other countertop materials like marble or quartzite, says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Nufacet Interiors, a New York City–based firm. You'll have to pay a premium for slabs that look more natural, including white quartz.
Some of the least expensive quartz slabs start as low as $900, says Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors. "These slabs tend to have less movement and look less natural than their more expensive counterparts," she says. "But they are great for secondary locations like a laundry room, kid's bathroom, or even in a garage."
For quartz countertops in a spot like a kitchen or primary bathroom, expect the budget to increase to as much as $3,450 a slab, Macuga says. "Vadara and Caesarstone have some beautiful quartz options that mimic everything we love about quartzite and marble," she says.
How many slabs of quartz you'll need depends on the size of your space. For reference, a kitchen typically requires three slabs, Macuga says. But an extra-large kitchen might need four to five slabs. The same goes if you're using the quartz for a backsplash or a hood, she says.
The choice to go with quartz often comes down to durability, Macuga says, because these countertops are engineered using a combination of natural quartz stone and resins. That combination makes them resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks compared with granite and other natural stone options.
"This durability ensures that your countertop will stand up well to the reality of daily wear and tear in a busy family kitchen," Macuga says.
Quartz shouldn't be used outdoors where it's exposed to the elements because it can fade in the sun, she says. You also don't want to wrap it around a fireplace because it can crack in a high-heat environment, she adds.
As you are making your final selections for quartz, make sure to see the full slab before making a purchase, Macgua advises. Most tile stores have a smaller sample of quartz, which makes it more difficult to see the impact of color and full pattern. You might like the idea of dramatic veining based on the sample, but the whole slab will have a much bigger impact when it's covering your kitchen island.
Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer. Before she struck out on her own, she covered just about every beat—from higher education to crime. Now she writes about food, cocktails, travel, and lifestyle topics for Men’s Journal, House Beautiful, Forbes, Simplemost, Shondaland, Livability, Hearst newspapers, TripSavvy and more. In her free time, she coaches basketball, crashes pools, and loves hanging out with her rude-but-adorable Boston Terrier that never got the memo the breed is nicknamed "America’s gentleman."
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