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Quartz Kitchen Countertops: Cost, Colors, Care, Installation

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Engineered stone made of 90–95% ground quartz bound with resin, this counter material costs $50–$200 per square foot installed.

Resin share sets the price: First Choice slabs at 7–8% resin run $80 to over $100. Quartz resists heat only briefly, and burn marks can’t be repaired.

What Quartz Countertops Are

The 3cm edge reveals fine quartz grains in a softly mottled countertop.

Quartz countertops are engineered stone, not slabs of pure quartz. Manufacturers grind natural quartz and bind it with resins, polymers, and pigments, usually about 90–95% stone to 5–10% binder.

Quality grade changes that ratio: First Choice slabs run 7–8% resin. Caesarstone, Silestone, and Cambria are the premium brands, and they generally cost more than lesser-known makers because their color is more consistent and their patterns more distinctive.

A slab measures about 120 by 55 inches. Standard thicknesses are 12mm, 20mm, and 30mm, and the last two are also listed as 2cm (¾ inch) and 3cm (1¼ inch).

3cm costs more but is stronger and looks more substantial, so it is the better pick if your budget stretches that far.

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Why Quartz Suits Kitchens

Quartz offers a hard, non-porous surface for everyday kitchen use.

Caesarstone makes the durability case plainly:

Of all countertop materials in the market, quartz is the most durable. It is one of the hardest materials, with a rating of 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.

— Caesarstone

That rating of 7 is why quartz resists scratches through years of daily cooking.

The surface is also non-porous.

Spills resist staining, bacteria don’t build up, and quartz never needs sealing, which saves you the upkeep natural stone demands. With proper care it lasts 20+ years.

A counter you replace less often also has a lower environmental impact. Quartz comes in a wide range of looks, covered in its own section below.

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Quartz Costs $50–$200 per Square Foot

The cost graphic compares quartz prices with granite, marble, and other surfaces.

Quartz runs $50–$200 per square foot installed, and most jobs land at $70–$100.

The material alone is $40 to over $100. Most homeowners spend about $4,500 total, within quotes of $1,500–$8,000 or, at the extremes, $1,000–$12,000.

Popular whites with gray veining and warm beige run $50–$80. Tiers against other surfaces:

Option Price per sq ft
First Choice quartz (7–8% resin) $80 to over $100
Commercial Grade quartz (8–11% resin) $60–$80
Second Choice quartz (over 12% resin) $50–$60
Granite $50–$100
Marble $60–$120
Laminate $10–$40
Other natural stone $40–$200

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Quartz Colors and Patterns

Gray quartz samples show the range from concrete-like tones to subtle veining.

Quartz comes in white, gray, black, brown, beige, and even blue.

For gray, Caesarstone offers 4044 Airy Concrete, 6313 Turbine Grey, and 5000 London Grey. For color beyond neutrals, look at 515 Palm Shade, 406 Clearskies, and 405 Midday.

Pattern matters as much as color. Solid suits minimalist kitchens.

Veined quartz, like Calacatta and Carrara looks, copies marble for a classic room. Speckled or flecked adds texture, swirled reads as artistic, and concrete-look fits industrial or modern spaces.

Order samples first.

Caesarstone charges $35 for sample shipping, with standard delivery in 3–5 business days. View them in your kitchen’s own lighting.

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How to Choose a Color and Pattern

Countertop samples sit beside cabinets and flooring to show how tones work together.

Start with what you are keeping: cabinets, flooring, and backsplash. Match the countertop’s undertone, warm or cool, to those surfaces, and let only one of them carry a busy pattern.

Modern and contemporary kitchens suit solid whites, grays, and slabs with little veining. Traditional kitchens look right with soft veining and creamy tones.

Farmhouse kitchens favor white or light gray with gentle movement. Eclectic kitchens can take bold veining if the cabinets and backsplash stay quiet.

Showroom lighting flatters every slab, so view samples in your own kitchen under its own light.

Check them in morning sun, at night under your bulbs, and next to the cabinet and floor. Popular colors run $50–$80 per square foot, so a safe, well-liked shade also protects your budget.

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Care and Maintenance

A damp cloth and mild soap handle routine quartz cleanup, without sealing.

Daily care takes a damp cloth and very little else.

  • Wipe with warm water and mild soap. For stubborn spills, use a non-abrasive cleaner.
  • For dried spills, wet the spot and let the water sit a few minutes, then wipe with a damp towel. Scraping isn’t needed.
  • Skip sealing. Unlike granite, quartz doesn’t need it, which saves you time and money.
  • Avoid abrasive scrubbers and harsh cleaners.
  • Set a trivet or hot pad under every hot pan and appliance. Quartz resists heat but isn’t heat-proof, and it handles high heat only briefly. Burn marks can’t be repaired.

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Edges, Cutouts, and Add-On Costs

The graphic compares edge styles and prices, from eased to double bullnose.

Eased and straight edges are priced per linear foot, while the rest are priced per square foot, so compare quotes carefully.

Edge Price Look
Eased $5–$30 per foot Slightly rounded
Straight $10–$30 per foot Clean, modern
Half bullnose $10–$30 per sq ft Rounded top edge
Full bullnose $20–$45 per sq ft Completely rounded
Bevel $20–$45 per sq ft 45-degree angle cut
Double bullnose $30–$60 per sq ft Two rounded edges

Each cutout for a sink or cooktop adds $100–$200.

Using 2cm slabs in less-used areas can save 15–20% on material. Ask for written quotes that list edges, cutouts, and seams separately, and find out where the seams will fall.

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Installation and Timeline

The installation graphic traces the process from measuring cabinets to final adjustments.
  1. Measure. Check the cabinet run and ask whether removing your old counters is in the installer’s price.
  2. Template. The fabricator makes a template of your cabinets.
  3. Fabrication. The slab is cut to that template.
  4. Edge finishing. The edges are shaped in the shop.
  5. Transport. The finished pieces are delivered to your home.
  6. Installation. Slabs weigh 20–25 pounds per square foot, so this takes a crew and lifting equipment.
  7. Final adjustments. The crew checks the fit and corrects any issues.

Plan on 1–2 weeks from measuring to finished counters.

Professional labor runs $10–$30 per square foot, or $35–$85 per hour.

Doing it yourself saves that $10–$30 per square foot, but the weight makes hiring out the better call. Rates shift by city: Washington, DC runs $18–$40 per square foot or $45–$100 per hour, 15–20% above suburban areas.

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Warranty and Outdoor Use

A pale gray outdoor counter extends from a grill station to a bar ledge.

Caesarstone backs its indoor countertops with a lifetime warranty. Its outdoor selection carries a 10-year warranty instead.

Outdoor quartz comes from a separate collection, so if you want quartz for a patio kitchen or outdoor bar, ask for that collection by name rather than assuming an indoor color can go outside.

Warranty terms differ by brand, and one company’s lifetime coverage won’t necessarily match another’s. Read the written terms before you pay a deposit, and look for what they say about indoor versus outdoor installation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How much do quartz kitchen countertops cost?

Quartz runs $50–$200 per square foot installed, and most jobs land at $70–$100.

Most homeowners spend about $4,500 total. Price depends on resin content and brand: First Choice slabs cost $80 to over $100 per square foot, and Second Choice slabs cost $50–$60.

How long do quartz kitchen countertops last?

With proper care, quartz lasts 20 years or more.

It rates 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it holds up to scratches from daily cooking. Its non-porous surface also resists stains.

Do quartz countertops need to be sealed?

No.

Quartz is non-porous, so it doesn’t absorb spills the way granite does. That removes the sealing step and its cost from your upkeep.

Can you set a hot pan on a quartz countertop?

Use a trivet or hot pad every time.

Quartz resists heat but is not heat-proof, and it tolerates high heat only briefly. Burn marks can’t be repaired.

How do you clean quartz countertops?

Wipe with a damp cloth, warm water, and mild soap. For stubborn spills, use a non-abrasive cleaner.

For dried spills, wet the spot, let the water sit a few minutes, and wipe it up without scraping. Abrasive scrubbers and harsh cleaners can harm the surface, so avoid them.

What colors do quartz countertops come in?

Quartz comes in white, gray, black, brown, beige, and blue.

Patterns range from solid to veined (Calacatta and Carrara looks), speckled, swirled, and concrete-look. Order samples and view them in your own kitchen lighting before you choose.

Should I choose 2cm or 3cm quartz?

Choose 3cm if your budget allows, because it is stronger and looks more substantial.

It costs more than 2cm (about ¾ inch), which is the cheaper option. Using 2cm slabs in less-used areas can cut material costs by 15–20%.

How long does it take to install quartz countertops?

Plan on 1–2 weeks from measuring to finished counters.

In that time the fabricator templates your cabinets, cuts the slab, finishes the edges in the shop, and delivers the pieces. A crew then installs them.

Can I install quartz countertops myself?

You can, but hiring out is the better call.

Slabs weigh 20–25 pounds per square foot, which takes a crew and lifting equipment. Professional labor costs $10–$30 per square foot, and that is all a DIY job would save.

Can quartz countertops be used outdoors?

Only if you buy quartz from the manufacturer’s outdoor collection.

Caesarstone’s outdoor selection carries a 10-year warranty, while its indoor countertops carry a lifetime warranty. Ask for the outdoor collection by name rather than assuming an indoor color is safe outside.

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