Kitchen Countertops Cost

Typical costs:

• Stone countertops, including granite, other natural stone and quartz resin (engineered stone) cost $4-$150 per square foot, or $120-$4,500 for a typical 30 square foot kitchen countertop. Stone tiles cost $4-$20 per square foot; slab stone countertops cost $50-$150 per square foot.
• Laminate countertops cost $7-$30 per square foot, or $210-$900 for a typical kitchen.
• Solid surface countertops cost $40-$80 per square foot, or $1,200-$2,400 for a typical kitchen.
• Tile countertops cost $1-$255 per square foot, or $30-$7,650 for a typical kitchen.
• Wood countertops cost $30-$105 per square foot, or $900-$3,150 for a typical kitchen.
• High end specialty material countertops like stainless steel, copper, and concrete cost $75-$200 per square foot and more, or $2,250-$6,000 and up for a typical kitchen.

• Most slab-style countertops are cut and shaped to the specifications of an individual homeowner or contractor by a fabricator. The fabricator should shape the outer edges, cut sink holes, and may also cut the countertops into pieces that will fit through doorways and into tight spaces in the home.
• Professional installation of a countertop should include a professional pre-installation measurement, preparation of the counters (including leveling and shimming), installation of the countertop, cleanup, and final inspection.

• Backsplashes--the short vertical finishing piece that backs onto the walls behind each counter; fancy edge shaping such as bullnose, bevel or ogee^[1] ; sink cutouts; unusual curves or corner shapes; custom or high-end coloring; and high-end finishes can cost from tens to hundreds of dollars extra.
• Higher maintenance countertops, including wood, concrete, granite, and other natural stones may require regular waxing and annual resealing.

• A skilled DIYer can install many types of countertops, saving hundreds or thousands of dollars in installation costs.

• Before beginning to price countertops, measure the countertop area. Home Depot provides a worksheet^[2] to help calculate the measurements. The installer or contractor will do an official measurement later, but a good estimate can give you a rough sense of the costs.
• Consider how much and what kind of use the countertops will endure. A countertop in a busy kitchen that will be used often for cooking needs to be robust, able to tolerate heat, cutting, and scratching. Bathroom countertops need to be resistant to moisture, including steam. Homeowners who change interior design frequently may prefer a type of countertop that can be removed or resurfaced easily. BobVila.com^[3] describes the different kinds of countertops, and the best situations in which to install each kind.
• Think about how much regular maintenance you are willing to perform to keep the countertops in good condition. Some countertop materials, including concrete, wood, and granite require waxing, oiling, or resealing. Other materials, such as engineered stone and solid surface, require almost no maintenance at all.
• Decide whether slab countertops are necessary, or whether tiles will suffice. Tile is almost always a less expensive option, even if it's made of granite or another expensive natural stone, and tile can be DIY installed. But tile countertops always show seams and do not provide a flat, even work surface, and the grout used to lay ceramic or porcelain tiles must be resealed frequently to prevent staining.

1.  www.natural-stone-interiors.com/granite-countertop-edges.html
2.  www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/Home_Services/Countertop_Installation/Docs/cou...
3.  www.bobvila.com

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