The quick answer#
Most homeowners pay $50 to $150 per square foot for new kitchen countertops installed in 2026. An average kitchen has 30 to 40 square feet of counter, so $1,500 to $6,000, and the material decides where in that range you land.
Installed
$50–$150per sq ftAverage kitchen
$1,500–$6,00030 to 40 sq ftQuartz
$50–$200per sq ft installedLabor
$20–$50per sq ftThese are HomeGuide's ranges. Before comparing materials, measure your counter run and depth, because countertops are priced on the slab cut to your layout, not on the floor area of the kitchen. The countertop calculator turns your runs and backsplash into square feet.
Before you price anything
Square feet of counter and backsplash
Enter up to three counter runs, the depth and the backsplash to get square feet, linear feet and a figure with fabrication waste.
Cost by material#
The material is the single biggest variable, and the cheapest slab is not always the cheapest counter: some materials are cheap to buy and expensive to fabricate.
| Material | Material only | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate or Formica | $10–$50 | $20–$80 |
| Butcher block | $30–$70 | $50–$150 |
| Corian | $30–$80 | $50–$150 |
| Porcelain | $20–$60 | $50–$120 |
| Concrete | $5–$15 | $50–$150 |
| Marble | $30–$130 | $40–$150 |
| Granite | $40–$100 | $80–$150 |
| Quartzite | $50–$110 | $65–$150 |
| Soapstone | $50–$90 | $60–$130 |
| Quartz | $40–$170 | $50–$200 |
| Stainless steel | $70–$190 | $80–$200 |
| Recycled glass | $50–$200 | $60–$250 |
HomeGuide's figures. Concrete is the clearest case of a cheap material and an expensive counter: HomeGuide puts materials at about 10 percent of its cost and the labor to mold and finish it at the other 90. Quartz is an engineered stone of about 90 percent natural quartz with resins and pigments; quartzite is a natural stone.
Cost by kitchen size#
Kitchen totals depend on the counter area, not the floor area, which is why HomeGuide gives each kitchen size as a range of counter square footage.
| Kitchen or counter | Counter area | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen | 20–30 sq ft | $1,000–$4,500 |
| Average kitchen | 30–40 sq ft | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Large kitchen | 40–60 sq ft or more | $6,000–$9,000 |
| Average counter, 24 x 160 in | — | $1,300–$4,000 |
| Kitchen island, 36 x 78 in | — | $1,000–$2,900 |
| Small island, 36 x 40 in | — | $500–$1,700 |
HomeGuide's figures. Its small kitchen is a 70 to 99 square foot room, average 100 to 200 and large over 200.
Labor versus material#
On a typical replacement, HomeGuide splits the $50 to $150 per square foot into $30 to $100 for materials and delivery and $20 to $50 for fabrication and installation, with labor at 30 to 40 percent of the job. On an average kitchen that is $900 to $4,000 of material and $600 to $2,000 of labor.
Labor does not always follow the material price. HomeGuide notes that porcelain is cheaper than many materials but costs more to install because it is fragile and hard to work, and that epoxy and concrete are cheap materials with labor-heavy installs.
Cutouts, edges and extras#
These are the lines a fabricator adds after the square foot price, and they are worth reading before you choose a sink or an edge.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Sink cutout | $100–$300 |
| Cooktop cutout | $120–$400 |
| Outlet or faucet cutout | $20–$125 each |
| Edge treatment | $10–$60 per linear ft |
| Corner treatment | $50–$150 per corner |
| Old countertop removal | $50–$250 or more |
| Delivery, if not included | $150–$450 |
| Natural stone sealing | $200–$350 per treatment |
HomeGuide's figures. Many fabricators include a straight or eased edge at no extra cost, and most include removal of the old counter in their labor. A new backsplash adds $10 to $50 per square foot.
If the backsplash is tile rather than a slab, the tile calculator counts the tiles and grout for it, and our tile installation cost guide prices it.
Measuring your own square feet#
Square feet are the run length times the depth, plus the backsplash, and the depth to use includes the overhang past the cabinet. The countertop calculator uses 25 inches by default for that reason. An L of 96 and 60 inches at 25 inches deep is 13.0 linear feet and 27.08 square feet, or 29.79 with 10 percent for fabrication offcuts. At $50 to $150 per square foot on the 29.79, that is about $1,490 to $4,470.
Slab is priced on what is cut rather than what is installed, which is why the calculator prices the figure with waste. A fabricator lays the pieces out on the actual slab, so treat your number as a check on their quote rather than a replacement for it. A tiled backsplash is counted in the tile calculator instead.
Checking a quote#
Work out your square feet, multiply by the installed range for the material you picked, and see where the quote lands. Then ask four things: whether the sink and cooktop cutouts are in the price, which edge is included, whether removal and delivery are included, and whether natural stone is sealed before it leaves.
A quote well above the range usually has a premium edge, extra cutouts, or a slab grade above the one you asked for. A quote well below it is worth asking about the slab grade and thickness, since HomeGuide notes that low-grade granite is the cheapest and thinnest.
Save the countertop cost chart#
Installed cost per square foot for six common countertop materials, laminate to quartz. Save it before you visit a fabricator.
Save to PinterestOpens Pinterest with the chart and link ready to go.
Common questions#
How much do quartz countertops cost per square foot?#
$50 to $200 per square foot installed on HomeGuide's figures, with the slab alone at $40 to $170. Caesarstone, a quartz brand, runs $50 to $100 installed. Higher-quality slabs with richer coloring and no defects cost the most.
How much do kitchen countertops cost?#
$1,500 to $6,000 for an average kitchen with 30 to 40 square feet of counter, at $50 to $150 per square foot installed. A small kitchen runs $1,000 to $4,500 and a large one $6,000 to $9,000.
Is granite cheaper than quartz?#
The ranges overlap. Granite runs $80 to $150 per square foot installed and quartz $50 to $200, so a basic quartz can cost less than granite and a premium quartz more. Natural stone also needs sealing, at $200 to $350 per treatment.
Does the countertop price include the sink cutout?#
Not always. HomeGuide puts a sink cutout at $100 to $300 and a cooktop cutout at $120 to $400, and outlet or faucet cutouts at $20 to $125 each. Ask whether they are in the square foot price before you compare quotes.