That's the spread of our typical installed prices, from laminate to quartzite. For 35 sq ft of counters, about what an average kitchen has, quartz typically costs about $3,500 installed ($74–$125 per sq ft), granite about $4,100 and laminate about $1,100. Removing the old tops adds about $10 per sq ft.
Estimate Our ranges, based on sources [1][2][3][4]. Planning numbers, not quotes.
Countertop cost by material
Material sets most of the price, because fabrication and installation run about the same per square foot for most stone and engineered surfaces. Prices below are installed: material, fabrication, delivery and installation. The dollar columns use 35 sq ft, the middle of HomeGuide's 30–40 sq ft for an average kitchen.[1]
| Material | Per sq ft installed Estimate | 35 sq ft Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $28 – $46 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $1,100 |
| Butcher block (wood) | $38 – $88 | $1,300 – $3,100 | $1,600 |
| Quartz (engineered stone) | $74 – $125 | $2,600 – $4,400 | $3,500 |
| Granite | $89 – $143 | $3,100 – $5,000 | $4,100 |
| Concrete | $57 – $98 | $2,000 – $3,400 | $2,900 |
| Quartzite | $94 – $146 | $3,300 – $5,100 | $4,200 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][4]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. Each material pools the installed per-sq-ft range published by each source that covers it: HomeGuide for every material, Thumbtack for laminate, butcher block, quartz, granite and concrete, and Angi for quartz and quartzite. See How we build our ranges.
Three materials we don't blend, because we found only one current source: HomeGuide puts marble at $40 to $150 per sq ft installed and solid surface (Corian) at $50 to $150[1], and Thumbtack puts ceramic tile counters at $11 to $18.[4] Sourced
What the sources say Sourced
Angi's average countertop installation is $3,160, with most homeowners paying $1,882 – $4,484, or $40 to $150 per sq ft.[3] Thumbtack's national average range is $1,116 – $3,652, with most people paying about $2,076.[4] Angi's quartz guide puts quartz at $50–$200 per sq ft, with most projects at $70–$100.[2] Thumbtack notes that its per-material figures come from a 2020 estimating guide and Home Depot, which is one reason we blend them with newer sources rather than use them alone.[4]
Line-item breakdown: 35 sq ft of quartz Estimate
Here's how a quartz job breaks down when you're replacing laminate tops on cabinets you're keeping. Fabricators usually bundle slab, templating, fabrication and installation into one price, and HomeGuide notes most include standard sink and cooktop cutouts.[1] We split it out so you can see where the money goes.
| Line item | How we priced it | Amount Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Remove and haul away old laminate tops Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's $50–$400 removal range[1] | $230 |
| Mid-grade quartz slab, 35 sq ft, delivered Supplier price | 35 sq ft × $72.5/sq ft, the midpoint of HomeGuide's mid-grade (commercial grade) quartz slab price[1] | $2,540 |
| Templating, fabrication and installation, standard edge, sink cutout Supplier price | 35 sq ft × $20/sq ft, the midpoint of the $10–$30 labor range HomeGuide and Angi both publish[1][2] | $700 |
| Disconnect and reconnect sink, faucet, disposal and dishwasher Labor | 3 hrs × $30.67/hr median wage for plumbers[6] × 1.7 labor burden | $160 |
| Supply lines, sealant and fasteners Materials | Our allowance | $80 |
| Overhead & profit Our assumption | 20% on the labor and materials lines above. Installed prices, supplier prices and fees already include the seller's margin, so we don't mark them up again. | $50 |
| Line-item total | Before contingency and regional adjustment | $3,700 |
Estimate Our line-item build comes to $3,700, about 2% below our blended typical of $3,820 for the same job (our quartz rate plus our removal rate). Slab grade drives most of the difference between bids: HomeGuide's high-grade quartz slabs run well above the mid-grade price we used.[1] A new sink, faucet, backsplash or cabinet repairs are extra. Method: How we build our ranges.
Kitchen Remodel Budget Workbook
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Get the templateWhat drives the cost up or down
Slab grade and color
Within any stone or quartz, color and grade can swing the price as much as the choice of material. HomeGuide's mid-grade quartz slabs run $65–$80 per sq ft before installation.[1] Sourced
Plumbing and electrical
A new undermount sink, faucet or relocated outlets bring in other trades. HomeGuide notes all outlets near kitchen counters must be GFCI-protected.[1]
Upkeep
Natural stone like granite, marble and quartzite needs periodic sealing; quartz doesn't. HomeGuide lists quartzite as requiring annual sealing.[1] Factor that into the long-term cost.
Contingency Estimate
Counters alone rarely surprise you, but a cracked slab, a cabinet that needs reinforcing or a damaged backsplash can. A 10% cushion is a sensible planning choice. That's our guidance.
Regional cost differences
Fabrication and installation are local labor, and slab prices vary by market. Our interior cost index is applied here to our typical 35 sq ft quartz job.
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical quartz, 35 sq ft Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.04 4% above U.S. | $3,600 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.13 13% above U.S. | $3,900 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.98 2% below U.S. | $3,400 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $3,500 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $3,300 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $3,100 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $3,500 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.89 11% below U.S. | $3,100 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $3,300 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.07 7% above U.S. | $3,700 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our interior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for four interior projects (three bathroom remodels and a basement remodel) by the national average and averages the four ratios.[5] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Want more local detail? On our local cost pages, the same 35 sq ft quartz job runs from about $3,000 in Oklahoma City, OK to about $4,100 in New York, NY, typical.
Costs in your city
Our local cost pages adjust these national ranges for 25 metro areas using local construction wages, and add each area's housing age, climate zone and permit office: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Tampa, Washington. See all local costs →
Countertop cost FAQ
What is the cheapest countertop material?
Laminate is the least expensive of the materials we blend, typically about $32 per sq ft installed, or about $1,100 for 35 sq ft.[1][4] Thumbtack lists ceramic tile even lower, at $11–$18 per sq ft, though grout lines need upkeep.[4]
Is quartz more expensive than granite?
They overlap heavily. Our typical installed prices are about $99 per sq ft for quartz and $118 for granite.[1][2][4] The specific slab, color and grade matter more than the category, so price the slabs you actually like.
How many square feet of countertop does a kitchen have?
HomeGuide puts an average 100–200 sq ft kitchen at 30 to 40 sq ft of counter.[1] To measure yours, multiply the length of each run by its depth (usually 25 inches), add any island, and divide by 144 if you measured in inches.
Does the price include the sink cutout?
Usually the standard one, yes. HomeGuide says most quartz dealers include standard sink and cooktop cutouts and charges $150–$300 per extra sink cutout.[1] The sink itself, faucet and plumbing reconnection are usually separate.
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Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide countertop cost guides: “How much do quartz countertops cost?” (updated Dec 14, 2023), quartz; “How much do granite countertops cost?” (updated Aug 10, 2023), granite (also concrete, removal and cutouts); “How much do laminate countertops cost?” (updated Nov 28, 2023), laminate; “How much does a butcher block countertop cost?” (updated Apr 5, 2023), butcher block; “How much do quartzite countertops cost?” (updated Dec 14, 2023), quartzite; “How much do marble countertops cost?” (updated Apr 5, 2023), marble; “How much do Corian countertops cost?” (updated Nov 28, 2023), Corian (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?” (updated Jul 20, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-do-quartz-countertops-cost.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, countertop installation cost guide (updated Sep 3, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-install-countertops.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Thumbtack, “2026 Cost to Install Countertops” (updated Jul 8, 2026). thumbtack.com/p/cost-to-install-countertops (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national median hourly wages by occupation, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API. bls.gov/oes (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.