How to Select Kitchen Countertops: A Countertop Guide
- Amy Farnum
- Aug 23
- 6 min read
The right countertop can elevate your kitchen from ordinary to a daily source of delight. Whether you’re planning a full remodel or refreshing your heart of the home, making an informed selection is key to both beauty and long-term value.
But which countertop is best for your kitchen?
This countertop guide deciphers the world of countertop materials and finishes, allowing you to remodel your kitchen in a way that’s tailored to your style and stands the test of time.
Why Countertop Choice Matters
For many of our kitchen remodel clients, the kitchen is where memories are made. Investing in bespoke, high-quality countertops is more than a style decision; it’s a foundation for effortless elegance, daily function, and lasting satisfaction. After all, it's something you come in contact with every single day, so why not make it a highlight of your kitchen?
With so many material options (never mind color choices!), knowing the pros and cons will help ensure your investment adds enduring value. Below, we’ll explore material varieties, popular finishes, key design considerations, and insider tips from our design team.
Understanding Countertop Materials
Choosing a countertop starts with understanding what each material offers in terms of looks, feel, maintenance, and cost. Here’s how the most popular materials compare including granite, marble, soapstone, quartz, quartzite and porcelain.
Granite
Appearance
Granite offers natural, one-of-a-kind patterning with colors ranging from subtle creams to dramatic blacks and blues. Expect rich veining and minerals that shimmer in the light.
Durability & Maintenance
This material is exceptionally hard and scratch-resistant, handling daily wear with ease. Once a year it does need to be sealed, but it's an easy process to DIY.
Why Choose Granite
If you crave a timeless, organic feel and desire a unique piece for your kitchen island or perimeter, granite delivers. It’s an ideal blend of natural beauty and performance.
Price Range
Granite is approximately $50–$110 per square foot installed, depending on grade and rarity.
Marble
Appearance
Marble is renowned for its classic luxury. Soft or bold veining on cool backgrounds (think white Carrara or dramatic Calacatta) creates unmatched elegance. Because it is a natural product, every marble slab is distinct.
Durability & Maintenance
Marble is softer and more porous than others on this list. It’s prone to scratching and etching from acid (like lemon or wine) and needs regular sealing. Clients should be aware that over time, a natural patina will develop, highlighting areas of frequent use and adding character with age.
Why Choose Marble
Perfect for bakers, entertainers, or anyone who loves a refined and timeless look. Marble pairs beautifully with brass, black, or chrome hardware.
Price Range
Marble costs vary widely from $90 to $250 per square foot. Carrara and some domestic marbles are on the lower end; Calacatta and rare stones can reach premium pricing, but will look like artwork when installed.
Soapstone
Appearance
Soft, matte, and luxurious, soapstone offers deep hues from light gray to almost black, with gentle white veining.
Durability & Maintenance
It develops a natural patina and can darken over time. Soapstone is porous, but in naturally darker tone than marble, it has slightly better resistance to staining. As the name "soap" might suggest, it is softer and can scratch.
Why Choose Soapstone
This is a choice for those who appreciate natural aging and tactile charm. Its inviting texture makes it a favorite for historic homes and modern kitchens.
Price Range
Soapstone costs land around $80–$150 per square foot, depending on the uniqueness of the slab itself.
Maintenance Hint
Apply mineral oil occasionally to enhance the stone’s color and bring out the veining.
Quartz
Appearance
Quartz countertops are one of two engineered stone products on this list. Quartz is made for consistency, available in patterns ranging from simple and solid to highly convincing marble-look veining with unique color accents. Brands like Cambria, Caesarstone, and Silestone set industry standards.
Durability & Maintenance
Exceptionally durable, nonporous, and highly scratch- and stain-resistant. No sealing required.
Why Choose Quartz
For busy households seeking style with zero fuss, quartz is a leader. It handles heavy use and resists everything from coffee spills to kids’ crafts.
Price Range
With a wide range, quartz countertops can cost anywhere from $65 to $150 per square foot, with premium brands and custom edges adding to cost. Premium brands will tend to offer more realistic veining, the most pure white color, and book match options for a superior high-end look.
Quartzite
Appearance
Often confused with quartz, quartzite is a natural stone that delivers the the depth and unique veining of marble but with superior durability. It comes in a vast array of patterns and colors, giving each slab a completely unique feel.
Durability & Maintenance
Harder than marble, nearly as durable as granite. Needs regular sealing but resists heat, scratching, and staining far better than marble.
Why Choose Quartzite
For a striking centerpiece that combines luxury and function, natural quartzite shines.
Notable varieties: Taj Mahal has been crowned the top-selling color for 2024 and 2025, capturing hearts with its timeless appeal. Meanwhile, Patagonia, Blue Roma, and Cristallo continue to captivate with their unmatched, distinctive beauty.
Price Range
Quartzite ranges $75-$300 per square foot, with the higher end being extremely rare stones in fabulous colors that you can't find elsewhere.
Porcelain Slab
Appearance
Porcelain slabs are cutting-edge, produced in ultra-large formats to minimize seams. They can mimic marble, concrete, quartzite or other luxury surfaces and are available in a variety of sophisticated finishes.
Durability & Maintenance
Nonporous and exceptionally resistant to stains, scratches, UV light, and it is the most heat resistant on this list. (See our post on Kitchen...) Requires minimal maintenance.
Why Choose Porcelain Slab
When your vision calls for dramatic veining, seamless full-height backsplashes, or outdoor applications, porcelain delivers. Lighter in weight than natural stone, it allows more ambitious designs with less structural load. Porcelain is perfect for those who love the look of luxury stone but want lower maintenance and maximum durability.
Price Range
Porcelain countertops can cost $120–$180 per square foot; large slab sizes may come at a premium, and labor costs are typically higher due to specialized installation. Check with your countertop fabricator if they work with porcelain as it requires specialized saw blades and skill to install.
Selecting the Right Finish
The finish you select has a significant impact on how your countertop looks and feels every day. Below are some of the popular finish options for all the above countertop materials.
Polished
The most common finish, polished countertops are glossy, mirror-like, and bring out color vibrancy and veining in stone. They’re easy to wipe clean but may show fingerprints or water spots more readily, especially with darker colors.
Honed or Matte
A honed finish is matte and silky to the touch, delivering a soft, understated look. It’s excellent for minimizing glare in sunlit kitchens and lends sophistication to natural and engineered stones.
Leathered or Suede
This tactile finish provides a gently textured, slightly pebbled feel and a natural luster. Leathered stones resist fingerprints and conceal minor scratches, perfect for busy work surfaces.
Which Countertop Finish to Choose?
If your kitchen is the gathering hub and you want something forgiving, but gives the space an added element of texture or character, consider honed or leathered. For that sparkling wow factor and easy cleaning, polished surfaces are ideal.
Thoughtful Design Details
A couple other details to consider when selecting your kitchen countertops:
Full-Height Backsplash
Using the same material for both countertop and backsplash delivers visual unity. For a truly luxurious effect, pattern or veining should flow seamlessly from countertop up the wall. When working on client's kitchens, we often use detailed digital renderings to plan veining “bookmatches,” ensuring a cohesive, high-end finish.
Slab Purchase vs. Square Foot
Some materials are only available to be purchased by the entire slab, while others are available by the square foot. Always verify with your supplier to reduce waste and unnecessary cost. When planning a full-height backsplash or a waterfall island, you may require more material than anticipated.
Pro Tip:
Work closely with a designer to map all cuts and seams before placing your order for the most economical and visually satisfying outcome.
Comparing Countertop Choices
Here’s a quick-reference table to compare your options:
Material | Price per Sq. Ft. | Durability | Maintenance | Ideal For | Brands to Know |
Granite | $50–$110 | Very High | Annual sealing | Contemporary, organic style | N/A (natural stone) |
Marble | $90–$250 | Medium | Frequent sealing | Classic luxury, baking, accents | N/A (natural stone) |
Soapstone | $80–$150 | Medium | Mineral oil | Tactile look, patina lovers | N/A (natural stone) |
Quartz | $65–$150 | Very High | Low | Busy kitchens, no-fuss care | Cambria, Silestone |
Quartzite | $75–$300 | High | Annual needed | Luxury with performance | N/A (natural stone) |
Porcelain Slab | $120–$180 | High | Very Low | Modern, seamless, outdoors | Dekton, Infinity Surfaces |
Consider Working with a Kitchen Designer
Selecting a countertop is a defining decision for your home’s aesthetic and function. It’s our passion to turn this step into an enjoyable, stress-free experience where you feel informed and inspired.
If you’re in the Kansas City area and dreaming of a kitchen refresh that embodies lasting beauty and personalized details, our design team at Inspired Design is ready to help.
Book a free Design Discovery call with us today to explore how you can get the kitchen (and countertops) you've been dreaming of.
Stay well and be inspired,
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