If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom renovation, one of the first questions you need answered is how much do quartz countertops cost. The short answer is $50 to $120 per square foot installed, but that range is enormous and not very helpful without context. The real cost depends on the brand, color, edge profile, complexity of your layout, and where you live.
We have installed quartz countertops from every major brand across hundreds of projects, and this guide breaks down the actual numbers we see on invoices — not the vague ranges you find on most websites. Whether you are comparing brands, budgeting a renovation, or trying to figure out if quartz fits your financial plan, this pricing breakdown gives you the specific data you need.
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Average Quartz Countertop Cost
The national average cost for quartz countertops in 2026 is $65 to $90 per square foot installed. This includes the slab material, fabrication (cutting, edging, polishing), and professional installation. For a typical kitchen with 30 to 40 square feet of countertop space, that translates to $1,950 to $3,600 as a realistic budget range.
The material itself — just the quartz slab before any fabrication or installation — runs $40 to $80 per square foot. Fabrication adds $10 to $25 per square foot depending on the edge profile and number of cutouts. Installation adds another $10 to $20 per square foot for templating, delivery, and setting the countertops in place.
These numbers represent the middle of the market. Budget-friendly quartz options start as low as $45 per square foot installed, while premium and designer lines can exceed $150 per square foot. The brand and color you choose have the single biggest impact on where you land in this range.
Cost by Brand
Understanding how much quartz countertops cost by brand helps you target your shopping and set realistic expectations.
Cambria (premium): $75 to $130 per square foot installed. Cambria is the only major quartz brand manufactured entirely in the United States (Le Sueur, Minnesota). It is known for its deep color library, realistic natural stone patterns, and premium quality. Popular lines like Brittanicca and Ella are at the higher end. Cambria does not sell through big-box stores, only authorized dealers, which maintains pricing consistency.
Caesarstone (mid to premium): $60 to $110 per square foot installed. An Israeli-founded brand with global manufacturing. Caesarstone was one of the first quartz brands to gain mainstream popularity and offers a wide range of colors from clean whites (like Fresh Concrete and Calacatta Nuvo) to bold veined patterns. Their Supernatural collection, which mimics natural stone, sits at the premium end.
Silestone (mid-range): $55 to $100 per square foot installed. Manufactured by Spanish company Cosentino. Silestone offers a solid mid-range option with a huge color selection and the proprietary N-Boost technology that enhances stain and scratch resistance. The Suede and Volcano texture options add a tactile element not found in most brands.
MSI Q Quartz (budget to mid-range): $45 to $75 per square foot installed. MSI offers one of the most affordable quartz lines without sacrificing quality. Their Calacatta Classique and Carrara Marmi are popular marble-look options that compete visually with slabs costing twice as much. Widely available at Home Depot and through stone fabricators.
LG Viatera (mid-range): $55 to $90 per square foot installed. South Korean manufacturer with a strong selection of whites, grays, and marble-look patterns. Viatera offers good value in the mid-price segment and is available through Lowe’s and authorized fabricators.
IKEA Kasker (budget): $40 to $55 per square foot installed (self-install reduces cost further). IKEA’s in-house quartz line offers basic colors and patterns at the lowest price point in the market. Quality is adequate for the price, though the color selection is limited and edge profile options are minimal.
What Does Installed Cost Include
When a fabricator quotes you an installed price per square foot, it should include these components.
Templating: A fabricator visits your home and creates a precise template of your countertop layout using laser measurement or physical templates. This typically costs $100 to $200 but is often included in the per-square-foot price.
Slab material: The quartz slab itself, cut from larger slabs at the fabrication shop. Standard thickness is 2 centimeters (about 3/4 inch) or 3 centimeters (about 1.25 inches). Three-centimeter slabs cost 15 to 25 percent more but look more substantial and do not require a plywood support underneath.
Fabrication: Cutting the slab to your template dimensions, cutting sink and cooktop openings, polishing the edges to your chosen profile, and any seam preparation. This is skilled labor using expensive CNC and waterjet equipment.
Edge profile: A basic eased or slightly beveled edge is usually included in the quoted price. Upgraded profiles like ogee, bullnose, waterfall, or mitered add $10 to $30 per linear foot.
Installation: Delivery, placement on cabinets, leveling, seaming, silicone application, and sink cutout finishing. Most installations take 2 to 4 hours for a standard kitchen.
Sink cutout: One standard sink cutout is usually included. Additional cutouts for cooktops, soap dispensers, or secondary sinks typically cost $100 to $200 each.
Factors That Affect the Price
Several variables cause quartz pricing to vary dramatically from one project to another.
Color and pattern: Solid colors and simple speckled patterns are the cheapest. Veined patterns that mimic marble or natural stone command a premium because they require more complex manufacturing processes and careful slab matching during installation. A white quartz with dramatic gray veining can cost 30 to 50 percent more than a solid white.
Slab thickness: Two-centimeter slabs are thinner and cheaper but require a plywood substrate build-up underneath, which adds labor. Three-centimeter slabs cost more in material but eliminate the need for plywood and look more substantial. Most homeowners choose 3 cm for kitchen countertops.
Edge complexity: A simple eased edge costs nothing extra. A bullnose edge adds $10 to $15 per linear foot. An ogee or dupont edge runs $15 to $25 per linear foot. A mitered edge (creating a thick look by joining two pieces at a 45-degree angle) adds $30 to $50 per linear foot.
Layout complexity: L-shaped and U-shaped layouts require seams, which add fabrication cost. Islands with waterfall edges require additional slab material and precise fabrication. Simple straight runs are the most cost-effective.
Geographic location: Countertop pricing varies by region. Major metro areas with high labor costs and competition may actually be cheaper due to more fabricator options. Rural areas may see higher prices due to longer delivery distances and fewer competing fabricators.
Demolition and disposal: Removing your existing countertops adds $200 to $500 to the project. Some fabricators include this in their quote; others charge separately. Ask specifically.
Cost by Kitchen Size
Here is what to expect based on the size of your kitchen, using average mid-range quartz pricing of $70 to $90 per square foot installed.
Small kitchen (20 to 25 square feet): $1,400 to $2,250. Typical of galley kitchens, apartments, and compact starter homes. A straight run of countertop with one sink cutout.
Average kitchen (30 to 40 square feet): $2,100 to $3,600. L-shaped or U-shaped layouts with standard sink and possibly a cooktop cutout. This is the most common project size we see.
Large kitchen (45 to 60 square feet): $3,150 to $5,400. Includes an island, multiple seams, and possibly a breakfast bar or waterfall edge. Complex layouts with multiple cutouts.
Kitchen plus island (50 to 70 square feet): $3,500 to $6,300. A full perimeter countertop plus a large island. This is where material waste and seaming costs start to add up.
Bathroom vanity (6 to 15 square feet): $400 to $1,200. Smaller projects often carry a minimum charge from fabricators ($500 to $800 regardless of size), so the per-square-foot cost is effectively higher for small bathroom vanities.
Quartz vs Other Countertop Costs
Putting quartz pricing in context helps you evaluate whether it fits your budget and priorities.
Laminate: $10 to $30 per square foot installed. The most budget-friendly option. Laminate has improved significantly in appearance but does not match quartz in durability or resale value.
Butcher block: $30 to $60 per square foot installed. Warm and natural-looking. Requires ongoing maintenance (oiling) and is susceptible to water damage and scratches.
Granite: $40 to $100 per square foot installed. Natural stone with unique patterns. Requires periodic sealing. Comparable to quartz in price, with the main differences being maintenance requirements and heat resistance (granite handles heat better).
Quartzite: $60 to $150 per square foot installed. Natural stone that is harder and more heat-resistant than quartz but requires sealing. Prices overlap significantly with quartz at the mid-range level.
Marble: $70 to $150 per square foot installed. Beautiful but high-maintenance. Etches easily from acidic substances and requires regular sealing. A luxury choice for bathrooms and low-use areas.
Solid surface (Corian): $40 to $80 per square foot installed. Seamless, repairable, and available in many colors. Less hard than quartz and can scratch more easily.
Tips to Save on Quartz Countertops
There are practical ways to reduce your quartz countertop cost without sacrificing quality.
Choose a budget-friendly brand. MSI Q Quartz, Allen + Roth (Lowe’s exclusive), and IKEA Kasker deliver solid quartz quality at $45 to $70 per square foot installed. The difference between these and premium brands is primarily in the color selection and pattern complexity, not in the material quality or durability.
Pick a simpler color. Solid colors and basic speckled patterns cost 20 to 40 percent less than veined and marble-look designs within the same brand. If the vein pattern is not critical to your design, choosing a simpler option saves hundreds.
Keep the edge simple. An eased or bevel edge is usually included in the base price. Upgrading to ogee, bullnose, or mitered edges adds $10 to $50 per linear foot. On a 20-foot perimeter, that is $200 to $1,000 in edge upgrades alone.
Simplify the layout. Straight runs with minimal seams cost less to fabricate and install. If you are designing a new kitchen, consider whether a simpler countertop layout achieves the same functionality at lower cost.
Get multiple quotes. Fabricator pricing varies significantly, sometimes by 30 percent or more for the same brand and layout. Get at least three quotes from different fabricators. Be cautious of quotes that seem too low — they may not include demolition, sink cutouts, or edge finishing.
Buy remnants. Fabricators have leftover pieces (remnants) from larger jobs. If your countertop needs are small — a bathroom vanity, laundry counter, or small bar top — remnants can save you 30 to 50 percent off slab pricing. Call local fabricators and ask about remnant inventory.
Time your purchase. The countertop industry is seasonal. January through March is typically the slowest period, and fabricators may offer better pricing to fill their schedule. Avoid summer and fall, which are peak renovation season with the highest demand and prices.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
These charges are legitimate but often omitted from initial quotes, leading to sticker shock at the final invoice.
Plumbing disconnect and reconnect: Removing the sink and faucet for countertop installation and reconnecting them afterward typically costs $150 to $300 if the fabricator does not include it. You can save by disconnecting and reconnecting plumbing yourself if you are comfortable with basic plumbing.
Backsplash removal and repair: If your old countertop had an integrated backsplash, removing it may damage the wall behind it. Drywall repair and painting add $100 to $300.
Support for overhangs: Countertop overhangs exceeding 10 to 12 inches (breakfast bars, island seating areas) require support brackets or corbels. These add $50 to $200 depending on the material and style.
Minimum order charges: Most fabricators have a minimum project charge of $500 to $1,000, regardless of the actual square footage. Small projects like a single bathroom vanity may hit this minimum, making the effective per-square-foot cost higher than quoted.
Seam placement: Complex layouts may require more seams than quoted. Each additional seam adds fabrication time and cost. Discuss seam locations during the template phase to avoid surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do quartz countertops cost per square foot?
Quartz countertops cost $50 to $120 per square foot installed, with the national average falling between $65 and $90 per square foot. Material alone is $40 to $80 per square foot. The brand, color, edge profile, and your geographic location determine where your project falls in this range.
Is quartz cheaper than granite?
They are similarly priced. Entry-level granite is slightly cheaper ($40 to $60 installed) than entry-level quartz ($50 to $65 installed). At the mid-range and premium levels, pricing overlaps substantially. The total cost difference between quartz and granite for an average kitchen is typically under $500.
What is the most affordable quartz brand?
MSI Q Quartz and IKEA Kasker are consistently the most affordable options, ranging from $40 to $65 per square foot installed. Allen + Roth (available at Lowe’s) is another budget-friendly choice. These brands offer good quality and durability at the lowest price points in the quartz market.
How much does a quartz kitchen island cost?
A standard kitchen island countertop (15 to 25 square feet) costs $1,000 to $2,500 installed in quartz. If the island includes a waterfall edge (where the quartz extends down the sides), add $1,000 to $2,000 for the additional material and fabrication. Waterfall edges are one of the most expensive design features in quartz countertop projects.
Do quartz countertops increase home value?
Yes. Quartz countertops are consistently rated as one of the top features home buyers look for. A kitchen with quartz countertops can recoup 60 to 80 percent of the investment at resale, and in some markets, it can be the difference between a quick sale and a property that sits. For homes priced in the mid-range and above, quartz is considered a near-standard expectation by today’s buyers.
