The quartz price per square foot varies dramatically depending on brand, color, thickness, and where you live. Budget quartz starts around $40 per square foot for materials while premium designer slabs can exceed $150. Add fabrication and installation, and the total installed cost ranges from $60 to $200+ per square foot.
After decades in the home improvement industry, we’ve helped countless homeowners navigate quartz countertop pricing. This guide breaks down every cost factor so you can set a realistic budget and avoid the sticker shock that catches so many people off guard at the fabricator’s showroom.
Price by Brand Tier
The quartz price per square foot falls into three general tiers based on manufacturer, color complexity, and market positioning.
Budget tier ($40-$60 per square foot, material only):
- Solid colors and simple veining patterns
- Brands: MSI Q Quartz, Allen + Roth (Lowe’s exclusive), LX Hausys Viatera (entry colors)
- Standard 3cm (1.18″) thickness
- Limited color selection compared to premium lines
- Same basic durability as premium quartz — the engineering is similar
Mid-range tier ($60-$90 per square foot, material only):
- More realistic veining, marble-look patterns, and trending colors
- Brands: Silestone (standard colors), Caesarstone (standard line), Cambria (entry colors), MSI Q Premium
- Wider color selection with better pattern depth
- Some proprietary technologies (Silestone’s N-Boost, Cambria’s natural quartz)
- This tier covers the majority of residential kitchen installations
Premium tier ($90-$150+ per square foot, material only):
- Designer colors, complex veining that closely mimics natural marble and granite
- Brands: Cambria (premium colors like Brittanicca), Caesarstone (premium line), Silestone (Eternal series), Dekton (ultra-compact by Cosentino)
- Book-matched slabs, full-depth veining, and exclusive patterns
- Some lines include jumbo slab sizes for seamless installations
- Premium warranty terms and exclusive fabricator networks
The tier your chosen color falls into matters more than the brand name. A budget color from Caesarstone costs less than a premium color from MSI. Always price the specific color you want rather than assuming brand-level pricing.
Installed vs Material-Only Costs
The quartz price per square foot for materials is only part of the equation. Fabrication and installation add substantially to the final cost.
Material only: $40-$150/sq ft (the slab itself)
Fabrication: $10-$30/sq ft. This covers templating your exact countertop dimensions, cutting the slab with CNC or waterjet equipment, polishing edges, cutting sink and cooktop openings, and drilling faucet holes. Fabrication is a skilled trade using expensive equipment.
Installation: $5-$15/sq ft. This includes transporting the finished countertops to your home, setting them on the cabinets, leveling, seaming (if multiple pieces), and caulking. Quartz slabs are extremely heavy (roughly 20 lbs per square foot for 3cm thickness), requiring a team of 2-4 installers.
Total installed cost by tier:
- Budget quartz installed: $60-$100/sq ft
- Mid-range quartz installed: $80-$130/sq ft
- Premium quartz installed: $120-$200+/sq ft
What’s typically included in a fabricator’s quote:
- Template measurement (laser or manual)
- Slab material
- Fabrication (cutting, polishing, cutouts)
- Standard edge profile (usually eased or pencil round)
- Delivery and installation
- Basic caulking and sealing around sinks
What typically costs extra:
- Upgraded edge profiles: $5-$30/linear foot
- Additional cutouts (cooktop, extra sink): $100-$300 each
- Backsplash in matching quartz: $20-$50/linear foot
- Old countertop removal: $150-$500
- Plumbing disconnect/reconnect: $150-$400
Popular Brand Pricing
Here’s the typical quartz price per square foot range for the most popular brands in the US market (material cost only).
MSI Q Quartz: $35-$75/sq ft. One of the most affordable brands with a solid color range. Widely available at Home Depot and independent distributors. Good quality for the price — a strong budget option.
Silestone (Cosentino): $50-$120/sq ft. The original quartz countertop brand. Known for their N-Boost bacteriostatic protection and Suede/Volcano textured finishes. The Eternal series (marble looks) runs $80-$120. Lush and Classic series are more affordable at $50-$80.
Caesarstone: $55-$130/sq ft. Israeli-made quartz with a reputation for consistent quality. Their marble-inspired designs are among the most realistic in the industry. Standard colors run $55-$80. Premium and supernatural series run $90-$130.
Cambria: $65-$150+/sq ft. The only US-made quartz brand (mined and manufactured in Minnesota). Known for exceptional quality and the most realistic marble-look patterns. Brittanicca and Skara Brae are perpetual bestsellers at $100-$150. Budget-friendlier options like Torquay and Berwyn run $65-$90.
LX Hausys Viatera: $45-$85/sq ft. Korean-made quartz with competitive pricing. Solid quality and an expanding color line. Often available at competitive pricing through kitchen and bath dealers.
Samsung Radianz: $50-$90/sq ft. Well-made quartz at moderate pricing. Popular with builders and remodelers looking for quality without premium brand pricing.
Edge Profile Costs
The edge profile you select affects both the look and the quartz price per square foot of your final installation.
Standard edges (usually included or $0-$5/linear foot):
- Eased (straight with slightly rounded top): The default edge. Clean, modern look. Included with most quotes.
- Pencil round: Slightly more rounded than eased. Comfortable and low-maintenance. Usually included.
Mid-range edges ($8-$15/linear foot):
- Beveled: Angled cut along the top edge. Creates a subtle shadow line. Modern and popular.
- Half bullnose: Rounded on the top half, flat on the bottom. Transitional style that works with most kitchen designs.
- Ogee: S-shaped curved profile. Traditional and elegant. Adds a decorative element to the countertop edge.
Premium edges ($15-$30/linear foot):
- Full bullnose: Completely rounded edge, top and bottom. Soft, flowing appearance. Requires more material removal and polishing.
- Dupont: Combination of a curved top with a straight bottom ledge. Distinctive and classic.
- Mitered edge: Two pieces joined at 45 degrees to create a thick, slab-like appearance. Very modern and high-end. $20-$40/linear foot due to the material and labor involved.
- Waterfall edge: The countertop continues vertically down the side of the island. Dramatic and designer-worthy. $30-$50+ per linear foot of the vertical panel.
For a typical kitchen with 25-30 linear feet of exposed edge, upgrading from a standard eased edge to an ogee adds $200-$450. A mitered edge upgrade on a 10-foot island adds $200-$400.
Thickness and Its Impact on Price
Quartz countertops come in several thicknesses, each affecting the quartz price per square foot and the overall aesthetic.
2cm (3/4″ — about 0.79″): Thinner and lighter. Typically $5-$15 less per square foot than 3cm. Requires a plywood subtop for support, which adds $3-$5/sq ft in labor and materials. Common in commercial applications and as a cost-saving measure in residential kitchens. The plywood support negates some of the material savings.
3cm (1.18″ — the standard): The default residential thickness. Strong enough to span cabinet openings without support plywood. This is what 90%+ of residential kitchens use and what fabricators stock most readily. All pricing in this guide assumes 3cm unless noted.
Jumbo/thick slabs (4cm+): Available from some premium manufacturers. Creates a dramatic, substantial look. $15-$40 more per square foot than 3cm. Most commonly used for islands and statement pieces rather than full kitchens due to the weight and cost premium.
Our recommendation: Stick with 3cm for most residential kitchens. It’s the industry standard, most cost-effective, and gives a substantial feel without requiring additional support. Use mitered edges if you want a thicker appearance without the weight and cost of a true thick slab.
Regional Pricing Differences
Where you live significantly impacts the quartz price per square foot you’ll actually pay. Both material and labor costs vary by region.
Lowest cost regions ($55-$90/sq ft installed for mid-range):
- Southeast US (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia)
- Midwest (Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas)
- Mountain West (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho)
Average cost regions ($75-$120/sq ft installed for mid-range):
- Texas and the Southwest
- Mid-Atlantic (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania)
- Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington)
Highest cost regions ($100-$160/sq ft installed for mid-range):
- New York metro area
- San Francisco Bay Area and greater Los Angeles
- Boston and New England
- Hawaii and Alaska
The price gap is driven primarily by labor costs and competition density. Areas with more fabricators competing for business tend to have lower prices. Rural areas may have higher material costs due to transportation but lower labor rates.
Getting quotes from 3-5 fabricators is essential regardless of where you live. We’ve seen quotes for identical projects vary by 40-60% within the same city.
Total Project Cost Examples
Here’s what complete quartz countertop projects cost at common kitchen sizes, using mid-range quartz ($70-$90/sq ft material) with standard installation.
Small kitchen (25-30 sq ft of countertop):
- Budget quartz: $1,500-$3,000 installed
- Mid-range quartz: $2,000-$3,900 installed
- Premium quartz: $3,000-$6,000 installed
Average kitchen (35-45 sq ft of countertop):
- Budget quartz: $2,100-$4,500 installed
- Mid-range quartz: $2,800-$5,850 installed
- Premium quartz: $4,200-$9,000 installed
Large kitchen with island (50-65 sq ft of countertop):
- Budget quartz: $3,000-$6,500 installed
- Mid-range quartz: $4,000-$8,450 installed
- Premium quartz: $6,000-$13,000 installed
Bathroom vanity (10-15 sq ft):
- Budget quartz: $600-$1,500 installed
- Mid-range quartz: $800-$1,950 installed
- Premium quartz: $1,200-$3,000 installed
These estimates include slab material, fabrication, standard edge profile, one sink cutout, delivery, and installation. Add extra for upgraded edges, additional cutouts, backsplash, plumbing, and old countertop removal.
How to Save on Quartz Countertops
Practical ways to reduce your quartz price per square foot without settling for a product you don’t love.
Choose an in-stock color: Fabricators stock certain slabs and can offer better pricing on them versus special-order colors that take weeks to arrive. Ask what’s in inventory and you may find a color you love at 15-25% less than a special order.
Simplify your edge profile: A standard eased or pencil round edge is typically included in the base price. Upgrading to ogee, bullnose, or mitered adds $200-$1,000+ to the project. The standard edge looks great in modern and transitional kitchens.
Minimize seams by optimizing layout: Work with your fabricator to layout cuts that minimize waste. Sometimes adjusting a peninsula length by a few inches eliminates a seam and saves a slab, dropping the cost significantly.
Skip the quartz backsplash: A full quartz backsplash looks stunning but adds $20-$50 per linear foot. A tile backsplash at $10-$25 per square foot achieves a beautiful look at a lower cost. Or use a simple 4″ quartz backsplash (often included or low cost) and tile above it.
Get multiple quotes: Quartz fabrication is competitive. Get 3-5 quotes from different fabricators — not just big-box stores. Independent fabricators often offer better pricing and more personalized service. Bring your exact measurements and desired slab to each for apples-to-apples comparison.
Consider remnants for small projects: Bathroom vanities, wet bars, and small surfaces can often be cut from remnant pieces (leftover from larger projects) at 30-50% off. Call fabricators and ask about available remnants in your preferred color family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is quartz cheaper than granite?
They overlap in price. Budget quartz ($40-$60/sq ft material) costs more than budget granite ($30-$50/sq ft). Mid-range quartz and granite are similarly priced ($60-$90/sq ft). Premium granite (exotic slabs) can exceed premium quartz at $100-$300+/sq ft. When factoring in that quartz never needs sealing while granite does (annually, at $100-$200), total lifetime cost favors quartz slightly.
How much does a quartz countertop cost for a 10×10 kitchen?
A 10×10 kitchen typically has 25-35 square feet of countertop surface (depending on layout). Installed costs range from $1,500-$3,500 for budget quartz, $2,000-$4,500 for mid-range, or $3,000-$7,000 for premium. These estimates include standard fabrication and installation but not plumbing, backsplash, or old countertop removal.
Does quartz stain or scratch?
Quartz is highly stain-resistant but not stain-proof. Most household spills wipe up easily. However, prolonged contact with strongly pigmented substances (turmeric, red wine, permanent marker) can stain some lighter-colored quartz. Scratches from everyday kitchen use are rare, but cutting directly on quartz with a knife can leave marks. Always use cutting boards and wipe spills promptly.
How long do quartz countertops last?
Quartz countertops last 20-30+ years with normal use and basic care. The material itself is engineered to be extremely durable — it won’t chip, crack, or degrade under normal kitchen conditions. Unlike granite, quartz never needs sealing or reconditioning. Most homeowners replace quartz countertops due to design preferences changing, not because the material failed.
Can I install quartz countertops myself?
Technically possible but not recommended. Quartz slabs weigh 15-20+ lbs per square foot, making a 30 sq ft countertop weigh 450-600 lbs. Precise cutting requires specialized CNC or waterjet equipment. Fabrication errors on a $2,000+ slab are very costly. Most manufacturers void the warranty if the product isn’t installed by a certified fabricator. Save DIY efforts for demolition and prep work — leave the quartz to the pros.
