Buying guide
Granite vs quartz countertops: which is better for you?
The question we hear most in the showroom. Here is the honest side-by-side, and how to decide in five minutes.
Choose granite if you cook a lot, want to set hot pans down and love a one-of-a-kind natural slab; it needs re-sealing once or twice a year. Choose quartz if you want zero maintenance and a consistent colour; it never needs sealing but is not heat resistant, so use trivets. Both are very hard, durable and add value to a kitchen.
- Hot pans: granite
- No sealing ever: quartz
- Unique natural pattern: granite
- Uniform, modern look: quartz
- Marble look with natural toughness: quartzite
Granite vs quartz, side by side
Based on how each material behaves in a real kitchen.
| Granite | Quartz | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural igneous stone, quarried in blocks and cut into slabs | Engineered: ground natural quartz (well over 90%) bound with resins |
| Look | One of a kind: every slab has its own pattern and movement | Consistent colour and pattern, including marble looks |
| Heat | Hot pots can go directly on it | Not heat resistant: use trivets |
| Scratches | A knife blade will not scratch it | Very hard and scratch resistant |
| Stains & sealing | Sealed at fabrication; re-seal 1 to 2 times a year | Non-porous: never needs sealing |
| Cleaning | Stone soap and water | Mild soap and water |
| Outdoors | Well suited to outdoor kitchens | Ask us: UV and heat can affect resins |
| Best for | Busy, hot-pan kitchens and people who want a natural one-off slab | Low maintenance households and a uniform, modern look |
When granite is the better choice
Granite is an igneous rock formed by the cooling of molten rock, and it is one of the hardest stones available. Hot pots can go straight onto it, a knife blade will not scratch it, and only severe abuse with a hammer or impact tool will chip it.
- You cook often and want to set hot pans down
- You want a slab nobody else has: the colour and texture of every piece depends on how it cooled
- You are planning an outdoor kitchen or bar
- You do not mind re-sealing once or twice a year (darker granites need it even less)
When quartz is the better choice
Quartz countertops are engineered from natural quartz bound with resins. Because the surface is non-porous, quartz does not require regular maintenance or sealing to preserve its look.
- You want the counter to look the same in ten years with only soap and water
- You want a consistent colour, or a clean white or marble-look surface
- Your household is busy and spills happen
- You are happy to use trivets: quartz is not heat resistant like granite
Love marble but worried about care? Look at quartzite
Quartzite is a natural stone made almost entirely of quartz. It often looks like marble, but it is harder (7 on the Mohs scale) and does not etch from kitchen acids like lemon juice or vinegar. Porosity varies by stone, so some quartzites need sealing. It is a popular middle ground between granite’s toughness and marble’s looks.
What affects the price of granite and quartz?
For both materials, countertop prices are based on the stone itself, the choice of face (edge) profile, sink and cooktop cut-outs, and the quantity of linear footage to be profiled. Within each material, prices vary a lot by colour and slab, so the fastest way to compare is to pick two or three slabs you like and ask for a quote on each.
Granite vs quartz FAQ
Is granite or quartz more durable?
Which is easier to maintain, granite or quartz?
Can you put hot pans on quartz?
Does granite stain?
Which is better for an outdoor kitchen?
Can I see granite and quartz side by side?
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