What is the cost of quartz stone?

09 Apr.,2024

 

What Impacts the Cost of Quartz Countertops?

Several key factors determine what you’ll pay to install new quartz countertops in your home. Understanding these cost factors allows you to estimate your overall investment and look for ways to save money.

Quartz Material Prices

The biggest component of your total quartz countertops cost is the price of the engineered quartz slabs themselves. Prices range from $40 to more than $100 per square foot depending on the brand, color patterns, and thickness. Thicker slabs over 3 cm and premium designer colors or patterns cost more.

You can expect to spend around $50 to $70 per square foot for most mid-range quartz countertop slabs from leading brands like Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone, and Vicostone. The total cost obviously goes up the more surface area you need old countertops to cover.

Installation Costs

In addition to the quartz itself, you’ll need to pay professional quartz countertop prices and installation costs. This includes:

  • Initial Template and Fabrication – $200 to $500

  • Delivery – $100 to $500

  • Installation Labor – $40 to $100 per hour

  • Minor Electrical, Plumbing, and Carpentry work to remove old counters/sinks, install new sink cutouts, etc.

In total, expect to invest $2,000 to $4,500 or more to hire countertop professionals to fabricate and install your new quartz surfaces properly, depending on the scope of work needed.

Other Cost Factors

A few additional considerations also impact the total project cost:

  • Backsplashes – Integrating backsplashes add $10 to $25 per square foot

  • Edges & Treatments – Decorative edges like ogee, bevel, and bullnose run $15 to $30 per linear foot

  • Sink Cutouts – Specialized sink cutouts add $100 to $500+ per opening

  • Removal & Disposal – Taking out old laminate or tile counters costs $2 to $6 per square foot

Getting estimates from local countertop installation pros is the best way to gauge precise costs based on your kitchen or bath layout, materials selected, and installation requirements.

What Do New Quartz Countertops Cost?

Now that you know what goes into pricing quartz and granite countertops together, what is the typical overall investment for a new kitchen or bath installation?

Total Quartz Countertop Cost

The average total cost to purchase and install quartz counters falls between $3,000 and $4,500. However, it’s common to spend anywhere from $2,000 up to $6,000 or more depending on several cost factors:

  • Quartz prices per square foot – Low to high-end material grades

  • Surface area needed – Smaller galley kitchens to larger open layouts

  • Edge treatments – Standard to premium decorative edges

  • Cutouts – Number/complexity of sink or cooktop cutouts

  • Labor rates – Regional variances in installation costs

Use $80 per square foot as an approximate midpoint for estimating purposes if you’re planning for new higher-end quartz kitchen countertops with a backsplash and standard edge detail.

Actual costs can be lower or higher for different quality slabs, installation requirements, and depending on your geographic area.

Quartz vs. Other Countertop Costs

Quartz often costs more than laminate or ceramic tile but is comparable to or cheaper than many other countertop materials, especially natural stone. Here’s how quartz counters stack up cost-wise against popular alternatives:

  • Laminate – $20 to $50 per square foot

  • Tile – $10 to $40 per square foot

  • Butcher Block – $30 to $70 per square foot

  • Concrete – $50 to $100 per square foot

  • Soapstone – $70 to $100 per square foot

  • Marble – $60 to $150+ per square foot

  • Granite – $80 to $150 per square foot

So while not the absolute cheapest option, quartz delivers serious value, especially for a low-maintenance solid surface that competes favorably with premium materials like granite.

Factors That Increase Your Quartz Countertop Costs

While quartz counters offer an attractive combination of aesthetics, performance, and affordability, several design choices can drive your total investment up quickly:

Larger Surface Area

Kitchens with more extensive countertop square footage – especially open floor plans integrating an island – require larger, darker quartz countertops slabs and more installation time, increasing costs. Adding quartz surfaces in multiple bathrooms also ups the price tag proportionally.

Specialty Edges

While a standard eased or rounded top edge is the most affordable, decorative treatments like ogee, DuPont, triple bullnose, or mitered add from $3,000+ for a full kitchen.

Intricate Cutouts

Standard rectangular sink or stove cutouts are simple to fabricate. However incorporating a lot of cutouts for vessels, cooktops, trivets, etc, or special edge details around openings increases costs.

Exotic Colors

Vivid saturated solids along with luxury patterns or imported stones cost over 50% more than mainstream whites, grays, and blacks, sometimes exceeding $100 per square foot.

Thicker Slabs

Most quartz counters are made from 2 cm slabs. Going up to a 3 cm thickness boosts durability but also increases cost by 25% or more. Jumbo slabs run up charges exponentially.

Premium Brands

Leading manufacturers like Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone already command a 10-20% premium over secondary brands. Designer collections from these companies run even higher.

With the many factors that change quartz pricing, it pays to understand where upgrades drive your budget up the most. Having realistic expectations of costs allows you to allocate your spend appropriately to best match your space, functionality requirements, and style priorities.

Cost-Saving Tips for Quartz Countertops

If your quartz quote came in higher than expected, don’t lose hope! Here are smart ways to scale back expenses without sacrificing overall quality:

  • Stick with a mainstream brand to save up to 20% over boutique designer labels

  • Ask about remnant pieces for discount quartz – perfect for narrow walls or islands

  • Use a simplified edge style like standard eased or pencil round

  • See if your contractor offers free sink cutouts – some do!

  • Install the backsplash yourself after the counters are in

  • Choose a 2 cm thickness unless you need extra durability

  • See if DIY big box stores offer lower prices on popular colors

  • Supplement with ceramic tile islands matching your counters

Shopping sales and clearance for quartz remnants, taking on some finish work yourself, and keeping countertop edges even and thickness modest offer the simplest ways to reduce costs without affecting durability or function. And be sure to get at least 3 quotes from reputable local contractors to stimulate countertop pricing competition!

Popular Quartz Brands & Costs

If you’ve started seriously pricing quartz counters from different manufacturers, you’ve likely noticed a wide range of prices and qualities – even among leading brands! Here’s a look at some of the top national companies producing and installing quartz countertops along with typical per-square-foot costs:

Caesarstone – Founded in Israel, Caesarstone remains an industry leader, offering around 50 colors and styles, including some with up to 93% quartz content. Their slabs run from $50 to $89 per square foot installation-ready.

Cambria – Based in Minnesota, Cambria has over 120 premium quartz products. They are known for striking designs but their signature quartz comes at a premium – $65 to $95 per square foot common.

Silestone – Part of the Cosentino Group in Spain, Silestone boasts over 70 vivid colors and patterns. Mid-grade options run around $55 to $75 per square foot.

Vicostone – This fast-growing brand founded in Vietnam offers two tiers: the Prime+ line from $50 to $65 per square foot and the premium Royalstone selection topping $100 per square foot.

In addition, home improvement stores tend to keep costs on the more affordable end for stock colors and smaller projects, charging $45 to $65 per square foot supplied and fabricated.

Local and regional brands vary widely in quality and pricing, so be sure to vet options thoroughly and look for a quartz slab that comes with long warranties against defects before purchasing. Reviews of fab shops using the slabs can provide helpful insight as well into durability.

How Much Do Professional Quartz Countertop Installations Cost?

In addition to the engineered quartz materials themselves, labor cost for fabricating and installing counters properly makes up a significant portion of your total project investment. Here is a closer look at typical charges to expect:

Template and Fabrication

Local countertop shops use the dimensions of your existing counters or take measurements to craft a template. This is used to fabricate your counters to be installed later. Expect to be charged around $400 for templating and fabrication fees.

Sink Cutouts

Most quotes include at least one basic cutout for an under-mount kitchen or bathroom sink at no additional cost. Some charge $100 to $200 per opening. Complex cutouts for cooktops or trivets cost $200 to $500 in extra fabrication fees.

Delivery

It costs around $100 to $300 to carefully transport your finished quartz pieces from the fabricator to your home, including unloading, staging, and removing packaging debris.

Installation

Typical installer hourly labor runs $50 to $120 based on regional rates and company reputation. Count on spending $800 to $2,500 or more depending on the scope. Island counters, tile demolition/disposal, and other variables affect the labor costs.

Backsplashes

Installing a matching quartz backsplash adds at least $400 but often runs $700 to $1,500 or more. The exact price depends on the amount of linear footage needed and tile height.

Additional Work

Minor plumbing, electrical, or carpentry repairs to update sinks, fixtures, walls, etc bump overall project fees up further. However, addressing issues now prevents problems down the road.

If going completely DIY on quartz countertop colors and the installation seems daunting, another option is to purchase pre-fab quartz pieces from home improvement stores. While still heavy and challenging to install perfectly, this lets you supply the materials at wholesale costs. You would then just hire local countertop pros or carpenters for an hourly rate to install your counters.

Factors That Lower Quartz Countertop Cost

Fortunately, you aren’t necessarily stuck paying top dollar if your budget is tight. There are a few options to equip your home with beautiful new quartz surfaces without overspending, including:

Order Stock Sheet Sizes

Pricing quartz by the slab means paying for large surface areas, even if your counters don’t need that much material. Some home improvement warehouses sell pre-cut stock sizes of popular quartz colors at nearly half the per-square-foot cost of full slabs. If you can work with narrower 25” depths and standard 8’ lengths to minimize seams, this is an affordable choice that Professional installers can still work with.

Install Do-It-Yourself

Speaking of DYI, ambitious homeowners with some construction experience can buy quartz remnant slabs or pieces to fabricate for their own kitchen or bath remodels. While certainly not easy work, this lets you supply the real stone yourself at a low cost. You would then just pay local countertop or carpentry pros hourly installation rates to complete the job, avoiding paying retail markups and fabricator fees.

Choose Tile Instead of Full Slabs

Another DIY-friendly option is using large-format porcelain, ceramic, or natural quartz tile rather than a fully integrated slab. Highly realistic 12 x 24” tiles are available from top brands like Caesarstone and Silestone, often at less than $10 per square foot. And professional tile installers can handle the template and precise cutting work fairly affordably. The grout lines add visual breaks that can hide imperfections from DIY installations.

Compare Local Stone Yards

Lastly, check smaller nearby stone yards, importers, and distributors for quartz deals. Without big brand name markups, you can sometimes source remnant slabs or stock colors for $10 to $15 less per square foot than nationally known labels. Just be diligent about vetting quartz quality, warranty coverage, and the reputation of your fabricator.

Saving on costs doesn’t need to mean settling for laminate! With handy tips like these, you can still enjoy natural quartz surfaces at affordable prices.

Quartz Countertops Installation Cost Breakdown

Now that you know approximate per-square-foot to install quartz countertops, prices and options to lower costs, let’s examine true full installation expenses. Below is a sample price estimate for installing 30 square feet of new Caesarstone quartz counters including a sink cutout and standard eased edge in a suburban Midwest home.

Note regional rates result in slightly lower nationwide installation charges on average than coastal markets. Rural areas also tend to hit the low ranges while major metros can reach the higher ends due to cost of living differences.

Itemized Quartz Kitchen Countertop Installation Costs

  • Materials – 30 sq ft of $75 per sq ft Caesarstone quartz = $2,250

  • Sink Cutout Fabrication – 1 basic cutout at $0 = $0

  • Edging – 30 linear ft eased edge at $2 per ft = $60

  • Template and Fabrication Fees – $400 flat charge

  • Delivery – 1 truckload flat fee = $150

  • Installation – 2 workers x 2 days x $100 per hour = $1,600

  • Backsplash Install (DIY sourced) – $0

  • Tax – ~10% on materials = $226

Total Investment = $4,686

As you can see, a professionally installed higher-end quartz kitchen countertop upgrade averaging $150 per square foot all-in fits squarely in the middle of the typical range. And that allows for a premium brand, full custom fabrication and installation, durable eased edging, taxes, etc.

Based on the breakdown above, you could potentially trim $800 or more off by installing your own tile backsplash, choosing a budget quartz line, or handling other finish work yourself. Or costs might rise closer to $6,000+ if you have a larger kitchen, opt for thicker materials, exotic imported stones, hand-polished edges, or intricate cutouts.

Either way, understanding precisely what goes into the cost of new quartz counters helps avoid budget pitfalls. Be sure to get itemized estimates from at least three local quartz countertop installation companies to compare bids effectively.

Quartz Bathroom Counters Costs

In addition to kitchen overhauls, quartz makes an exceptional (and eye-catching) upgrade over worn laminate bathroom counters and dated ceramic tile. The water-resistant, non-porous makeup stands up to splashes and humidity while adding modern style.

So how much does installing a new quartz vanity top run compared to other counters? Here is a realistic breakdown:

  • Laminate – $200 to $400

  • Cultured Marble – $350 to $700

  • Quartz – $500 to $1,200

  • Granite – $800 to $1,500

  • Marble – $1,200 to $2,000+

At $75 to $100 per square foot installed, clear-edged slab quartz offers serious value, outpricing natural stone options. And the variety of colors suits modern, transitional, or traditional spaces beautifully.
Are Quartz Countertops Worth It?

With mid-range prices higher than basic options like laminate, are quartz counters ultimately worth the extra investment? Given consumer trends and the huge functional benefits quartz offers, the answer for most homeowners is a clear “yes!”

Why Quartz Countertops Are a Good Investment

Installing new quartz surfaces makes excellent sense in your home renovation budget because:

  • Quartz matches or beats granite and other high-end natural stones for visual elegance and luxury appeal. Even designer brands cost less than exotic marbles or soapstones.

  • The stain, scratch, and heat resistance stands up better than almost any material, retaining beauty despite busy kitchens.

  • Simple cleaning and maintenance needs also minimize lifetime ownership costs.

  • The added resale value of $1,000+ per kitchen makes upgrades worthwhile. Stats show that modernized kitchens and baths sell homes faster and for higher prices.

  • Extended warranties against defects provide lasting peace of mind.

Quartz offers great flexibility too – integrating beautifully as kitchen islands, bathroom vanities, laundry rooms, bar tops, fireplace surrounds, and everywhere else an extremely durable yet eye-catching surface is valued. That versatile, upscale functionality at mid-range prices seals the decision for many homeowners.

The cost of quartz countertops is often the first concern for any customer. The first question every customer always asks us is how much does a quartz countertop cost? You have a budget and want to know whether you can complete the installation of your quartz countertop at or below that budget.

At Granite Selection, we are experts in fabricating and installing quartz countertops. We understand what goes into the making of these kitchen and bathroom staples, and we’re prepared to guide you to the best choice of quartz countertops for you. Understanding this information can help you choose the quartz countertop that fits your needs.

Average Cost of Quartz Countertops in Chicago

How much are quartz countertops actually? On average, customers will pay about $75 per square foot for quartz countertop installation. This means that most customers will pay somewhere between $1,800 and $3,000 when accounting for kitchen islands or vanities with multiple sinks. 10 square feet of countertop space will cost around $600 on the low end. You should keep the average cost per square foot in mind.

Chicago Average Cost

$2300

Chicago Average Range

$1700-3000

Low-End Cost

$600

High-End Cost

$6000

Factors Determining Quartz Countertops Cost

There is a range of factors that can impact how much you’ll end up spending to install quartz countertops. Let’s go over what you should consider before you come to a final cost per square foot of this natural stone.

1. The Size of the Project in Square Foot 

Quartz countertops’ price naturally varies, but you’ll find that, on average, it falls somewhere around $70 per square foot. However, this cost will fall anywhere between $40 to $100 per square foot depending on various other factors.
When you start looking at higher square footage numbers for engineered quartz, you’ll also start to see some more range in potential quartz countertops cost, as the cost of professional installation and labor costs starts to go up as well.

The fact is, very little of quartz countertops’ cost is for the actual material. Much more significant is the cost of fabrication, edge finishing, and installation, all of which will vary based on square footage. This is because, for the most part, the cost of quartz countertops is never just for the quartz itself. You’ll hardly ever find manufacturers pricing their costs of material and quartz countertop installation separately.

Though there are some manufacturers who price materials separately, it’s the fabricator who sets the prices of the final materials, and the cost per square foot is based on that.

Sq. Ft.

10

20

30

40

50

Avg. Cost

$700

$1400

$2100

$2800

$3500

2. Quartz Quality 

  • Surplus/Low-Quality Quartz: This type of quartz countertop is going to be cheaper, but it won’t be as vibrant. It’s likely to have veins, and it may fade over time. It will still be durable, but you won’t get the same luster. Expect to pay around $40-65 per square foot. 

  • Standard/Mid-Quality Quartz: This is considered to be commercial grade and is the most commonly sold and purchased form of quartz. It is likely to be between $65 and $75 per square foot. 

  • Premium/High-Quality Quartz: The color of first-choice quartz will be vivid, and there should be almost no visible veining. Because this quartz is often made for custom orders, the cost can fall anywhere in the $75-200 per square foot range. 

 3. Fabrication

An uncut slab of quartz is going to be more expensive than a slab that is prefabricated. Prefabricated quartz slabs come in standard sizing with finished edging, and they are therefore less customizable. Only professionals opt to spend more on uncut quartz slabs, which can be modified to more accurately fit the dimensions of your kitchen or bathroom. Prefabricated quartz slabs are lower cost, but you’ll need to be exact with your measurements.

4. Edge Treatment

The edge treatment on your quartz slab can significantly impact the final price. Edge features and corner treatments are priced per foot, and some will be far more detailed and therefore more expensive. Take a look at the pricing for popular quartz edges offered by Granite Selection! Below are just a few of the quartz countertop edge treatments we offer and how they will affect the cost of your quartz.

  • Standard Eased: This is the most common countertop edge, offering a simple, elegant look. CSharp corners are slightly rounded for safety, but the edge is otherwise straight. These will be up to $30 per linear foot. 

  • Half Bullnose: This can be up to $30 per linear foot as well. The top of the edge is rounded while the bottom resembles the standard eased edge. This is a cheaper option than a full bullnose edge choice. 

  • Full Bullnose: This edge resembles the half bullnose but is fully rounded on both the top and bottom. It falls between $20 and $45 per linear foot price-wise. 

  • Bevel: This cut features a 45-degree angle at the top edge of your quartz. It is most common for contemporary or modern styles, as it looks crisp and sharp. 

  • Ogee Edge: This is an S-shaped edge that looks elegant and ornate. It is therefore also more expensive, likely to be between $30 and $60 per foot. 

5. Quartz Brand

Different brands will naturally price differently, so choose your brand wisely. Brands will often have their own proprietary colors, so you’ll have to stick with them if there’s a color you really fall in love with. There will always be subtle differences between the same color at different brands, so we recommend that you avoid mixing and matching. 

Many quartz countertop brands will maintain the same cost for the engineered stone material, but their chosen fabricator will set a final cost that incorporates the cost of installment and edge treatment. Brands will base their costs on the same bracket, so they shouldn’t stray too far from one another, but prices will still vary. 

Here are a few major brands to look out for:

  • MSI Quartz: These can be anywhere from $15 to $90 per square foot. This brand offers a number of patterns and designs, and they have a large selection of whites, grays, and beiges to choose from.
  • Caesarstone: This brand is known for its bright colors and is often available for purchase in stores. Prices range from $55 to $400 per square foot.
  • Cambria Quartz: Most of this brand’s countertops fall in about the same range of $60 to $150 per square foot. Variations in cost are likely to be set by the fabricator.
  • Silestone: This brand offers a variety of mid-quality quartz options, ranging from $50 to $120 per square foot. Silestone is available in many home improvement stores.

6. Quartz Finish

The quartz finish will influence more than just the final look of your countertops. The three choices for a quartz finish are honed, sueded, and polished, which we’ll get into below. Learning your options will help you determine which finish to choose. 

  • Honed: A honed, matte finish is perfect for anyone looking for that contemporary look. While it isn’t available for all engineered quartz countertops, it does a great job of hiding any crumbs or imperfections.

  • Sueded: A sueded finish is more textured than a honed finish, and it does best with dark quartzes. It is low maintenance and easy to clean with a soft cloth. 

  • Polished: For anyone looking for a more classic finish, the question of

    For anyone looking for a more classic finish, the question of honed vs polished quartz will certainly best be answered with the latter. This finish is shiny, lustrous, and beautiful.

7. Leveling

Prior to installation, new quartz countertops must be leveled to ensure that they can safely support certain weights. This is a significant part of the quartz countertop installation process, and, if done incorrectly, will result in cracks forming in the quartz. Professionals will know how to use the right materials to create a level surface. For certain quartz countertops, the leveling process may be more labor intensive, thereby increasing the cost.

Thinking about quartz? Can there be a better choice? Check our Calacatta Laza project. Beautiful looks and no hidden costs.

See the project

How Much Does Quartz Countertops Installation Cost in Chicago?

Installation is often included as part of the new quartz countertops cost, and it’s only a small part when adding in the price of the quartz countertop edge treatments, finishing, and polish. The fabricator will determine the final cost based on both the cost of materials and the cost of the actual installation process.

To do this, the fabricator will need to determine the exact measurements. Most likely, they will need to make a template of the work area to base the design. They’ll need to consider any cutouts designed for a sink or faucet, and they’ll include space in the template design for all of these extra pieces. This process can take anywhere between two weeks to a month, at which point you can begin the actual quartz countertop installation.

Realistically, you’ll be paying an average of $60 to $80 per square foot. This is the most common cost for quartz countertops, but due to the added difficulty of cutouts, you’ll pay more to install a sink and faucets.

Additional Costs and Considerations

There are certain fees that are overlooked when making plans to install quartz countertops. It’s easy to forget these additional costs that should be kept in mind when planning to stay within a set budget. 

Backsplash Installation

A matching quartz backsplash can look beautiful next to a countertop, but it’ll raise your final price significantly. This will likely be priced the same as the countertops, and you’ll be charged for both material and higher labor and installation costs.

Old Countertop Removal

Before putting in a new countertop, you’ll have to remove the old countertops. Professional countertop installers will charge about 10$ to $!5 per square foot when it comes to countertop removal. We highly recommend sticking with the professionals on this one, as it’s possible to seriously damage your existing cabinets if the old countertops are removed incorrectly.

Sink Cutout

Some companies will charge you for any cutouts you choose to incorporate into your countertop design. While others will include the cost of cutouts in their final price, you should always check to be sure.

Plumbing Work

Any changes to the current plumbing will induce additional fees. Sink removal or disconnecting and reconnecting pipes is likely to add anywhere from $150 to $400 in fees.

Quartz Countertop Selection and Installation Process by Granite Selection

We need to sum up the current text in the article into a shorter description of our process at Granite selection.

Step 1. Quartz selection online and at our showroom

At Granite selection, we’ve developed an effective process to help you install quartz countertops. Our Quick Quotes system helps you choose what type of stone you want for your quartz countertop first. 

Next, you should estimate your countertop square footage and discuss preferred features like edging and sink types. We provide a complimentary in-home measurement to give you an accurate quote.

Often customers try to save money by going through an intermediary to get their quartz slabs, but going through a middleman can actually cost more because they require that you purchase the entire slab.

Instead of wasting money on extra quartz, Granite Selection customers get access to our Natural Stone Warehouse, so they only spend money on the stone they need. We can also save you money on fabrication by using our advanced quartz-cutting technology.

Step 2. Free in-home measurements

At Granite Selection we create a seamless quartz countertop by measuring the space of your proposed countertop area.

An expert Granite Selection employee comes to your home for a complimentary in-home measurement service. During this time, we use an LT-55 XL Laser Templator to measure the dimensions of your kitchen or bathroom to within 1/16 of an inch.

The Laser Templator can template a countertop up to 50 feet.

Step 3. Installation

Mistakes happen, but they can be costly. When you have an experienced team, you reduce those errors significantly. All employees at Granite Selection have 10 or more years of installation experience. Our employees know how to install countertops through every obstacle.

Furthermore, we understand one of the most likely places for a quartz countertop to break is in transport. That is why we use the Asinus 350 Lift System to carry countertops weighing up to 770 pounds.

It requires fewer people in the installation and lowers the cost of your countertop setup. Plus, this protects the countertop from potential scratches and breaks.

REDESIGNING YOUR KITCHEN? GO FOR QUARTZ!

We have a vast 2023-2024 season collection of the finest quartz slabs to fit your budget. Have your pick!

As for quartz countertop installation, our experts will take care of it!

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Get Started Today

At Granite Selection, we offer a wide range of specials on Chicago quartz countertops, and we’re happy to guide you through installing quartz countertops! We’re always here to help.

So, did we answer all your questions on how much quartz countertops cost?

If not, feel free to call us at (888) 906 3317 with your quartz countertop questions. An experienced Granite Selection employee is here to help you.

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