Quartz countertops are quickly becoming one of the most popular choices for kitchen and bathroom remodels due to their stylish appearance, extreme durability, and relatively affordable the cost per square foot compared to other natural stone options. But how much do quartz countertops cost? In this complete guide, we’ll break down everything that impacts your quartz countertop costs per square foot and overall installation price so you can budget accurately and get the best value for your remodeling project. This way, you know what to get before you visit a countertop store near you.
Table of Contents
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.
