Granite is one of the best materials for a modern countertop. However, if you're on a tight budget, this material may be out of your price range. What types of countertops, then, are cheaper than granite but just as efficient? We researched various sources to curate the perfect list to help you in your search.
Luckily, the catalog of countertops available to you is broad enough that you can explore a wide variety of options, even if your needs are especially specific. Granite is considered the king of countertops, but it's also an expensive material. You can find alternatives that not only suit your kitchen but that are also less expensive and better suited for your upcoming cooking adventures. These alternatives include:
Known for its unique and captivating appearance, marble is a natural go-to for anyone looking to upgrade their kitchen—and it's cheaper than granite to install.
• Cost: Up to $200 per square foot • Pros: Striking in a kitchen setting, great for pulling a room together • Cons: Tends to stain more easily than most materials
While concrete may not be your go-to when you remodel a kitchen, the material is surprisingly versatile in its uses. You can work with professionals to customize your concrete installation, ensuring that it suits your preferred aesthetic.
• Cost: Up to $150 per square foot • Pros: Durable over long periods of time and use, easy to customize • Cons: Heavier than most countertop materials, porous, and prone to staining
Laminate is one of the most affordable countertop materials on the market. This material comes in a wide range of colors and styles, making it one of the most customizable options on the remodeling table.
• Cost: Up to $50 per square foot • Pros: One of your least expensive countertop options, easy to replace over time, resistant to stains • Cons: Sensitive to heat, tends to take on wear and tear
Soapstone is a mine-able stone that prizes practicality in the kitchen. This material's naturally dark colors help make your countertops the star of your kitchen.
• Cost: Up to $120 per square foot • Pros: low maintenance, extremely resistant to heat, has a unique blue-green appearance • Cons: porous and prone to staining
Quartz is prized as one of the best countertop materials available to date, even with granite options on the table. This easy-to-maintain material brings a real pop to your kitchen while also reducing your day-to-day clean-up.
• Cost: Up to $150 per square foot • Pros: Non-porous and resistant to staining, less expensive than similar stone alternatives • Cons: Sensitive to heat
Sintered stone is another mine-able stone that you can use in a well-loved kitchen. If you're looking for material like quartz at a fraction of the price, take a look at some of the sintered stone countertops available through your local dealer.
• Cost: Up to $80 per square foot • Pros: Environmentally-friendly, tends not to scratch or react to high levels of heat, low maintenance • Cons: Not always the prettiest material to use in the kitchen