Kicking off a kitchen remodel? You have a lot of work—and decisions—ahead of you. You’ll need to pick out new cabinets, floors, appliances, and more. Yet, the most impactful decision, by far, will be your choice of new countertops. There are so many options, styles, and colors to choose from. For many homeowners, finding the right countertops for their kitchen remodel is one of the most challenging parts of the project.

In this article, we’ll guide you through your many Countertop & Vanity options and help you decide which material—granite, quartz, marble, stainless steel, or butcher block—is right for your kitchen. We’ll weigh the pros and cons of each, and make the case for how each might figure into your kitchen remodel.

Granite Countertops

When most people hear “stone countertops,” they instinctively think of granite. It’s the definitive material for most kitchen remodels (although, as we’ll discuss, quartz is a close second and preferred by many people!). Cut from natural stone and then sealed, Granite countertops are incredibly durable and beautiful. They’re difficult to damage and, unsurprisingly, retain their value for many years because of this quality.

Granite countertops come in two types: slab and prefabricated. Both are natural stone. “Prefabricated” just means the stone has already been cut to a default size prior to arriving at the distributor. Because of this one-size-fits-all approach, it’s generally cheaper than granite slab, which has not yet been cut or fabricated to size. If you’re working on a highly custom kitchen remodel, you may need to buy granite slab so that your contractor can customize not only the size, but also the edging and other details.

If you love the look of natural stone, it’s hard to go wrong with Chinese Granite. For the reasons we’ll discuss below, it’s a better natural stone alternative to marble for kitchen remodeling projects.

Advantages

• Durable: Granite is a tough material that can stand up to accidental slashes, cuts, and impact.

• Heat-Resistant: Granite is highly heat-resistant, which means you can put hot pans or trays on its surface without causing permanent damage.

• Unique: No two pieces of granite are exactly the same, which means your kitchen’s granite slab will truly be one-of-a-kind.

Quartz Countertops

When stone countertops first came into vogue, granite was the obvious choice for many homeowners. However, in recent years, an alternative—Quartz Countertops—have really taken off. Unlike granite, which is cut from natural stone and then sealed, quartz is real stone that has been processed and sealed into a protective resin. As a result, quartz countertops can look like just about anything: they can take on patterns, colors, and looks just not found in natural stone.

Generally speaking, Quartz and granite countertops are about even in terms of cost. If you’re comparing the cost of quartz and granite countertops, you’ll really need to look at the specific countertops in question: both occupy the same average price range.

Another place the two materials are just about even is their overall durability. Quartz trades the heat-resistance of granite for better moisture and leak resistance. They’re both very solid and stand up well to everyday use.

The final verdict? The choice between quartz and granite is less about specifics and more about your personal taste and what your kitchen remodel needs. If you’re looking for the strength and beauty of natural stone, granite is probably right for your kitchen. If you want a more modern design, quartz probably has something you’re looking for.