Countertop Cost Calculator

Multiply the run length by the depth: a 18-linear-ft run at the standard 25.5" depth is 38 square feet. Most kitchens have 14–19 linear feet (30–40 sq ft) of counter — both Fixr's and HomeGuide's 2026 guides size the "average kitchen" at 30–40 sq ft, and an island typically adds 6–10 linear ft.

About $4,408 installed for 38 sq ft with one sink cutout ($3,526–$5,950 across bid and metro spreads). That sits above Fixr's 2026 national average of $3,000 (most pay $1,400–$5,250) — this model blends to the middle of the $50–$200/sq ft quartz bands both guides publish, i.e. a mid-grade slab rather than entry level — but inside HomeGuide's $1,500–$8,000 range for an average kitchen.

On paper granite lists lower — HomeGuide puts it at $80–$150 per sq ft installed vs quartz at $50–$200, and our blended granite typical is $4,491 vs $4,408 for quartz on the same 38 sq ft kitchen. In practice the ranges overlap heavily: slab grade moves each material by $50+/sq ft, so a 2-cm entry granite can cost more than a mid-grade quartz. Granite also adds $200–$350 resealing every year or two; quartz never needs it.

For a typical 18-linear-ft kitchen: an ogee edge adds about $540, each extra sink or cooktop cutout runs $100–$300, and a 4-in. stone splash adds roughly $80–$100 per 10 linear ft. Edge and splash scale with your run length; cutouts are flat fees, which is why a small bathroom vanity with a curved edge can price like a much bigger straight run.

Only if you ask. HomeGuide pegs removal at $7–$14 per sq ft ($200–$560 for an average kitchen) while Fixr's 2026 guide quotes $50–$300 and notes most contractors include it in replacement labor — but plenty don't, so confirm it line by line (the toggle in this calculator adds it explicitly). Sequencing matters too: tear-out happens before templating, because the fabricator measures off the exposed, leveled cabinets — the old top can't come off and go back on. And ask who handles disposal: a stone top is heavy masonry many curbside services won't take.

Granite, marble, soapstone and poured concrete need a penetrating sealer — HomeGuide prices the treatment at $200–$350, and it recurs every 1–2 years for marble and concrete, less often for dense granite. Quartz and laminate are non-porous and never need sealing; engineered quartz's zero-maintenance surface is a big part of why it outsells natural stone.

Installation day itself is fast — HomeGuide says a quartz deck goes in in as few as 3–4 hours, with large kitchens taking 1–3 days. The crew sets slabs on leveling shims, epoxy-joins and color-matches the seams, and finishes sink and cooktop cutouts on site; plan on about 24 hours of caulk-and-seam cure before the plumber reconnects the sink. The calendar is dominated by fabrication: templating happens after old counters come off (or cabinets are set), then allow 1–2 weeks for slab cutting and edging before the crew returns. Faucet and sink reconnection is a separate plumber visit in many jobs.

For rentals and flip budgets, yes: our blended laminate typical is $1,883 for the same 38 sq ft kitchen where quartz runs $4,408 — a $2,500 gap. HomeGuide notes laminate won't add resale value and dulls/scratches within a few years, but post-formed laminate installs in a day with no templating wait. If you're staying 5+ years, quartz's durability usually wins the total-cost math (see the countertop-compare calculator).