Countertop cost per square foot
| Countertop material | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $15–$80 | The cheapest material by a wide margin |
| Butcher block | $40–$150 | Real wood, sealed against moisture |
| Solid surface (Corian) | $40–$150 | A man-made sheet such as Corian, seamless |
| Granite | $75–$150 | Natural stone, cut to size from a slab |
| Quartz | $50–$200 | Engineered stone; the widest range of grades |
| Marble | $50–$200 | Natural stone, priced by rarity |
HomeGuide publishes installed prices by material, and Fixr publishes per-square-foot prices that agree on the order, with HomeGuide running higher on most materials. Angi prices the material and the labor separately, so we use its figures as cross-checks. Angi puts the national average for granite at $3,250 and for laminate at $1,251. Forbes Home lists laminate at $17 to $41 per square foot, granite at $29 to $147 (its summary table says $39 to $149) and quartz at $38 to $157, and puts the average spend at $3,315, in line with the table above.
Cost by size of the kitchen
| Countertop area | Laminate | Granite | Quartz | Marble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 sq ft | $300–$1,600 | $1,500–$3,000 | $1,000–$4,000 | $1,000–$4,000 |
| 30 sq ft | $450–$2,400 | $2,250–$4,500 | $1,500–$6,000 | $1,500–$6,000 |
| 35 sq ft | $530–$2,800 | $2,630–$5,250 | $1,750–$7,000 | $1,750–$7,000 |
| 40 sq ft | $600–$3,200 | $3,000–$6,000 | $2,000–$8,000 | $2,000–$8,000 |
| 50 sq ft | $750–$4,000 | $3,750–$7,500 | $2,500–$10,000 | $2,500–$10,000 |
HomeGuide puts a small kitchen of 20 to 30 sq ft of countertop at $1,000 to $4,500, an average kitchen of 30 to 40 sq ft at $1,500 to $6,000 and a large kitchen of 40 to 60 sq ft at $6,000 to $9,000. Fixr puts a 35 sq ft kitchen with quartz at $3,000, typically $1,400 to $5,250.
What changes the price
- Material. Laminate costs a fraction of stone, and quartz and marble have the widest ranges.
- Area. The total is the per-square-foot price times the countertop area, so measure every run, including an island.
- Edge profile. A plain eased or squared edge is free, and ornate profiles are priced per linear foot.
- Cutouts. Each sink or cooktop cutout is a separate charge.
- Backsplash. A backsplash is usually quoted on its own.
- Removing the old top. Some fabricators include it and some charge extra.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's carpenter wages.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Removing the old countertop | $50–$300 | When it is not in the quote |
| Sink cutout | $100–$300 | Each sink |
| Cooktop cutout | $120–$400 | A drop-in cooktop |
| Backsplash | $500–$1,700 | A typical kitchen |
| Slab delivery | $150–$200 | When it is not in the quote |
Countertops are part of a bigger job: see kitchen remodel cost, cabinet installation cost and cabinet refacing cost. A backsplash is tile work: see tile installation cost. If you are adding an island, see kitchen island cost. A new sink may mean a new garbage disposal.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per square foot installed, and does it include the slab, fabrication and delivery?
- Which edge profile is in the quote, and what do other profiles cost?
- Are the sink and cooktop cutouts included?
- Do you remove and dispose of the old countertop, and is that in the price?
- Who disconnects and reconnects the plumbing, and is that in the price?
Methodology and sources
We price each material from published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's wages. Forbes Home is used as an independent cross-check. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeGuide: countertop installation cost — installed price by material, kitchen totals, cutouts, backsplash
- Fixr: kitchen countertop cost — installed price by material and size, edges, removal, cutouts
- Angi: granite countertop cost — slab and labor prices, average, cutouts
- Angi: quartz countertop cost — price per square foot, installation, cutouts
- Angi: marble countertop cost — material price and project average
- Angi: laminate countertop cost — material price, project average, backsplash
- Forbes Home: countertop installation cost — used as an independent cross-check
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2031, Carpenters) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide |
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| Fixr |
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| Angi |
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| Angi |
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| Angi |
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| Angi | marble material about $60 per sq ft, $3,000 for about 50 sq ft (updated Jul 2026) |
Common questions about countertop installation costs
How much does countertop installation cost?
A typical job (35 sq ft, quartz) comes to about $3,150 nationally, within a range of $1,750 to $7,000. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much do granite countertops cost?
About $75–$150 per sq ft installed, or $2,630–$5,250 for 35 sq ft. Angi puts the national average at $3,250 for most projects.
How much do quartz countertops cost?
About $50–$200 per sq ft installed, or $1,750–$7,000 for 35 sq ft. Fixr puts the average at $88 per sq ft, and Angi says most quartz costs $70 to $100.
How much do laminate countertops cost?
About $15–$80 per sq ft installed, or $530–$2,800 for 35 sq ft. Laminate is the cheapest material in every guide we read.
How much does it cost to replace the countertops in an average kitchen?
A kitchen with 30 sq ft of quartz costs about $1,500–$6,000 and one with 40 sq ft about $2,000–$8,000. Fixr puts a 35 sq ft kitchen with quartz at $3,000.
How much do edge upgrades cost?
Fixr puts eased and squared edges at no charge, bevel and bullnose at $10 to $15 per linear foot, ogee and mitered at $20 to $25, and Dupont at $20 to $40. Edges are not in the calculator because they are priced per linear foot.
How much does a sink cutout cost?
About $100–$300 per cutout. A cooktop cutout costs about $120–$400.
Does the price include removing the old countertop?
Often, but not always. HomeGuide says most contractors include removal in their labor estimate. If yours does not, add about $50–$300.
How much does a backsplash cost?
About $500–$1,700 for a typical kitchen. HomeGuide puts it at $10 to $50 per sq ft.
How much of the cost is labor?
HomeGuide puts labor at 30% to 40% of the total, at $20 to $50 per sq ft to fabricate and install, while Fixr puts it lower, at 15% to 30%. The rest is the slab or material.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 6 published cost pages from 3 publishers, last checked Oct 9, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 6 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.
- HomeGuide: laminate or Formica $20-$80 per sq ft installed (byline Nov 2023)
- Fixr: laminate $15-$60 per sq ft (updated Jan 2026)
- Angi: laminate material $10-$18 per sq ft for standard and $40-$80 for Formica brand, with an installed national average of $1,251 (updated Sep 2026)
- Angi: granite slab $40-$60 per sq ft plus labor of $35 per sq ft, which adds up to $75-$95 (our sum of the two; updated Jul 2026)
- Angi: quartz $50-$200 per sq ft, most $70-$100, with installation about $10-$30 per sq ft (updated Jul 2026)
- Angi: marble material about $60 per sq ft, $3,000 for about 50 sq ft (updated Jul 2026)