Quartz vs Granite Worktops: Which Is Best for Your Kitchen?

Granite is a natural stone, quarried in large blocks and cut into slabs. Every slab is unique, with its own mix of colours, flecks and movement. Quartz worktops are engineered: crushed natural quartz is mixed with resins and pigments and pressed into slabs. Most quartz worktops are around 90 per cent quartz, which makes them very hard, while the resin makes them non-porous.

Granite gives you natural, one-of-a-kind patterns, from deep blacks with silver flecks to busy, colourful stones. If you want a worktop that nobody else has, granite is hard to beat. Quartz gives you a more consistent look from slab to slab, and it comes in colours that natural stone cannot always offer, such as pure whites, soft concretes and realistic marble-look designs.

If you are planning a long run of worktops or a large island, quartz makes it easier to match pieces. With granite, we recommend seeing the actual slabs before cutting.

Popular quartz colours include Iconic White, Eternal Calacatta Gold, Calacatta Nuvo and Turbine Grey (browse the quartz range). Popular granites include Absolute Black, Star Galaxy, Kashmir White and Steel Grey (see granite).

• Scratches: both are very hard and resist scratches in normal use. Always use a chopping board to protect your knives and the surface.
• Stains: quartz is non-porous, so it resists stains without sealing. Granite resists most stains once sealed, but lighter granites can absorb oil if spills are left.
• Heat: granite copes better with heat. Quartz contains resin, which can mark or discolour under a very hot pan, so always use a trivet.
• Chips: both can chip on edges if hit hard. A rounded edge helps on busy corners.

Quartz needs no sealing. Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth, and avoid bleach and abrasive pads. Granite should be sealed about once a year. A simple test is to drip a little water on the surface: if it stops beading, it is time to reseal. Clean granite with a pH-neutral stone cleaner.

Standard quartz and standard granite cost about the same in London. Prices rise for premium quartz brands such as Silestone and Caesarstone, especially marble-look designs, and for rare or exotic granites. The biggest factors in the final price are usually the size of your kitchen, the number of cut-outs, the thickness and any extras such as upstands, splashbacks or waterfall ends. See our worktop prices page for typical London examples.

Quartz suits busy family kitchens, long runs and islands where you want the colour to match perfectly. It's also the easiest way to get a white or Calacatta marble look without the upkeep of real marble.

Granite is ideal if you love natural stone and want something truly individual. It's very heat tolerant and works well in traditional kitchens and outdoor kitchens.

• Busy family kitchen: quartz, for easy cleaning and stain resistance.
• Keen cook who puts hot pans down often: granite, for heat tolerance (but a trivet is still a good idea).
• Modern white or marble look: quartz, for consistent whites and realistic veining.
• Traditional or country kitchen: granite or 30mm quartz with a classic edge.
• Outdoor kitchen or barbecue area: granite, because quartz can fade in strong sunlight.

Yes. Some customers choose quartz for the main worktops and granite for an island, or the other way round. Mixing materials works best when the colours are chosen together, so ask us for samples of both and compare them in your kitchen light.