The bigger question isn't which costs more. The honest answer is: at most price points, they cost about the same. The real question is which material fits your kitchen, your habits, and what you actually want to spend ten years living with.
This guide walks through what's included in a per-square-foot price, the four material tiers, optional services that may be part of your project, how granite and quartz compare on durability and maintenance, which one is right for you, and real cost examples for small, mid-sized, and large Maryland kitchens.
We've fabricated and installed countertops across Maryland for 15+ years out of our facilities in Eldersburg and Columbia. The numbers below reflect real Maryland projects — but the framework for understanding how countertop pricing works applies anywhere in the country.
The "$39.99 per sq ft" advertised price is almost never the real price
You'll find Maryland fabricators advertising countertops "starting at $39.99 per square foot installed." That number is almost always the slab and basic install only. Sink cutouts, edge profiles, sealing, templating, and delivery are added back as line items. By the time the real quote arrives, the same project is usually $65–$80 per square foot.
Our prices below reflect what most homeowners actually walk out paying — slab, fabrication, standard edge, sink cutouts, templating, delivery, and installation, all included. Optional services like countertop removal, plumbing, and tile work are scoped and priced separately based on what your project actually needs. When you compare quotes, ask the other fabricator to itemize everything.
The four material tiers
Both granite and quartz span all four tiers. The slab you choose — not just the material category — determines where your project lands.
Material Tier Pricing — Installed
These prices cover slab, fabrication, standard edge profile, sink cutout, templating, delivery, and installation. Optional services — countertop removal, plumbing, tile work — are scoped separately and covered below.
Granite vs Quartz: side by side
Both materials are excellent — they just fit different kitchens and different homeowners.
| Factor | Granite | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 100% natural stone, quarried in slabs | Engineered: 90–95% ground quartz + resin |
| Look | Each slab is one of a kind; natural movement | Highly consistent patterns; designer marble looks |
| Heat resistance | Excellent — can take hot pans directly | Good but not unlimited — resin can scorch over time |
| Stain resistance | Good when sealed; reseal every 3–5 years | Excellent — non-porous, no sealing required |
| Maintenance | Wipe daily; reseal periodically | Wipe daily; that's it |
| Lifespan | 50+ years easily | 25–40+ years |
| Outdoor use | Yes — fully UV-stable | No — fades in direct sun |
| Starting price | ~$60/sq ft installed | ~$60/sq ft installed |
Ready for a real quote on your kitchen?
Free in-home estimate. All-in pricing scoped to your project. Most quotes back within 24 hours.
Additional services that may be part of your project
The per-square-foot price covers your countertops — fabrication, standard edge, sink cutout, templating, delivery, and installation. The following services are optional line items scoped based on what your specific project requires. Not every project needs all of them, but most kitchen projects include at least some.
Countertop Removal & Disposal
Removing your existing countertops before the new stone goes in. Laminate and Corian are straightforward. Existing stone takes more labor. Tile countertops are the most involved — typically set in mortar that has to come out cleanly without damaging the cabinet boxes below.
Plumbing Disconnect & Reconnect
Licensed plumbers handle sink and faucet disconnect before installation and full reconnect after. Required on virtually every kitchen project. Scheduled as part of your install day so your kitchen is fully operational when we leave.
Tile Backsplash Removal
If you have existing tile on the wall that needs to come out — whether to accommodate new countertop height, a new backsplash, or a full kitchen refresh — tile demo is a separate scope we offer. Labor intensity varies significantly based on how the tile was originally set.
Tile Backsplash Installation
A fresh tile backsplash is one of the highest-impact upgrades alongside new countertops. We offer tile installation as an optional add-on to your countertop project — priced per project based on area and tile selection. Ask us about it when you schedule your estimate.
Edge Profile Upgrades
A standard eased edge is included. Beveled and ogee add a modest upcharge. Mitered or laminated edges — which double the visual thickness of the stone — are higher. Waterfall edges are the highest. Edge choice affects the overall look significantly and is worth discussing at the showroom before you commit.
Specialty Cutouts & Overhangs
The standard sink cutout is included. Additional cutouts — cooktops, secondary sinks, farmhouse apron sinks — are priced per cutout. Island overhangs longer than 10–12 inches require support brackets. All of this is scoped and itemized before fabrication begins.
Everything above is scoped and priced transparently before your project starts. You'll know exactly what your project includes — and what it costs — before we cut a single piece of stone.
Which one is right for you?
A straight decision framework based on how you actually use your kitchen:
Choose granite if
- You cook with hot pans constantly and don't want to think about trivets
- You love the look of natural stone — the variation is the point, not a problem
- You're doing an outdoor kitchen — granite is fully UV-stable, quartz is not
- You want a one-of-a-kind countertop nobody else has
- You're okay with a 10-minute resealing job every 3–5 years
Choose quartz if
- You want true zero-maintenance — no sealing, ever
- You want a specific consistent look, especially a marble-look without marble's fragility
- You have kids and want maximum stain resistance day to day
- You're matching a specific design palette and need predictable pattern consistency
Real cost examples for Maryland kitchens
Countertop costs only — slab, fabrication, standard edge, sink cutout, templating, delivery, and installation. Countertop removal, plumbing, tile work, and edge upgrades are not included in these figures and will add to your total depending on your project scope.
Small kitchen — 30 to 44 sq ft
Galley, apartment-style, or compact layout with one sink. Calculated at 44 sq ft.
| Tier | Rate | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | ~$60/sq ft | ~$2,640 |
| Mid-Range | ~$95/sq ft | ~$4,180 |
| Premium | ~$135/sq ft | ~$5,940 |
| Exotic | $175+/sq ft | $7,700 and up |
Mid-sized kitchen — 45 to 64 sq ft
The most common Maryland layout — L-shape with island, undermount sink, cooktop. Calculated at 64 sq ft.
| Tier | Rate | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | ~$60/sq ft | ~$3,840 |
| Mid-Range | ~$95/sq ft | ~$6,080 |
| Premium | ~$135/sq ft | ~$8,640 |
| Exotic | $175+/sq ft | $11,200 and up |
Large kitchen — 65+ sq ft
Big island with overhang, multiple cutouts, larger layout. Calculated at 80 sq ft.
| Tier | Rate | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | ~$60/sq ft | ~$4,800 |
| Mid-Range | ~$95/sq ft | ~$7,600 |
| Premium | ~$135/sq ft | ~$10,800 |
| Exotic | $175+/sq ft | $14,000 and up — some large exotic projects run $20,000+ on slab cost alone |
These are countertop-only estimates. Add countertop removal, plumbing, tile work, edge upgrades, and full-height backsplash to get a complete project total. We scope all of this in writing before any work begins.