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 add-ons and additional services that move the price up or down, how granite and quartz compare on durability and lifespan, which one is right for your project, 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, with no subcontractors at any step. 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. When you compare quotes, ask the other fabricator to itemize. If their headline number is half of ours, the line items will tell you why.
Quick price snapshot
The per-square-foot price is driven by the slab itself. Three tiers, regardless of whether you go granite or quartz:
Material Tier Pricing
The base price covers slab, fabrication, standard edge, sink cutouts, templating, delivery, and installation. Add-ons and additional services apply across all three tiers and are covered below.
Granite vs Quartz: side by side
The honest comparison most cost guides skip. Both materials are excellent — they just fit different kitchens.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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Which one is right for you?
This is the section most cost guides skip. 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
- You're doing an outdoor kitchen (quartz isn't UV-stable)
- 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 marble-look without marble fragility)
- You have kids and want maximum stain resistance
- You're matching a specific design palette and need predictability