Granite vs Quartz Worktops

Granite vs Quartz Worktops — The Honest Comparison

If you’re fitting a new kitchen or replacing tired worktops, chances are you’ve narrowed it down to two options: granite or quartz. Both are stunning, both are hardwearing, and both will add serious value to your home. But they’re not the same stone, and the right choice depends on how you actually use your kitchen.

We’ve been cutting and fitting both materials for over fifteen years, so we know their quirks inside out. Here’s what we tell our customers when they ask us which one to go for.

What’s the Difference?

Granite is a natural stone — quarried from the earth in massive slabs, then cut and polished to fit your kitchen. Every piece is genuinely one of a kind. The patterns, flecks and veining you see in granite formed underground over millions of years, and no two slabs will ever look quite the same.

Quartz worktops (sometimes called engineered stone) are manufactured. About 93% ground natural quartz is mixed with resins and pigments, then pressed into slabs. The result looks and feels like natural stone, but with more consistency in colour and pattern.

Durability

Both materials are incredibly tough — you won’t damage either one with normal kitchen use. Granite scores about 6–7 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means it’ll shrug off knife marks and everyday wear without flinching. Quartz is similarly hard, though the resin binder makes it slightly more flexible and less prone to chipping at the edges.

Where granite has the edge is heat resistance. You can put a hot pan straight from the hob onto granite and it won’t bat an eyelid. Quartz can handle warmth, but prolonged contact with very hot cookware (above about 150°C) can potentially discolour the resin. We always recommend trivets with quartz — just to be safe.

Maintenance

This is where quartz really shines. Because it’s non-porous, quartz won’t absorb spills, stains or bacteria. A wipe with warm soapy water is all it needs. No sealing, no special products, no fuss.

Granite is slightly more porous, which means it should be sealed when it’s first installed (we do this as standard) and resealed every year or two. It’s not a big job — takes about fifteen minutes — but it is an extra step. If you leave red wine or lemon juice sitting on unsealed granite, it can leave a mark.

Looks

This one comes down to personal taste, but there’s an important distinction. Granite offers natural, unrepeatable beauty — dramatic veining, crystal flecks that catch the light, depth and character that no factory can replicate. If you want your kitchen to feel truly unique, granite delivers that.

Quartz gives you more control. Because it’s manufactured, you can get very precise, consistent colours — from brilliant whites to deep blacks, including convincing marble-look patterns. If you’re matching to specific cabinet colours or want a clean, uniform surface, quartz makes that easier.

Cost

Pricing varies depending on the specific stone, slab thickness and the complexity of your kitchen layout. As a rough guide:

Quartz worktops typically start from around £250–£400 per square metre installed
Granite worktops range from £300–£500 per square metre installed

Rare or exotic granites can cost more, while popular quartz colours are often very competitively priced. We’ll always give you an accurate quote based on your exact measurements — and our quotes are free, with no obligation.

So Which Should You Choose?

Go for granite if: you love natural stone with unique character, you want maximum heat resistance, you don’t mind a quick annual reseal, or you’re after something genuinely one-of-a-kind for your kitchen.

Go for quartz if: low maintenance is your priority, you want a very specific colour or pattern, you prefer a more uniform look, or your kitchen sees heavy daily use and you want zero-fuss cleaning.

Still not sure? That’s what we’re here for. Book a free consultation and we’ll bring samples of both materials to your home so you can see and feel them in your actual kitchen. No hard sell — just honest advice from people who work with these stones every day.

Why IP Stone?

We’re a family-run team based in Thame, Oxfordshire, with over 15 years of experience fitting quartz and granite worktops across London and the South East. We template, manufacture and fit everything in-house — no subcontractors, no middlemen. And with our fast-track option, you can have your new worktops fitted just five days after we come to measure.

Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote. Call us, email info@ipstone.co.uk, or fill in the contact form. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Granite vs Quartz Worktops