7 Factors Influencing Stone Countertop Price

The prices of artificial stone countertops can vary greatly depending on various factors. Here are the main points determining the final price of the countertop.

Countertops can be made from various types of artificial stone materials, each with different prices. Some types of artificial stone are more expensive than others. In terms of average prices, artificial stone materials typically range from the cheapest to the most expensive as follows: acrylic solid surface - ceramic and porcelain - engineered quartz - sintered stone.

Different colors and patterns of artificial stone materials are priced differently, even though their composition may be the same. Special effects, unique patterns, veins, texture or various other design elements typically increase the price of the slab (though this is not the 100 percent rule). Each type of artificial stone has separate price categories, into which slabs are categorized based on their pattern and design. Generally, materials with intricate patterns are more expensive, while solid colors are cheaper. New patterns and collections can also be more expensive than older designs.

The thickness and size of the countertop also affect the price. Large, thicker artificial stone countertops are usually more expensive than smaller and thinner options. The standard thicknesses for artificial stone slabs are 12 mm and 20 mm, while natural stone slabs come in standard thicknesses of 20 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm.

Different manufacturers of artificial stone slabs have different pricing policies, so the prices of identical composition artificial stone slabs may vary. Prices of well-known or prestigious brands are usually higher. The material may be the same, for example, engineered quartz, but slabs of enginerred quartz from one manufacturer are more expensive than slabs from another manufacturer. Typically, the colors and patterns of slabs from different manufacturers are not identical, but very similar options can also be found.

Countertop fabrication costs include cutting, edge processing, the complexity of craftsmanship needed, and the time spent by professionals to finish the project. The more cuts (sink cutouts, faucet holes, stove cutouts, etc.) are needed, the higher the production cost of the countertop. The more complex the edge finish, the higher the milling cost. Conversely, opting for simple, standard edge finishes doesn't significantly raise production costs, as simpler milling methods are less expensive. Countertops with intricate, non-standard edges will cost more. Additionally, the countertop fabrication cost varies depending on the type of stone it is made of. For example, making a countertop from engineered quartz is cheaper than making an identical countertop from sintered stone.

Precise countertop measurements are taken once the furniture on which it will be placed is already installed in the client's home or other location. Using these measurements, the countertop is fabricated and then delivered to the site for installation. Factors such as the complexity of the installation and the time spent by stone professionals during on-site installation are considered when calculating the overall cost.

When calculating the final price of the countertop, transportation costs are also included. If the client's location is in the same city or close to the countertop manufacturing site, transportation expenses will be lower. However, if the location is tens or hundreds of kilometers away from the stone fabricator's workshop, transportation costs can significantly increase.

Since manufacturers of artificial stone categorize their slabs into several price ranges mainly based on appearance, the price of slabs with different looks from the same manufacturer can vary significantly, even though the composition remains the same. The initially mentioned general classification of artificial stone materials from cheapest to most expensive (acrylic - ceramic - quartz - sintered) may not correspond to the specific case being considered. For example, a countertop made from a slab in the highest-priced acrylic solid surface category may cost more than a countertop of the same design made from the cheapest engineered quartz category slab, and vice versa. Therefore, when aiming for the most optimal choice, first select the type of artificial stone that you prefer the most, and then, to save money, opt for less expensive colors.