As chameleons go, quartz is impressive. The man-made stone offers an increasingly realistic look mimicking materials such as marble, granite, concrete, and more. But quartz offers easier maintenance than those materials. Combine those qualities with granite fatigue and you can see why quartz is gaining in popularity. Quartz is also among the top-rated countertop materials in Consumer Reports' tests.
To test durability we stained, sliced, scratched, scorched, and nicked 14 materials, including a new ultracompact surface called Dekton. (Get all the details on Dekton countertop cracking in our tests.) We found big differences among materials but little variation among brands, except for recycled glass, so we've rated materials. Here are the pros and cons of 10 countertop materials, listed here in alphabetical order.
What countertop did you install in your kitchen? If you're remodeling, what do you plan to use? Let us know by adding a comment below.
Here’s what you should consider and look for while searching for durable countertop materials:
Depending on the material, the countertop may require varying degrees of maintenance from regular cleaning tips and sealing. Different types of kitchen countertops may be prone or resistant to scratches, heat distortion or scalding, color fading, or absorption of fluids, which can lead to discoloration and stains. Knowing such things can help you pick the best kitchen countertop material that fits your functional and lifestyle needs.
On top of being durable and easy to maintain, you likely want your countertops to look good within your kitchen too! That means coordinating the countertop style and color with flooring, cabinet and cabinet materials, hardware, and other features to achieve your desired aesthetic.
Like most other home features, you get what you pay for, so the more inexpensive the countertop material, the quality may also reflect that price point, and vice versa for more lofty price tags. Sometimes paying more upfront for countertop materials can save money in maintenance or replacement costs later on.