Quartz vs. granite vs. quartzite: which countertop is right for you?

Walk into our Atlanta warehouse and you'll see thousands of slabs, and most of them fall into three families: granite, quartz and quartzite. All three make beautiful, long-lasting countertops. The right one depends on the look you love, how you cook, and how much care you want to put in.

The short answer

• Want zero maintenance and a consistent look? Quartz.
• Want natural stone that shrugs off heat and heavy use? Granite.
• Want the look of marble with the toughness of natural stone? Quartzite.

Granite: natural, tough and one of a kind

Granite is quarried stone formed from cooled magma. Every slab is different, from speckled patterns to bold movement, so the slab you pick is the slab you get.

• Heat: very heat resistant. Trivets are still a good habit, but a warm pan won't hurt it.
• Scratches: very hard, so it resists everyday knife and pot scratches.
• Stains: natural stone has tiny pores, so it should be sealed. We seal every countertop in our shop before it leaves, and resealing every so often keeps it protected.
• Outdoors: a great choice for outdoor kitchens.

Browse our granite colors.

Quartz: low maintenance and consistent

Quartz is engineered from crushed natural quartz bound with resin. Because it's made, not quarried, colors are consistent from slab to slab, from clean solid whites to convincing marble looks.

• Stains: non-porous, so it never needs sealing. Soap and water is all it takes.
• Heat: the resin can be damaged by high heat, so always use a trivet for hot pots and pans.
• Scratches: very durable for everyday use.
• Outdoors: not recommended. Strong sun can fade or discolor the resin over time.

Browse our quartz colors.

Quartzite: the marble look, with more toughness

Quartzite is a natural stone formed when sandstone is transformed by heat and pressure. It's prized for soft, marble-like veining in whites, grays and blues, but it's much harder than marble.

• Heat and scratches: very hard and heat resistant, often harder than granite.
• Stains: natural and porous, so it's sealed like granite.
• A note on dolomite: some stones sold as "soft quartzite" are really dolomite. Dolomite is beautiful but softer and can etch with acids. We label our quartzite and dolomite clearly so you know what you're getting.
• Outdoors: true quartzite does well outside.

What about marble and Dekton?

Marble is classic and beautiful, but it's softer and etches when it meets acids like lemon juice or wine. Many people love the lived-in patina that develops; if you'd rather it stay pristine, consider quartzite or a marble-look quartz. Dekton is an ultra-compact surface that handles heat, sun, scratches and stains extremely well, which makes it a favorite for outdoor kitchens. See our marble and Dekton collections.

Quick comparison

The best way to decide

Photos only go so far. Seeing full slabs in person, under real light, is how most of our customers find "the one." Bring a cabinet door or paint sample and walk the slabs with our team. We'll help you weigh the look against how you live.

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