As the primary working surface in your kitchen, countertops are a workhorse and a critical component of a functional kitchen. Countertops have even started taking the main stage as a statement piece in the kitchen—yet another reason why purchasing the right type of countertop is so essential!

To choose the best countertop for your kitchen or other room in your house, here is a guide about the best kitchen countertop materials and how to coordinate them with your chosen aesthetic.

What to Consider When Purchasing Countertops

Here’s what you should consider and look for while searching for durable countertop materials:

Stain resistance
Heat resistance
Scratch & chip resistance
Easy maintenance
Appearance & beauty
Price
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.

Top 5 Types of Countertops

Quartz (Engineered Stone) Countertops

One of the most popular and best kitchen countertop materials is quartz, or engineered stone. Quartz is incredibly sturdy and resistant to many of the issues that may plague other countertop materials, making it hygienic and easy to maintain.

When most designers say quartz countertops, they are not 100% solid quartzite (which would be very high maintenance). Rather, quartz countertops are usually in the 90% range of pure quartz combined with other resins or composites to create a gorgeous, durable, non-porous surface for your countertops.

Granite Countertops

One of the most popular countertop materials, granite is a highly desirable countertop material for its durability, hardiness, and distinct appearance.

Due to granite’s popularity, it’s more widely available and more affordable than it used to be, though it’s still on the upper end of the spectrum since it’s natural stone.

Marble Countertops

A very trendy and beautiful countertop material, marble countertops are another desirable natural stone option on the high-end side. Marble comes in two forms: honed and polished. Honed marble is porous and has a matte appearance, where polished marble has a protective surface with a shiny sheen.

One way to reduce the cost of marble countertops is to use marble tiles instead of slabs.

Dekton Countertops

Relatively new on the scene, Dekton countertops are an engineered material combining natural stone, porcelain, and ceramic with heat and pressure to create an incredibly durable countertop material, some say almost indestructible. It was constructed to surpass even engineered stone (quartz) resilience, which makes it a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, bars, etc.

Natural Stone Countertops

Aside from marble and granite, other natural stones can be found in countertops, from quartzite, limestone, travertine, soapstone, slate, lava rock and others.

Natural stone countertops are a stunning premium option for your kitchen, though they tend to be divas when it comes to caring for them.

Choose a Countertop Material that Works Best for You!

We hope with guidance around the most sought-after countertop materials, their properties, maintenance requirements, style recommendations, and budget range, you can identify which countertop materials will work best for your home and kitchen.