Countertop Installation cost at a glance
- Typical range: $1,900 – $4,500
- Most homeowners pay: around $3,200
- Prices vary most by: Countertop material (slab or sheet) (40–55% of the budget)
Cross-checked against three published sources for this project. Sources used for this page: the Angi countertop installation and granite countertop cost guides, HomeGuide's countertop installation cost guide and Forbes Home's quartz countertop cost data. Last updated October 2026 · How we calculate these costs
Cost by scope
| Scope | Typical cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate or budget surface | $800 – $2,000 | Modern laminate or a basic solid surface over about 30–40 sq ft — the lowest installed cost per square foot of any common material |
| Granite or quartz (standard grades) | $1,900 – $4,500 | The most common replacement: entry-to-mid grade granite or quartz, templated, fabricated with standard edges and one sink cutout — where most projects land |
| Premium stone or large kitchen | $5,000 – $9,000+ | Premium quartz, quartzite or marble, a large island or waterfall edges, multiple cutouts and full-height backsplash work |
Where the money goes
| Part of the job | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Countertop material (slab or sheet) | 40–55% of total | The slab is the single biggest line — common granite and standard quartz sit in the middle, rare stone and designer quartz at the top |
| Fabrication (templating, cutting, edges, cutouts) | 20–30% | Digital templating, sink and cooktop cutouts and edge profiles are skilled shop work priced into almost every stone quote |
| Installation labor | 10–20% | Leveling cabinets, setting and seaming heavy slabs, mounting the sink — stone tops are a two-or-three-person lift, not a DIY carry |
| Removal, disposal, plumbing & extras | 5–15% | Taking out and disposing of the old top, disconnecting and reconnecting the sink and faucet, and sealing on stone that needs it |
What moves the price most
Material class decides the budget, per square foot. Published installed rates consistently order the common materials the same way: laminate at the bottom (roughly $20–$80 per sq ft installed), standard granite and quartz in the middle, and marble, quartzite and premium quartz at the top. Square footage is the multiplier — measure length × depth along every run and the island; a typical kitchen carries about 30–40 sq ft of counter. Fabrication details are the quiet third factor: every sink and cooktop cutout, upgraded edge profile and seam adds shop time, and a waterfall island end can add as much as a small extra counter. Finally, remnants are the honest saving: for a small kitchen or a bathroom vanity, a fabricator's remnant piece can cut the material line sharply — ask before you price full slabs.
Costs in your city
Local labor moves a remodel price more than almost anything else, so we are publishing city-adjusted ranges metro by metro — each with its own local cost index, permit notes and climate factors, not a find-and-replace of this page. Wave 1 cities: Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami–South Florida, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, Austin and San Antonio. Until your city's page is live, use the national range here and weight it: Sun Belt labor often prices near or below the national middle; coastal California and the Northeast metros often price well above it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does countertop installation cost per square foot?
Installed, published guides put laminate at roughly $20–$80 per square foot, standard granite and quartz broadly in the $50–$150 band depending on grade, and premium marble or quartzite above that. On this page those rates work out to a typical $1,900–$4,500 for a standard kitchen in a midrange material.
How long does it take to replace kitchen countertops?
Templating usually happens a week or two before installation, and the install itself is commonly one day for a standard kitchen. Laminate and prefab tops can be measured and fitted faster; stone and quartz need the fabrication window between template and install, so plan the sink being out of use around that day, not the whole period.
Is quartz or granite cheaper?
At entry grades they overlap closely, and basic granite is often slightly cheaper; mid and designer grades of quartz frequently price above mid-grade granite. The practical difference is maintenance: granite is normally sealed periodically, quartz is not sealed but can be damaged by high heat — choose on use, not just the quote.
Can I install countertops myself?
Laminate and butcher block are realistic DIY. Stone and quartz slabs weigh hundreds of pounds, crack if carried flat or set on unlevel cabinets, and need shop fabrication for cutouts — that is professional work, and the warranty normally requires it.
Do I need new cabinets before new countertops?
Not if the existing cabinets are level, solid and staying in the same layout — fabricators template from the cabinets as they stand. If cabinets are being replaced, they go first and counters are templated after; putting a new stone top on cabinets you plan to replace next year is the expensive order.
