Ask a stone yard which is better and you’ll usually get the answer that suits what’s on their racks. So here’s the honest take on quartz vs granite worktops, from people who fit both and don’t mind which one you pick.
At KitchenSMART the worktop is planned alongside the cabinets, not bolted on at the end. Most of our clients choose between quartz and granite for their Schüller kitchen, and you can see the full range on our worktops page.
01. Quartz vs Granite Worktops: What’s the Difference?
Granite is natural stone, quarried and cut into slabs. Every slab is different, with its own flecks, veins and colour shifts. That’s the appeal for a lot of people.
Quartz is engineered. Manufacturers bind crushed natural quartz with resin and pigments, which gives a consistent colour and pattern from one slab to the next. That makes it easier to match a long run, an island and an upstand, and it’s why quartz suits clean, modern handleless kitchens so well.
02. Quartz vs Granite Worktops for Heat, Stains and Scratches
Heat: granite wins. It handles hot pans far better, while the resin in quartz can mark if you put a pan straight from the hob onto it. Use a trivet and it’s a non-issue, but if you cook a lot and hate trivets, that matters. It’s also worth thinking about if you’re planning a venting hob in an island.
Stains: quartz wins. It’s non-porous, so it never needs sealing and red wine or turmeric wipes off. Granite is porous and needs resealing, usually about once a year, and acidic spills like lemon juice can etch it if left. Worktop Hub’s comparison covers the care side in more detail.
Scratches and chips: both are tough. Granite is very hard and shrugs off knife marks. Quartz is also hard-wearing, but edges can chip if you hit them with a heavy pan, so edge profile is worth talking about.
“If you want low maintenance, go quartz. If you want a slab nobody else has and you’re happy to seal it, go granite. Neither is the wrong answer.”
03. Cost, Looks and Which One Suits Your Kitchen
Price depends more on the slab you choose, the thickness, the edge and the number of cut-outs than on quartz versus granite alone. A busy island with a hob, a sink and a waterfall end costs more in either material. Our Schüller kitchen cost guide shows where worktops sit in the overall budget.
On looks, quartz gives you crisp whites, concrete effects and marble-style veining with no surprises. Granite gives depth and natural movement. Some people use both, such as quartz on the main run and a statement granite on the island. Think about your sink and tap too, as undermount sinks look sharp in either.
04. Choosing Your Worktop in Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton
The easiest way to decide is to see samples next to real door colours. Bring your questions to our Linford Wood showroom, or let our design team bring samples to you on a home visit. Worktops are templated after the cabinets go in, then fitted by our own installation team, so there’s one company responsible from start to finish.
Browse finished kitchens in our projects, like this Matera seashell white kitchen, and read our reviews. We fit across Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton. For more on why the cabinet underneath matters as much as the top, see premium German vs standard kitchens, or the Schüller site.
05. Frequently Asked Questions
Is quartz better than granite for a kitchen worktop?
Neither is better across the board. Quartz is easier to look after because it never needs sealing and resists stains, while granite copes better with heat and every slab is unique. It comes down to how you cook and the look you want.
Do granite worktops need sealing?
Yes. Granite is porous, so it needs resealing, usually about once a year, to stop stains soaking in. Quartz is non-porous and never needs sealing.
Can you put hot pans on a quartz worktop?
It’s best not to. The resin that binds quartz can mark or discolour with direct heat, so use a trivet or pan stand. We can talk through heat-friendly layouts at your free design consultation.
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