How Much Do New Countertops Cost?

Often the first question a potential countertop customer asks is: How much will my new countertops cost? While this can be a difficult question to answer, we will do our best to explain some general pricing guidelines applicable to the Portland area market as of April, 2017.

The purchase of stone countertops, whether granite, other natural stone, or quartz product, is much like the purchase of a vehicle, although certainly not as expensive. With so many options available, price ranges can vary drastically.

Just as a typical mid-quality automobile can start around $30,000 with just a basic package, it can quickly cost over $60,000 once a shopper adds all the available upgrades and options.

Considering that the average American sells or trades in their vehicle within the first five years of purchase, why do so many people elect to get so many upgrades?

The answer is because most people understand the importance of getting what they want the first time so as to not have any regrets down the road. Because most Americans spend over 30 minutes a day in their vehicles, they want to make sure their vehicle will provide them with comfort, quality, longevity, and ease of use.

These same principles apply to countertop shoppers.

Remember, you are going to see and use your counters every day for as long as you live in your home. So, picking the right counters with the right options the first time is critical to ensuring maximum enjoyment with minimum maintenance.

The smartest shoppers elect to get the counters that will make them happiest in the long-run. The rest make the mistake of focusing on the initial price of the counters with the goal of finding the “cheapest” contractor, therefore sacrificing low-maintenance, quality, warranty, and aesthetics, which inevitably leads to regret.

Unfortunately, a counter top cannot be traded in if one is dissatisfied and disenchanted!

So, what can you expect to pay?

A typical 65 square foot kitchen countertop using mid-grade material with two smaller bathroom vanities will range between $5000 and $8000 including material, standard stainless steel sinks (installed), fabrication, and installation. Smaller or larger jobs are pretty much proportional.

The “typical” project we mention above assumes 2 “mid-range” slabs at a cost of $1500 each.

The material cost whether granite, other natural stone, or quartz generally ranges from $800 per slab to $2200 per slab depending on type and quality, and suppliers will show the relative cost of their slabs.  Again, you can assume that a mid-range slab at a supplier will cost around $1500 each.

What could drive up the price?

Exotic and more expensive materials, labor intensive custom edge details, enhanced surfaces like leathering or antiquing, 15-year sealers, window sills, and tile backsplash are the upgrades and options that can really make your counters unique.

Unless you pull out all the stops, even adding some of these additional details will only raise your total cost by 10 to 20% on that typical 65 square foot kitchen example.

Selecting a natural stone known for its fragility and likelihood of cracking, splitting, and/or breaking during the fabrication process, will likely result in a warning about potential problems, and additional charges to cover the cost and added risk of working with such materials.

Common costs that are often times a surprise are the removal and disposal (demolition) of your existing counters, plumbing, and electrical services.  Those additional services are not performed by the fabricator and must be contracted by others.

The removal and disposal of your existing counters with our recommended contractors will average $500-$1000 and the re-connecting of plumbing and electric after the installation of your new counters will average another $500.

Bottom Line?

All in all, a typical counter “project” with some cool upgrades and all the outside contracting included, will range from $7500 to $11000. 

Are less expense options available to you? Certainly.

But this is the counter you’ve always dreamed about and the one you will use for years to come.  You don’t want to spend those years regretting your purchase!