How Much Do Quartz Worktops Cost? (UK Price Guide 2026)
In the UK, quartz worktops typically cost £250–£500 per square metre fully installed, meaning an average kitchen (5–7 square metres) comes to around £2,000–£3,500 all in. Budget ranges start lower, premium branded quartz goes higher, and the cutouts, edges and extras in your quote can shift the final figure more than the stone itself.
An end user would not be able to look at a slab and know the price. There are plain grey slabs that cost more than some marble effects, so always ask your fabricator for a price group.
Here's the full breakdown, so when quotes start arriving you'll know exactly what you're looking at — and what questions to ask.
Quartz worktop prices per square metre
| Tier | Price per m² (installed) | What you're getting |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £250–£350 | Unbranded/imported quartz, simpler colours |
| Mid-range | £350–£450 | Branded ranges, popular marble-effects |
| Premium | £450–£600+ | Top-tier brands, dramatic veining, unusual finishes |
Always ask what company supplies the slabs. Some fabricators opt out of using UK based wholesalers and import direct from China. To gain a competitive edge, they buy high-resin slabs at lower rates. More resin = lower quality. I would only ever offer my clients slabs at a maximum of 12% resin. The premium brands are as low as 6%. This is what you're paying for. You can always ask your fabricator for a technical data sheet — you will see the resin content there.
Two things to understand about these numbers:
"Installed" is the only number that matters. Some companies advertise slab-only or "supply only" prices that look temptingly low. A fitted quartz worktop involves templating (measuring your kitchen precisely), fabrication (cutting the slab, polishing edges, cutting holes for your sink and hob) and installation. Always compare full fitted quotes.
The colour you choose moves the price more than anything else. Within a single brand, a plain colour and a heavily patterned one can sit in completely different price groups. Brands typically organise colours into price bands — ask which band your chosen colour is in before you fall in love with it.
What a typical kitchen actually costs
A worked example for an average UK kitchen with around 6 square metres of worktop:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Quartz (6m² at mid-range £400/m²) | £2,400 |
| Sink cutout | £80–£150 |
| Hob cutout | £80–£150 |
| Drainer grooves | £100–£200 |
| Upstands (per metre) | £40–£80 |
| Realistic total | £2,700–£3,200 |
Really, even if you go with a plain grey colour with simple edge finishes, you will be looking around the £2,000 mark.
The extras that appear on your quote (and what they should cost)
- Cutouts (sink, hob, taps, sockets): each hole cut in the stone is machine time and risk, so each is charged. Undermounted sinks cost more than drop-in ones because the cut edge must be polished.
- Edge profiles: a standard polished square or pencil edge is usually included. Fancier edges (bullnose, ogee, chamfered) add cost. Mitred waterfall ends on an island are a significant extra.
- Drainer grooves: the recessed lines beside the sink. Popular, but they're precision machining — expect £100–£200.
- Splashbacks and upstands: quartz splashbacks look stunning but effectively add square metres to the job.
- Removal of old worktops: some fitters include it, some charge £100–£250. Ask.
- Thickness: 20mm and 30mm are the standard options. 30mm uses more material and costs roughly 10–20% more. If you have a traditional kitchen style like a shaker, I would recommend 30mm — the chunky look keeps it in line with the overall aesthetics. If you have a modern handleless design, get 20mm for a sleek look.
Why quotes for the same kitchen can differ by £1,000+
When you get three quotes and they're wildly different, it's usually one of these:
- Different brands or colour bands — one fitter quoted a budget BQS / Nile stone, another quoted Silestone / Unistone. Make sure quotes are for the same (or equivalent) material.
- What's included — one quote includes cutouts, upstands and old worktop removal; another lists them as extras you'll discover later.
- Fabricator vs middleman — buying through a kitchen showroom often adds a margin on top of the fabricator doing the actual work. Going direct to a fabricator/installer can save 10–25%. Search by postcode to find a fabricator near you.
I've seen some things over the years. One of the sneaky tricks I've seen from time to time is end users selecting a premium brand, only to have their fabricator install a budget replica without them knowing. The brand name is usually printed on the back of the slab, so keep an eye out during install. This usually happens if the fabricator makes a mistake, or is short of material and doesn't want to fork out of pocket to fix it.
How quartz compares with other worktops on price
| Material | Typical installed cost per m² |
|---|---|
| Laminate | £30–£100 |
| Solid wood | £150–£300 |
| Quartz | £250–£500 |
| Granite | £250–£500+ |
| Ceramic/porcelain | £350–£600 |
| Corian (solid surface) | £300–£500 |
Quartz sits in the premium bracket, level with granite. If you're weighing those two up specifically, read our full quartz vs granite comparison.
How to keep the cost down (without regretting it)
- Choose a colour from a lower price band — every brand has affordable colours that look far more expensive than they are. Your fabricator will know which ones. 'BQS Midas Gold' from Brachot is one such design. It features a very natural looking grey cloud vein with gold pencil veins running through it. I've seen the premium brands offer a similar design for 4x the cost.
- Simplify the design — fewer cutouts, standard edges, skip the drainer grooves, go for 20mm.
- Get quotes from installers, not just showrooms — cutting out the middleman is the single biggest saving.
- Don't shrink the worktop to save money — as I tell clients about the stone itself: you look at it every day. Save on extras, not on the material you actually see.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a quartz worktop for an average kitchen?
Around £2,000–£3,500 fully installed for a typical UK kitchen, depending on the colour, brand and extras. Large kitchens with islands can exceed £5,000.
Why is quartz so expensive?
You're paying for the material (90%+ ground natural quartz), precision fabrication with diamond tooling, and skilled two-person installation of slabs that can weigh over 100kg. The machinery needed to cut the slabs is a significant investment for any business and therefore comes at a cost.
Is quartz cheaper than granite?
Not necessarily — all colours have their own price tag in both materials. The best looking quartz is usually cheaper than the best looking granite.
Are cheap quartz worktops worth it?
Yes. If you're looking to spruce up your kitchen without breaking the bank, there are plenty of options out there. Just do your homework — ask for the technical data sheet and check the resin content, as covered above.
Do quartz worktops add value to a house?
Estate agents consistently list quality kitchen worktops among the details that help a house sell. You won't get the money back pound for pound, but a quartz kitchen photographs well and sells homes faster than tired laminate.