Granite Worktops Cost

Upgrading to granite worktops is a great way to boost your home's value, but it can also be an expensive project. However, one simple change can make all the difference, though: switching up your old worktops for granite.

Granite is a premium material that makes for a durable and visually striking worktop in your kitchen or bathroom. Growing in popularity over the years owing to its natural beauty, granite worktops boast longevity and heat-resistant properties, helping to make it a top choice among homeowners - despite the higher price.

The cost of a standard granite worktop will work out between £270 to £600 per m².

If you’re thinking about updating your home’s bathroom, kitchen, or maybe even both, this article will look at granite worktop prices and walk you through granite worktop installation so you’re ready for when the time comes to get started on your project.

If you need a quote to install a granite worktop, we also have a range of kitchen specialists that would be happy to help.

Let’s get into it.

How Much Are Granite Worktops?

The UK cost of a standard 650mm deep by 30mm thick granite countertop is around £600 (not including labour fees), although the final cost can vary depending on the exact size and finish. When purchasing a granite worktop by measurement, prices are often somewhere between £270 to £600 per m², depending on the brand, quality and type.

Exact granite worktop costs will vary based on factors like granite quality, thickness, and finishing. Regional variations can also influence pricing, especially when it comes to transport and delivery of the materials, as locations closer to stockists and quarries will have slightly lower fees than those based further from the site.

Granite Worktop Prices

Let’s take a closer look at the estimated supply cost of granite kitchen worktops (not including labour fees). For consistency, the following prices are based on a granite worktop that is 650mm deep and 30mm thick:

Although the average cost per m² is around £435, premium or high-end granite can cost significantly more, as shown in the above table.

Granite Upstand Costs

Upstands are the short, vertical panels installed along the edge of where the worktop meets the wall. Often made of the same material as the counter, an upstand acts as a mini-splashback, protecting the wall against spillage, excess moisture and staining.

Using the dimensions 1250mm width x 100mm height x 20mm depth, you can expect the total granite upstand cost as follow:

In summary, depending on the size and finish, granite upstands cost between £26 and £53, although exact prices may vary.

Supply and Fitting Cost for Granite Worktops

The good news is that there is no shortage of different styles, colours, finishes, and textures to choose from when it comes to granite worktops. The bad news is that this can make it incredibly hard to make a decision about what’s best for you.

When it comes to the granite worktop’s finish, there are a few options to choose from:

Choosing curved or rounded edges will cost extra, as granite worktops come with a straight, flat edge as standard. This is worth bearing in mind if you’re looking for cheap options.

Additional Costs of Granite Countertops

Before the work begins on installing a granite worktop, you’ll need to remove your existing fitments.

Some kitchen and bathroom cabinetry is easy to remove as a DIY project, making the replacement process far simpler, while other materials (such as other premium countertop materials) may require professional removal to ensure nothing is damaged in the process.

If you aren’t interested in keeping the original cabinetry, and it’s a fairly lightweight material to break down, you can opt to do this yourself to save on labour costs. This is useful if you’re carrying out a full kitchen remodel, as you can trim down your costs considerably.

Once your granite countertop is set in place, you may find you want certain areas cut out.

Polished cutouts are needed for areas where the cutout edges will be seen, such as with an under-mounted sink. Unpolished cutouts, such as the holes needed for hobs and most regular sinks, will keep a raw edge as it won’t be seen. Polished cutouts carry higher charges than unpolished due to the extra work involved.

As granite is a heavy material, supply costs can be higher owing to the granite’s weight. The further you are from a stockist or quarry, the higher your transport fees are likely to be–to find out the exact surcharges, it’s best to speak to your stockist directly.

Opting for a polished or rounded edge can also increase your costs, as granite traditionally comes with a flat, straight edge. This can cost £15 per metre and rise for more specialised, premium grades of granite, where the risks of damaging it during the process are greater.

Labour Cost of Granite Worktops

While exact timeframes depend on the project’s specifics, such as the complexity of the installation and whether or not any kitchen/bathroom waste removal is required beforehand, the ballpark costs for granite worktop installation are around £200 to £300 per day per contractor.

Standard granite worktop installations often take 2 to 3 days to complete, while more intricate projects can take up to 5 days. If you’re on a budget, trimming down your labour costs can be a great way of making the project more cost-effective–look to remove as much of your old bathroom/kitchen as possible beforehand and clear the space for your contractors ahead of time to save money.

If you’re having your kitchen remodelled and planning on laying new flooring as part of the project, you can look to have all your work done at the same time to help reduce overall contractor rates for your entire project.

Factors That Impact Granite Worktop Costs

Fitting a granite worktop involves labour costs, but other factors can influence your project’s overall costs–as we’ll now discuss.

Granite Type and Origin

Where your worktop’s granite comes from will influence the price you pay. Granite quarried in different countries will have higher prices due to the increased cost of transporting and importing it.

Similarly, the origin of granite can impact supply costs. Granite can come from Africa, Brazil and Norway, and those countries further away from the UK will have higher transportation and import costs.

Granite Worktop Thickness

The thicker the granite, the higher the price–and the same goes for the worktop size in terms of area. The more material you need, the higher the price you can expect to pay.

If you opt for rounded edges or cutouts in thicker granite slabs, your labour fees will be considerably higher than those associated with thinner slabs due to the increased effort required to adapt the stone.

Installation Complexity

Lastly, considering the installation’s complexity–custom cutouts, rounded edges, and large or bespoke installations–can elevate your costs. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, you’ll want to opt for a granite worktop with minimal adaptations to keep your costs as low as possible.

Building Regulations for Granite Worktop Installations

When installing your granite worktops, your contractor must follow building regulations and planning considerations to ensure the security of the worktop and the safety of your kitchen or bathroom.

The British Standard surface height for a worktop is 900mm, with a depth of around 600mm–but this varies depending on the worktop material. In a kitchen, worktops will be sat on kitchen units with inset sinks and hobs.

Concerning the existing kitchen, all base units need to be securedbefore the granite worktop is added to ensure safety. Any temporary worktops must be removed before granite worktop installation.

If a granite worktop is being added to an area without sufficient base support, additional support must be added beneath the countertop to ensure its safety. This support can be in the form of brackets or baton supports, but your contractor can advise on your specific situation.

Any electrical or plumbing adjustments around sinks or hobs will need to follow UK building standards, though granite typically requires no special permissions. Plumbers, gas-safe engineers and electricians will need to be on-site to connect and disconnect supplies where necessary to facilitate this fitting.

Types of Granite Worktops

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to granite worktops–there are plenty of options to suit your home’s aesthetic and your project’s budget.

Polished Granite Worktops

Polished granite countertops are the most common choice, giving a shiny, opulent finish. The reflective surface helps to bounce light around a room, giving kitchens and bathrooms a bright appearance–especially useful for rooms with little to no natural light.

When granite is polished, its porous nature is sealed in, making it resistant to stains. This process also makes the stone hygienic and moisture-repellent, making it a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens.

Polished Granite Pros

• ✔ High-shine, glossy finish
• ✔ Hygienic and easy to clean
• ✔ Moisture-repellent

Polished Granite Cons

• ✖ Smudges and marks can be more visible
• ✖ Some cleaners may dull the surface's shine
• ✖ May corrode if corrosive cleaning products are used

Honed Granite Worktops

Honed granite worktops are a great option if you like the smooth qualities that polished granite gives but want something a little more functional. Instead of being high-shine, honed granite has a matte, buffed appearance.

As a result, honed granite will be less prone to showing up fingerprints–but with the reduced shine comes reduced light bouncing, and the finish can also dull the natural stone’s appearance and colour. A honed granite finish can be a good choice if you want something less showy.

Honed Granite Pros

• ✔ Smooth surface, buffed appearance
• ✔ Helps to hide fingerprints, unlike polished granite

Honed Granite Cons

• ✖ Requires re-sealing as the surface is more porous than polished granite
• ✖ The stone's natural colouring and pattern will be dimmed somewhat due to the finish

Leathered Granite Worktops

Leathered granite countertops offer a good go-between, giving a good level of stain resistance but without the high-shine properties of polished granite. The finish is created by running an abrasive brush over a honed granite surface to mottle the texture.

As a result, you’re left with a finish that is stain-resistant and able to hide fingerprints – but, as there is no shine on the surface, your kitchen or bathroom can appear smaller because of the lack of reflective properties. Leathered granite looks less luxurious than polished granite, so if you’re after a high-shine, opulent finish, this might not be your best option.

Leathered Granite Pros

• ✔ Helps to hide fingerprints, unlike polished granite
• ✔ Enhances the natural stone's pattern and colour, unlike honed granite

Leathered Granite Cons

• ✖ The surface dimpling can make cleaning harder
• ✖ Non-reflective surface, reducing the luxury look and feel and can negatively impact the room's size

Alternative Types of Worktops

If the cost, finish or appearance of granite isn’t for you, you’re in luck–there are plenty of other work and countertop materials to choose from.

Quartz Worktops

Quartz worktops come in a wide range of options, with different colours and patterns to suit your home’s aesthetic.

Pros

• ✔ Wide variety of colours and patterns
• ✔ More affordable than marble or granite
• ✔ Durable and low maintenance
• ✔ Non-porous and resistant to stains

Cons

• ✖ Quality can vary, with low-quality quartz relatively common
• ✖ Requires purchasing from reputable brands to ensure high-quality
• ✖ Potentially can be damaged by high heat
• ✖ Not a natural stone, which some homeowners may prefer

Marble Worktops

Marble is one of, if not the most, luxurious worktop material. Being an entirely natural stone, no two cuts are the same.

Pros

• ✔ Luxurious, unique natural veining and colouring
• ✔ Elegant and timeless, aesthetically pleasing
• ✔ Heat resistant to some extent
• ✔ Adds high-end value to your kitchen

Cons

• ✖ Porous surface prone to moisture damage
• ✖ High maintenance, requires resealing
• ✖ Prone to scratches and staining
• ✖ More expensive than many alternatives

Concrete Worktops

Moving away from the high-shine, glossy appearance of marble and granite, concrete worktops offer something slightly less common.

Pros

• ✔ Strong and highly durable
• ✔ Unique texture, with rustic appearance
• ✔ Cracks are easier to repair than other stones
• ✔ Can customise shape and colour

Cons

• ✖ Prone to staining without sealing
• ✖ Requires sealing and maintenance
• ✖ Can develop hairline cracks over time
• ✖ May require reinforced cupboards due to weight

Composite Worktops

Composite worktops are engineered surfaces made up of stone particles and resins. This combination gives you a finish that looks like natural stone but with several added benefits.

Pros

• ✔ Tough, non-porous surface
• ✔ Low maintenance and easy to clean
• ✔ Resistant to stains and scratches
• ✔ Available in various colours and designs

Cons

• ✖ Sensitive to heat, can be easily damaged
• ✖ Professional repair needed if chipped or scratched
• ✖ Doesn't have the natural look as other materials
• ✖ Can be more expensive than laminate

Corian worktops are a great example of composite worktops.

Laminate Worktops

Laminate worktops are a budget option where a printed decorative layer is bonded to a robust substrate such as particle board.

Pros

• ✔ Budget-friendly material
• ✔ Wide variety of colours, patterns and textures
• ✔ Lightweight and easy to install
• ✔ Low maintenance and easy to clean

Cons

• ✖ Less resistant to heat, scratches and impact
• ✖ Can easily chip or suffer burns over time
• ✖ Not as durable or long-lasting as other options
• ✖ Doesn't look as premium quality as natural materials

Hiring Contractors Checklist for Granite Worktops

When dealing with high-value items, you want to ensure that the contractor or company you enlist can carry out the work safely and carefully. You’ll also want to confirm the company’s insurance and certifications regarding kitchen or bathroom installations.

You should verify their experience with granite worktops, particularly with cutouts and custom edges. If they have any photos or videos of past projects listed, inspect these closely to get a good idea of the kind of finish you can expect. Take note of the worktop’s edges and cutouts, as these areas are hard to fix if botched.

Take a look at the company’s online reviews. What are their customers saying? Do they mention good timekeeping, cleanliness, efficiency, and good communication, or is it the opposite?

Make sure you have a written quotation with an itemised breakdown of everything included in the project. Never agree to a verbal agreement; it is all too easy to bump costs as it’s just your word against theirs.

Ensure the quote includes extras like supply costs, labour fees and transport/import fees. If waste removal is taken care of, ensure skip hire has been accounted for.

Lastly, be sure to clarify installation timelines and quality guarantees. If the installation comes with a warranty, ensure you’re aware of it in case of any issues after the contractors leave.

Removing Existing Worktops: Considerations and Costs

Before your new granite countertops are installed, your existing cabinetry and worktops must be removed. If you have the right equipment, you can complete this step yourself if you are undertaking a whole kitchen remodel where everything is being scrapped.

If your existing worktops are lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, you can dismantle your existing kitchen suite to trim extra contractor costs for professional removal. However, if you already have natural stone worktops or simply want to keep the kitchen set intact to sell or upcycle it, it will be best to enlist professional help to ensure nothing is damaged during the removal process.

Remember that you may have to pay for waste removal with specialised services for some materials if they’re considered hazardous. If you have asbestos or areas with lead paint, for example, you’ll need to pay for this specialised removal service.

Hiring a skip will be an additional cost, typically £220 for a mid-sized skip.

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