The 6 best materials for kitchen countertops, according to Consumer Reports
You'll want to choose carefully when redoing your countertops, especially if you hope they'll last a long time
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If you’re redoing the kitchen, choosing the right countertop is crucial. Not only will it determine how your kitchen looks, but the material you choose can also make a major difference in how well your kitchen performs and lasts.
Consumer Reports tested popular kitchen countertop materials to see how they resist stains, cuts, heat, abrasion, and the impact of objects dropped on them; it combined those results into an overall score.
We’ve listed the six materials that came out on top, all of which offer a mix of durability, performance, and value at different price points.
Continue reading to see the top six.
1 / 6
#6: Ultracompact (Dekton)
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Price: $50–$100 per square foot
Ultracompact countertops earn perfect scores for stain resistance, cutting, and heat, but their lower impact score hurts their overall ranking. They also score slightly lower for abrasion, which keeps them behind some more forgiving materials.
2 / 6
#5: Tile (Ceramic and Porcelain)
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Price: $5–$20 per square foot
Tile countertops perform very well against cuts and heat, but score lower for stain resistance and impact. Their mixed durability results place them near the middle of Consumer Reports’ rankings, though they're a much more affordable option than some others on the list.
3 / 6
#4: Laminate
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Price: $5–$25 per square foot
Laminate stands out for excellent stain and heat resistance, but falls short when it comes to cutting and abrasion. Its relatively strong impact score helps offset some of those weaknesses, as does its typical cost.
4 / 6
#3: Recycled Glass (Penetrating Sealer)
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Price: $25–$100 per square foot
Recycled glass scores highly for cutting, heat, and abrasion resistance, but weaker results for stains and impact bring down its overall score. Consumer Reports’ testing shows it’s durable in many areas, but not all.
5 / 6
#2: Granite
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Price: $20–$60 per square foot
Granite earns top marks for cutting, heat, and abrasion resistance, with solid stain resistance as well. Its lower impact score is the main factor keeping it from the top spot.
6 / 6
#1: Quartz (Engineered Stone)
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Price: $20–$60 per square foot
We’re not saying this because it’s the name of our website. Quartz ranks first thanks to its strong performance across nearly every test, including excellent resistance to cutting, heat, and abrasion, plus very good stain resistance. Consumer Reports determined it delivers the most well-rounded durability of any material tested.