Kitchen Worktop Prices at a Glance
Kitchen worktops cost from around £50 per linear metre for laminate to £500+ per metre for premium quartz and marble. For a typical UK kitchen needing 4 to 5 metres, that means £300 to £600 for laminate or £1,500 to £3,000+ for stone. The table below compares the five main materials on price and the factors that actually matter day to day.
| Material | Typical price per metre | Durability | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | £50 to £150 | Low-medium | Easy; avoid heat and standing water | Tight budgets, rentals |
| Solid wood | £150 to £350 | Medium (can be sanded back) | Regular oiling | Warm traditional looks |
| Granite | £200 to £450 | Very high | Annual sealing | Natural stone character |
| Quartz | £250 to £500 | Very high | Minimal; wipe clean | Busy family kitchens |
| Marble / Corian | £300 to £600+ | Medium (stains, scratches) | Sealing; careful use | Statement luxury looks |
Quartz vs Granite vs the Rest: The Decision
Quartz: the default choice
Engineered quartz dominates UK kitchen showrooms for good reason: it is non-porous (no sealing), resists stains and scratches, and comes in consistent colours. Expect £250 to £500 per metre installed. The premium over granite buys consistency and near-zero maintenance.
Granite: natural character, lower entry price
Granite starts cheaper than quartz at £200 to £450 per metre, and each slab is unique. The trade-off: it needs annual sealing, and light colours can stain. Over 15 to 20 years the maintenance gap narrows the lifetime cost difference considerably.
Laminate: the budget champion
Modern laminates mimic stone convincingly at £50 to £150 per metre. They scorch with hot pans and swell at damaged edges, but for rentals or tight budgets they are unbeatable value. Replacement is cheap enough that a 10-year refresh cycle still costs less than stone.
Solid wood, marble and Corian
Solid wood (£150 to £350/m) suits traditional kitchens but demands oiling every few months. Marble (£300 to £600+/m) is beautiful and impractical: it etches with lemon and wine. Corian (similar money) offers seamless joints and repairability, popular in handleless modern designs.
Worktop Overlays: The Cheaper Alternative Nobody Mentions
If your carcasses are sound, worktop overlays (6mm quartz or granite bonded over your existing tops) cost roughly 40 to 60 percent less than full replacement, fitted in a day with no plumbing disruption. Few cost guides mention them because retailers would rather sell full kitchens. Overlays suit straight runs best; L-shapes and upstands complicate the job.
7 Hidden Costs That Blow Up Quotes
- Templating: £100 to £250 for the laser measure visit (sometimes deducted on order)
- Cutouts: £50 to £100 each for hob and sink cutouts
- Edge profiles: fancy ogee or mitred edges add £20 to £50 per metre over square edge
- Upstands and splashbacks: often quoted separately
- Removal and disposal of old worktops
- Plumbing and gas reconnection after the swap
- Delivery charges for stone slabs, especially outside major cities
Quote Comparison Checklist
Before accepting any quote, confirm it itemises: slab material and thickness (20mm vs 30mm affects price and feel), fabrication, templating, cutouts, edge profile, installation, removal of old tops, and VAT. Buy direct from a fabricator rather than through a kitchen retailer where possible: forum wisdom consistently reports 30 to 60 percent retailer markups on the same stone. For the full kitchen budget picture, see our kitchen renovation costs guide and home renovation costs overview.
Kitchen Worktop FAQs
How much do kitchen worktops cost in the UK?
Laminate £50 to £150 per metre, solid wood £150 to £350, granite £200 to £450, quartz £250 to £500, marble £300 to £600+. A typical 4 to 5 metre kitchen costs £300 to £3,000+ depending on material.
Is quartz better than granite?
Quartz needs less maintenance and offers consistent colours; granite is natural, often cheaper upfront, but needs annual sealing. For busy family kitchens, quartz usually wins.
What is the cheapest kitchen worktop?
Laminate, at £50 to £150 per metre installed. It looks convincing in modern designs but scorches with heat and swells if water gets into damaged edges.
How much does it cost to replace kitchen worktops?
Budget £500 to £1,000 for laminate including fitting, £1,500 to £3,000+ for quartz or granite, plus plumbing reconnection. Overlays can cut 40 to 60 percent off full replacement.
Are worktop overlays any good?
Yes for straight runs on sound carcasses: 6mm stone bonded over existing tops, fitted in a day, at roughly half the cost of replacement. Less suited to complex shapes.
How thick should a kitchen worktop be?
20mm suits modern minimalist looks; 30mm feels more substantial and traditional. Thicker slabs cost more and need stronger cabinet support.
Do quartz worktops stain?
Rarely. Quartz is non-porous, so red wine and turmeric wipe off. Prolonged heat (hot pans directly) can damage the resin: always use trivets.
Can you put hot pans on granite?
Granite tolerates heat better than quartz or laminate, but thermal shock can still crack it. Trivets remain the safe habit for every material.
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