Quartzite price: what drives it and how to compare quotes
Two quotes for quartzite countertops (worktops) can be far apart and both be fair. The price does not come from the word "quartzite" but from the specific stone, the specific slab and the work involved. Here is what drives it and how to compare quotes properly.
Why we don't publish prices
Quartzite is sold by the slab, and every slab is different: its pattern, size and quality all affect the price. On top of that, the cost of imported stone moves with the market. A published figure would soon be out of date, or would not match the slab you actually receive. The honest approach is to explain the factors and quote on real slabs.
What makes quartzite prices vary
The stone: exotic versus everyday
This is the biggest factor. Some quartzites are understated, with an even background and soft veining, and are quarried in larger quantities. Others are exotic stones prized for their colour or their crystal:
- Patagonia, with a cream background, large areas of translucent white crystal and black and rust patches. It is one of the most recognisable stones in the world.
- Crystallo (Cristallo), a translucent white quartzite with gold and rust veins that can be backlit.
- Blue Roma, with a sky-blue background and large branching patterns in brown and rust.
Stones with crystal, translucency or an unusual colour sit at the top end. Calmer white and grey quartzites with a marble look usually come in lower. You can see them grouped by family in types of quartzite.
Scarcity
Some quartzites come from very few quarries, or from blocks that only turn up now and then. When supply is short and demand is high, prices rise. That is why the same stone can cost more one year than the next.
Slab size
Large slabs are harder to extract in one piece and are worth more. A long island or a waterfall countertop with no seams needs big slabs, and that shows in the quote.
Slab quality
Within the same stone, some slabs are better than others:
- Fissures: quartzite can have natural fissures. A slab with few, well-treated fissures is worth more.
- Resin: many slabs are resined to fill pores and micro-cracks. That is normal, but a slab that needs a lot of resin is usually lower grade.
- Consistency: a balanced pattern with no out-of-place patches is worth more than an irregular slab.
Thickness and finish
A thicker slab means more stone and more weight, so it costs more to buy and to ship. See countertop thickness. The finish matters too: polished, honed and leathered are not offered on every stone in the same way.
Fabrication
Quartzite is harder than marble. Cutting it, shaping edges and mitres, and making cut-outs takes longer and wears the workshop's tooling faster. So with the same design, fabricating quartzite usually costs more than fabricating marble. Kitchen details are covered in quartzite countertops.
Book-matching and consecutive slabs
To book-match the veining you need slabs cut one after another from the same block. They have to be bought together and the layout uses the material less efficiently, so there is more waste. It is a design choice that costs extra, and it is worth it on walls, islands and waterfalls. More in what is book-matching.
Shipping
Slabs travel on A-frames or in wooden crates, and they are heavy. Distance, packing and site access all change the cost. If you are buying from another country, read buying natural stone from abroad.
Why the price follows the market
Most exotic quartzites come from a handful of regions. Their price depends on how much is quarried each season, international demand, ocean freight costs and exchange rates. When a stone becomes fashionable, its best slabs sell first and prices go up. That is why it pays to ask for a quote once your project has measurements.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Make sure it is the same stone. Some white stones sold as quartzite are actually dolomite, which is softer. See dolomite vs quartzite.
- Compare similar slabs. Ask for photos of the actual slab, not a catalogue sample.
- Same thickness and finish. Otherwise you are not comparing like with like.
- Check what is included. Material only, or also cutting, edges, cut-outs, templating, delivery and installation.
- How many slabs, and where the seams go. A cheaper quote may mean more seams or a layout without book-matching.
Be wary of an exotic quartzite priced far below everyone else: it may be a low-grade slab, heavily resined, or a different stone altogether.
Quartzites in our catalogue
All photos show real slabs. Browse them all in the quartzite catalogue.
Blue Roma
Four Seasons
Patagonia
Taj Mahal
Alpinus
Alpinus Patagonia
Avocatus
Azul Macaubas
Calacatta Da Vinci
Cielo
Crystallo
Crystallo Blue
Crystallo Pink
Crystallo White
Elegant Brown
Fusion
Krypton
Macchia Vecchia
Matarazzo
Mont Blanc
Patagonia Green
Roma Imperial
Super White
Titanium
Via Lactea
Vitoria Regia
Want to know what your project would cost? Ask us for a quote with the stone and your measurements, and we will send photos and videos of the slabs available. We can reserve them, and we ship worldwide.
Have a project in mind?
Ask us for a no-obligation quote: we will reply with an indicative price.