Marble vs. Granite Countertops: Which Is Best for Your Kitchen?

By: Andrew Saladino | 6 min

So you love the look of natural stone - who doesn't? The polished color variations and veining create the perfect blend between organic simplicity and luxury design. But when choosing between marble vs. granite, there's a bit more to consider than looks alone.

Whether you're using stone for your kitchen countertops or backsplash, you need a material that will work with your lifestyle and price point. In this article, we'll compare the appearance, durability, maintenance requirements, and cost of both marble and granite so you can decide which natural stone suits you best.

Summary

• Marble vs. Granite
• What Is Marble?
• What Is Granite?
• Physical Qualities
• Durability
• Price
• Installation
• Maintenance
• FAQs

Marble vs. Granite: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's a quick glance at what you can expect from marble and granite countertops.

What Is Marble?

Known for its impressive beauty, countless color variations, and high price point, marble countertops and backsplashes are a prominent staple in modern luxury kitchen design.

This naturally occurring metamorphic rock is recognizable for its signature sparkle and high-contrast veining most commonly seen in white and black or gray patterns. However, marble can be found in many vibrant shades depending on its mineral composition, like sunny yellow, brick red, and blush pink.

While there's no denying marble's high-end aesthetic, its high price and extensive care requirements aren't for everyone. Like all natural stone countertops, marble requires regular resealing (as frequently as four times per year) to prevent stains and can become more prone to cracks over time.

What Is Granite?

Like marble, granite is one of the most popular choices for today's kitchen countertops - however, its appeal goes beyond appearance.

Granite comes in a wide range of colors and patterns to suit most interior design styles, whether you're creating a modern Scandinavian-inspired kitchen or a warm Tuscan retreat. The natural color and freckling depend on the mineral makeup of the particular slab, but granite typically has a variation of pink or gray coloring.

Granite is also much more durable than marble, making it a favorite amongst aspiring chefs and bustling families. This material naturally resists heat, so hot pads are obsolete, plus its nonporous properties hold up against mold and mildew, so you won't have to fret about the occasional splash or spill. And, unlike marble, granite only needs to be resealed annually.

Physical Qualities

While both marble and granite come in a large variety of colors and patterns, it's easy to tell the two apart by their overlying characteristics:

• Marble is striated with large, high-contrast veins.
• Granite can have speckles, flecks, veins, or even solid patterns.

Marble is often a prime choice for modern, upscale kitchens - its large solid areas of white or color intercepted by dramatic, crystalline veining lends itself perfectly to minimalistic styles with an added dash of intrigue. Some of our favorite marble countertops/cabinet combinations include white marble with imperial blue cabinets, black marble and gray kitchen cabinets, and green marble with classic white cabinets.

Speckled and flecked granite countertops have a lot more going on in terms of pattern and color variation compared to marble. While these countertops may be considered a bit busy for minimalist kitchens, they serve as an eye-catching statement element in traditional and transitional designs. Some homeowners even choose more intricate granite stone slabs to highlight their kitchen island while opting for subtle solid-pattern slabs for the rest of their countertops.

It's important to note the appearance of marble vs. granite can vary between slabs, with some marble showing more granite-like traits and vice versa.

Durability

The distinction between marble vs. granite isn't just surface level - there are also major differences in strength and durability.

Granite is comparatively harder and stronger than marble - it's considered one of the most durable natural stones available. It's resistant to heat, so you can place that boiling pot of pasta water directly on the countertop without worrying about discoloration or burns. Granite can also hold up against scratches, stains, chips, and cracks remarkably well when maintained correctly.

Marble, on the other hand, is prone to more damage compared to granite due to its highly porous mineral composition. While all natural stones are porous to some degree, granite exhibits nonporous properties that marble doesn't have, making marble much more susceptible to stains, cracks, and chips over time - even when sealed regularly. Marble is also susceptible to fading and looking duller over time.

Price

Both marble and granite are considered high-end kitchen countertop materials, although granite is slightly cheaper than marble, depending on the quality of the slab. The average price of granite is $40-$100 per square foot, compared to $50-$150 per square foot for marble.

Countertops typically make up about 10% of your overall kitchen remodeling budget, but you may want to allocate more money toward this kitchen element if you're set on using a natural stone. Butcher block, tile, and laminate countertops are at the cheaper end of countertop costs - depending on the quality of the material and the size of your space, prices can range from $600 to $3,000, with the exception of some high-end woods. Countertops made of concrete, stone, quartz, marble, and granite range from $4,000 to $12,000.

Installation

Unless you have a dedicated team of DIYers to help, both marble and granite countertops should be installed professionally. As you can imagine, natural stone is heavy - lifting your new countertops, positioning and cutting them into shape, and securing them into place requires some serious skill (and expensive tools).

Granite countertops can be especially difficult to install due to their weight. If you're building a breakfast bar with a large overhang or plan to install your countertop directly over your dishwasher, granite countertops may need additional support to avoid cracking in those areas where your base cabinets can't support it.

Maintenance

All natural stone countertops require some level of maintenance to keep them looking polished and clean. However, maintenance varies wildly depending on the type of stone you choose. If you value easy cleanup and worry-free cooking, you're going to want to pay special attention to this section.

Granite countertops require much less maintenance than marble countertops in almost every way.

• Granite only needs to be resealed annually, while marble should be resealed every three to six months.
• Granite is much more stain-resistant than marble, even if the marble has been sealed.
• While both granite and marble are heat-resistant, you're more likely to discolor or burn marble countertops if you aren't using a hot pad.
• No matter how much you polish, marble will lose its luster over time -granite countertops require a simple wipe-down to restore their shine.
• Acidic spills like wine or orange juice can eat away at marble countertops if not wiped away immediately.

This is largely due to granite's nonporous properties that prevent moisture from seeping into the stone. If you value function over aesthetics, the choice between marble vs. granite should be an easy one.

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Marble vs. Granite FAQs

Still not sure which countertop material will serve you best? We answered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you decide.

Is marble or granite better for countertops?

In terms of durability, maintenance, and price, granite could be considered a better material for countertops. However, marble countertops are more often associated with high-end design and can increase home value.

What are the disadvantages of marble?

Marble is porous, making it one of the most high-maintenance countertop materials. It's prone to scratches and stains, so frequent resealing is required to protect it. It's also typically more expensive than other types of natural stone, like granite or travertine.

Is marble more durable than granite?

Marble is not more durable than granite. Granite is harder than marble and holds up better to chips and scratches.

Which is cheaper, marble or granite?

Granite is typically less expensive than marble, although the price of both marble and granite will depend on the quality of the slab. The average price of granite is $40-$100 per square foot, compared to $50-$150 per square foot for marble.

When it comes to picking granite vs. marble countertops, the choice comes down to appearance vs. maintenance. If you have your heart set on the crystalline veining and high-end luster of marble, be ready to put in the work to keep your countertops in pristine condition. Or, embrace granite's funky flecks and low-maintenance requirements - with a lower price tag to boot.

Ready to choose a stone? Don't forget to factor in how it'll pair with your kitchen cabinets! If new cabinets are next on your remodel list, browse our selection of high-quality ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled cabinets to find the perfect fit for your marble or granite countertops.