What is the best kitchen worktop material? A buyers guide

We’re guessing you’re here because you’re trying to choose worktops for your kitchen, but you’re confused by all the different countertop materials.

We get it. It’s not an easy choice because there are so many kitchen work surface materials available. And they all have their advantages and disadvantages.

So, we’ve pulled this guide together to help you decide which worktop material is best for you. It covers the most popular countertop materials available, what they’re made of and lists their pros and cons.

Laminate worktops

Laminate worktops have a high-density chipboard core that’s covered with a plastic laminate sheet.

Laminate worktop pros:

• Low prices: laminate is the cheapest worktop material available.
• Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from, including many that look like stone materials.
• DIY installation: laminate can be cut with woodworking tools, so installation is cheap and easy.
• Get them straight away: laminate comes in ready to buy slabs you can pick up from a DIY store.
• Maintenance-free: once laminate is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
• Durable: despite being cheap, laminate is resistant to stains, heat and scratches.
• Cheap to replace: if your worktop gets damaged, it’s cheap and easy to swap it.

Laminate worktop cons:

• Limited design choices: laminate only comes in straight pieces, and any cuts reveal chipboard. This means they can’t be cut into curves (to match curved cabinets), and they aren’t suitable for use with undermount sinks or flush-mounted hobs.
• Poor quality finish: the side edges of these worktops aren’t covered with laminate, which means chipboard will be exposed at the end of a worktop run. The edges are covered with colour-matched laminate tape, but the tape can peel or chip away over time.
• Not scratch or heat-proof: we’ve said laminate is durable, and it is scratch and heat ‘resistant’…. But it’s not scratch and heat ‘proof’. So, you need to be careful and use a chopping board and hot pan trivets.
• Damaged by water ingress: if a join in the worktop fails, water can seep through to the chipboard core and cause the laminate to blow.

The verdict

Laminate worktops can look fantastic in the right kitchen, and they’re a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. But, if you’re going for high-end kitchen cabinets, be aware that laminate will cheapen the overall look.

Solid wood worktops

Solid wood worktops are precisely that – worktops made from solid wood. Oak is the most popular choice. But there are other woods available as worktops, such as beech, ash, birch and walnut.

Solid wood worktop pros:

• Low prices: solid wood is one of the cheapest worktop materials available, second only to laminate.
• Lots of colour choices: wood comes in a good range of colours, from light maple to dark walnut and cherry red.
• Unlimited design choices: wood can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink.
• DIY installation: wood can be cut with woodworking tools, so installation is cheap and easy.
• Get them straight away: wood worktops come in ready to buy slabs you can pick up from a DIY store.
• Repairable: scratches, scorch marks and stains can be sanded away.
• Durable: when it’s properly looked after (see cons), wood is durable and long-lasting.
• Ages well: as a natural product, wood’s appearance improves with age.

Solid wood worktop cons:

• High maintenance: wood needs a lot of care to keep it looking good. Its natural oil will slowly dry out, so it needs to be oiled with linseed or tung oil at least once a year.
• Easily damaged: wood worktops are prone to scorching, staining and scratches, so it’s essential to use hot pan trivets and chopping boards.

The verdict

Solid wood worktops are perfect for country-style kitchens. They look beautiful and are cheap to buy and install. But they can get damaged easily, so you need to look after them carefully.

Quartz worktops

Quartz worktops are made from a mix of quartz minerals and resin. You need to be careful when buying quartz because there’s a lot of cheap, low-quality quartz on the market. So, if you choose quartz, it’s best to stick with a good brand, such as Silestone® or Caesarstone®.

Quartz worktop pros:

• Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from.
• Cheaper alternative to natural stone: quartz is a stone mineral, so quartz worktops look like natural stone but come with a lower price tag.
• Unlimited design choices: quartz can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
• Maintenance-free: once quartz is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
• Durable: quartz varies, but good, branded quartz, like Silestone® or Caesarstone®, will resist stains and scratches. And they can come with warranties lasting up to 25 years.

Quartz worktop cons:

• High price: good, high-quality quartz isn’t cheap, but it does offer value for money.
• Requires specialist installation: quartz worktops are custom made for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.
• Not heat-proof: hot pans can damage quartz surfaces, so they must be protected with a trivet.

The verdict

Quartz is an excellent worktop material, as long as you buy a high-quality brand. It’s mid-range in terms of price, and it will look fantastic in any kitchen. It’s long-lasting, but you do need to be careful with hot pans.

Sintered stone worktops

Sintered stone worktops are made from engineered stone. They’re made purely from natural minerals (such as glass, porcelain, quartz and other crushed stones) and don’t contain man-made resins. They’re often called solid surface or ultra-compact worktops. Some popular brands include Dekton®, Neolith® and XTone®.

Sintered stone worktop pros:

• Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from.
• Cheaper alternative to natural stone: many styles are available that replicate natural stones, such as granite and marble.
• High quality: sintered stone is a premium countertop material.
• Unlimited design choices: sintered stone can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
• Maintenance-free: once sintered stone is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
• Durable: each brand varies, but most are highly resistant to stains, scratches and heat. Some are also UV-resistant, which means they’re great for outdoor or sunny kitchens. And they come with warranties that can last from 10-25 years, depending on the brand.

Sintered stone worktop cons:

• High price: sintered stone is not a cheap worktop material. However, it’s a high-quality material that’s incredibly durable, so it’s excellent value for money.
• Requires specialist installation: sintered stone worktops are custom made for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.

The verdict

Sintered stone is one of the best worktop materials available. It does come with a high price tag, and there’s a bit of a wait to get it installed, but it’s well worth paying the extra if it’s within your budget.

Acrylic worktops

Acrylic worktops are made from a mix of resins and natural minerals. They’re often called solid- surface worktops, and they have a similar feel to natural stone. Most people know acrylic worktops as Corian® worktops. But actually, Corian® is just one brand (the original acrylic worktop brand). Other great acrylic worktop brands include HI-MACS®, Hanex® and Tristone™.

Acrylic worktop pros:

• Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from.
• Cheaper alternative to natural stone: many styles are available that replicate natural stones, such as granite and marble.
• High quality: acrylic is a high-quality countertop material.
• Inconspicuous joins: acrylic is the only worktop material that can be joined without leaving visible lines. This gives the worktops a beautifully seamless look.
• Unlimited design choices: acrylic can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
• Repairable: scratches, scorch marks and stains can be sanded away with an abrasive cleaner and scouring pad.
• Maintenance-free: once acrylic is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
• Durable: all acrylic worktop brands are stain and impact resistant. And they come with a 10-year warranty.

Acrylic worktop cons:

• High price: acrylic is not a cheap worktop material. However, it’s a high-quality material that’s incredibly durable, so it’s excellent value for money.
• Specialist installation recommended: acrylic worktops can be purchased in straight runs, and it’s possible to install them yourself. However, as they are a premium product, we’d recommend getting expert fitting, so the finish is high-end and flawless. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktop, but the results will be worth it.

The verdict

Acrylic is one of the best worktop materials available in terms of looks and durability. It’s not a cheap worktop material, but it’s a great alternative to more pricey natural stones. In addition, it’s the only worktop material that has inconspicuous joins. And, apart from wood, which needs a lot of maintenance, it’s the only man-made worktop that can be repaired.

Granite worktops

Granite is a natural stone that forms over millions of years in the ground. It’s dug up in huge blocks and cut into worktops.

Granite worktop pros:

• Unique: granite forms naturally in the ground, so no two pieces are ever the same.
• High quality: granite is a premium worktop material with a glossy appearance.
• Unlimited design choices: granite can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
• Durable: granite is scratch, heat and stain resistant (if it’s sealed – see cons).

Granite worktop cons:

• Fewer colours: as we have to rely on the colours nature gives us, the range available is more limited than man-made worktop materials.
• High price: granite is one of the most expensive worktop materials available. However, it’s a premium-quality, natural product that’s incredibly durable, so it’s excellent value for money.
• Requires specialist installation: granite worktops are custom cut for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.
• High maintenance: granite worktops must be sealed. Most granite comes pre-sealed when you buy it, but you’ll need to re-seal it once a year.

The verdict

Granite is one of the best worktop materials available when it comes to durability and looks. It’s expensive and needs to be regularly sealed to maintain it, but it’s well worth paying the extra if you have a high-end kitchen.

Marble worktops

Just like granite, marble is a natural stone (a type of limestone) that’s compressed into a hard rock under the earth’s surface over millions of years. Then it’s dug up in huge blocks and cut into worktops.

Marble worktop pros:

• Unique: as marble is a natural product, no two pieces are ever the same.
• Lots of choice: even though marble is a natural product, a surprisingly extensive range of colours and patterns is available.
• Premium quality: marble is the ultimate worktop material when it comes to luxury.
• Unlimited design choices: marble can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
• Great for bakers: marble stays cool to the touch, making it ideal for pastry and bread making.

Marble worktop cons:

• High price: marble is one of the most expensive worktop materials available. It is a premium-quality, natural product, but it’s not very durable. So, although it will look beautiful in your kitchen, you’ll need to be very careful with it.
• Prone to damage: marble is a porous surface, so it isn’t heat-proof, stain-proof or scratch-proof. It can also chip easily. So, chopping boards and trivets must be used on marble work surfaces. And spills must be wiped away quickly.
• High maintenance: marble worktops should be professionally sealed every six months to help reduce instances of staining and scratching.
• Visible joins: on veined slabs, joins across two pieces of worktop are very noticeable.
• Requires specialist installation: marble worktops are custom cut for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.

The verdict

Marble is a premium worktop that comes with a premium price tag. There’s no doubt that it will look stunning in a high-end kitchen. But maintenance and the chance of damaging it is high.

So, what is the best kitchen worktop material?

Only you can decide which countertop material is best for you. But now you’re armed with all the facts, you can weigh up the pros and cons against your budget, lifestyle and design preferences.

And, if you need more help, give us a call on 0800 0614722 or send us a message through our contact form. We have over 10 years of experience supplying and fitting worktops at affordable prices across the UK. Browse our acrylic worktop range or visit our Signature Worktops website to see our sintered stone, quartz and granite ranges.