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By: Alan Jan 08, 2024 2 Comments
Creating a budget for knowing a kitchen worktop price involves various factors that can tip the scale. Kitchen worktop prices in 2024 have increased due to post-Brexit import costs and inflation. Here, we analyse elements affecting the final price of worktops: material differences, thickness, edge type, fronts, finish, sink inserts, etc.
Worktop material prices
Natural marble and quartz are generally cheaper, while imported quartzites and some porcelain brands are pricier. Prices vary with availability, influenced by location, transport, and scarcity. Porcelain prices differ based on colour and imitations of natural materials, reflecting longer production times and potential flaws.
Regarding porcelain, price tags are often divided into two or three groups within the same category or brand. The wallet-friendly options fall under Groups 1 and 0. Typically, the budget-friendly ones flaunt monochrome tones with tiny speckles, like white, beige, brown, and other primary colours.
On the flip side, the pricier groups aim to replicate the look of natural marble, metal, or wood. The catch? Crafting these materials takes more time for manufacturers.
Plus, intricate slab design leaves more room for flaws, resulting in a higher likelihood of imperfect pieces. This, in turn, drives up the overall cost of the final product.
Other Kitchen Worktop Prices in 2024: Linear Metre Prices of 2 cm thickness
Understanding Worktop Choices
Dark Grey Quartz worktop prices (inclusive of VAT)
| Silestone Grey Expo Quartz | £175 |
| Caesarstone Concrete Quartz | £185 |
| Compac Plomo Quartz | £115 |
| Quartzforms MA Grey Quartz | £139 |
“Selecting the right worktop can not only define the style and feel of your kitchen, but can also significantly influence your comfort and ease while cooking.”
Our analysis of kitchen worktop prices will enlighten you on subtle differences in pricing due to factors like material, thickness, edge type, and additional features. But that’s not where our exploration ends. We’ll also take a comprehensive look at the environmental impact, trending kitchen styles, long-term maintenance, and other key considerations that should influence your decision.
Alan Nussbaum, Worktop Library
How much are Kitchen Worktops Cost: Porcelain, Neolith, Ceramics, Quartz, Natural Stone, Dekton Worktops Prices.
Here, we list some 20mm linear metre prices of leading brands of porcelain, ceramic and ultra-compact surfaces. These surfaces are relatively new and resist higher temperatures than similar manufactured stones.
It makes porcelain worktop prices generally higher than quartz, which has been around for almost three decades. However, we predict that porcelain and ceramic worktop prices will come down to the same level as quartz over the next few years.
Porcelain Worktop Cost: Per Linear metre, Installed:
1.2 cm Porcelain Worktops
Neolith cost per metre.
Dekton and porcelain worktop prices London and south-east England.
| Dekton Kreta | £485+vat |
| Dekton Helena | £542+vat |
| Dekton Khalo | £285+vat |
| Neolith Calacatta Luxe | £478+vat |
| Neolith Just White | £275+vat |
| Laminam Calce Nero | £329+vat |
| Laminam Calacatta Oro Venato | £393+vat |
NATURAL STONE KITCHEN WORKTOP PRICES 2024
Natural stone worktop prices in London and south-east England
| Bianco Sardo Granite | £179+vat |
| Carrara Marble Worktop | £184+vat |
| Absolute Black Granite Worktop | £215+vat |
| Neolith Calacatta Luxe (12mm thick) | £256+vat |
| White Macaubas Quartzite | £305+vat |
| Bianco Eclipse Quartzite | £331+vat |
| Calacatta Marble Worktop | £369+vat |
According to a report posted by the KBB Magazine website, UK homeowners’ most popular kitchen worktop materials are natural stones (marble tops, granite work surfaces, quartzite worktops, limestone), with approximately 20% market share. Secondly, there are engineered stones (18% market share).
Last, a 3% market share is taken by other materials (porcelain, ceramic, ultra-compact surfaces, wood, etc.). We exclude laminate worktops and anything wooden from these statistics because we classify them as a different surface category.
Kitchen Worktop Prices and Sizes
The size of a worktop is a crucial element for prices. A worktop can have quite different dimensions from one home to another. Therefore, it will result in varying prices too.
However, the average worktop measures approximately three and a half linear meters. As for the kitchen worktop width, it is generally 60 cm. In addition, we make an overhang allowance of an additional 2 cm.
Worktop thickness and edge
Today’s most common thickness is twenty millimetres, although most manufacturers also offer 12mm and 30mm.
The price difference between 12mm and 20mm is exceedingly tiny. And in most cases, homeowners don’t notice a price difference between these as much as the manufacturers do. It is because, in many cases, thinner materials are more expensive to produce.
Kitchen worktop prices 2024. Worktop edge
The edge of the worktop is the finish and exterior shape, which you can choose from many different looks. However, the pencil or bevel edge and the mitre edge are the most in-demand.
In the latter, the top end of the edge meets a concealed front to give the appearance of a thicker worktop. Similarly, mitred edges have been fashionable in recent years, as they can make the worktop look as comprehensive as you want.
But the pencil edge is the most economical: it usually does not add extra cost by stone suppliers and is the default edge profile in estimates and quotations. In terms of the mitre edge, prices go per linear meter. It represents an increase of between £60-£120+vat, according to the worktop supplier and the location of your property.
Worktop Splashback
In recent years, there has been a growing trend in installing worktop splashbacks or upstands to achieve a more minimalistic aesthetic. It involves cladding the wall space between the worktop and the kitchen walls or cabinets with the same material.
Splashback costs are calculated per square metre and can increase the budget of our worktop by between 40%-60%. The trick to avoiding substantial splashback costs is to ask your worktop supplier how many offcuts you will have from your kitchen worktops before fabrication.
For example, you would only pay for additional labour to fit a full-height splashback within the same number of slabs. Or perhaps there is enough offcut for having upstands instead? Either way, you would make substantial cost savings in kitchen worktop prices in 2024 by doing a little calculation while avoiding purchasing an additional slab of material.
According to the research from our estimating team, 28% of the quote requests we receive from clients include a splashback behind the hob or cooker.
Upstands and draining grooves
Kitchen worktop prices in 2024 include the hob cut out of the countertop (for the induction hob installation) and the over-counter sink cut out.
20mm worktops can consist of the upstands, the pieces between the bottom of the worktop and the wall or the window.
Worktop Sink
How your kitchen worktop sink carries its installation can impact the cost of the surface. When choosing the worktop material, we must be clear about whether we want what is known as an “over-counter” or under-counter “sink.
The first type uses silicones for its installation. It is the most popular type over the last 30 years and the most economical. By default, this type of sink is already in the worktop quote.
The second type is currently more in demand due to aesthetic reasons and easy maintenance with soap and water. However, this option will likely add more cost to your worktops. It’s because all the exposed edges of the cutout require additional polishing by the stonemasons.
Integrated Sinks
Integrated sinks come from the same material as your worktop. Therefore, integrated sinks give you the feeling of unity and perfect integration with the rest of the elements of your countertop.
Notably, many assume that the sink is a continuity of the worktop and comes from the same slab. Even though integrated sinks are available in the same material you choose for your worktops, these are generally items you must purchase separately from your worktops. The great news is that they are very efficient and easy to clean.
Cosentino and The Size, who make Neolith, are two manufacturers offering this option. In the case of the Cosentino, it offers Silestone Integrity Sinks from any colour of its collection.
For example, you can choose an Integrity Sink One (with one cutout), Integrity Sink Duo (with two cutouts), and Integrity Sink Top (it comes with specially finished top edges).
Similarly, The Size offers Neolith Integrated Sinks. These integrated porcelain sinks by Neolith are available in 400x400mm, 450x400mm, 500x400mm, and 700x400mm.
In many cases, integrated sinks are expensive compared to the worktop’s cost per square meter. Hence, a tiny portion of worktop purchases, including an integrated sink in the same material.
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Kitchen Island
Installing a kitchen island is one of the kitchen elements with the most success when space allows for it. The island is a table that takes up the central area of the kitchen and is independent of the worktop. Therefore, kitchen island prices are in square meters; the most common measurement is 2500m in length by 900mm in depth.
For example, Silestone Blanco Zeus, one of the most popular quartz stones on the market, costs £572 per square meter. This price includes VAT and the template, supply and installation in London and surrounding areas.
The island sides are not always made of the same material as the worktop. Each side piece may take you into an additional slab of material for your kitchen, adding to the overall worktop cost.
Worktop Installation Cost and Extras
Installing a worktop or kitchen island costs between £300-£600+vat. However, installation prices vary according to the property’s location and the number of slabs needed to complete the installation. In this situation, installing a kitchen worktop from one slab will take less time than installing a 3-slab kitchen worktop.
Worktop estimates usually include extras like socket cutouts for plugs on the upstands or the worktop. But it would be best to inform your kitchen showroom or stone supplier of these.
In contrast, the hot-rods or hot-grooves installations that support pots or grooves have already gone down in history. These items are no longer fashionable and are not in demand by homeowners in the United Kingdom.
Understanding the Environmental Impact
Before you decide on a worktop material, it’s worth considering the environmental footprint of your choice. Some materials, like granite and marble, require intensive mining and transport, which can contribute significantly to carbon emissions.
- Quartz is popular due to its robustness and availability in varied designs. However, it is engineered, which entails energy consumption. However, many companies are adopting eco-friendly practices in their production.
- Terrazzo is entirely recyclable, making it the standout choice for sustainability enthusiasts.
- Porcelain, especially from sustainably managed brands, can be a renewable choice, though its longevity is less than that of other materials.
Keeping Up with Design Trends
When selecting a worktop, your kitchen’s aesthetics bear significance. In recent years, waterfall edges and veined designs have made quite a wave.
Another trendy feature is adding a shelf wrapped in stone to a full-height kitchen splashback. Requiring mitred edging, this premium feature has become a must-have in luxury kitchens.
Whether you prefer a clean, minimalist look with the Caesarstone Concrete Quartz or want to make a statement with the intricately veined Laminam Calacatta Oro Venato, keep an eye on the latest trends to ensure your kitchen style stays fresh and on point.
Expanding Comparisons
While our product list comprises top-tier porcelain, marble, and granite options, a broader material comparison can help you ascertain the best worktop choice.
Wooden worktops, with their warm aesthetics and naturally anti-bacterial properties but higher maintenance, or stainless-steel countertops, prized for their robustness and sleek modern appeal but potentially prone to scratches, provide diverse alternatives worth considering.
Another noteworthy option is the concrete worktop, admired for its industrial aesthetic and vast customisation possibilities. Known for its durability and heat resistance, concrete is a superb option for those seeking a unique, handcrafted look in their kitchen. However, it does require regular sealing to prevent staining and water damage, which is an essential factor to consider in your decision-making process.
Diving into Durability and Maintenance
Understanding the longevity of your chosen material and its required upkeep can save you future headaches. While granite, quartzite, and quartz worktops offer immense durability and require low maintenance, marble entails a more meticulous care routine. It may need periodic sealing to ward off stains. Similarly, wood requires frequent oiling to maintain its lustre and prevent drying out.
Navigating Regional Variations in Prices
The prices in our analysis are indicative of the London market. However, prices can vary based on locality due to differences in supply chains, local demand, and shipping costs. Therefore, consulting local manufacturers or suppliers could give you a more accurate picture of the prices in your specific region.
Embracing Technological Advancements
Modern technology has infused the worktop industry with innovative materials and manufacturing techniques. For instance, Dekton surfaces, composed of glass, porcelain, and quartz, represent a technological leap offering heat, stain, and scratch resistance.
Adding to the impressive lineup of advancements, the industry is experiencing a rising trend towards full-body porcelain options. These pioneering worktop solutions retain their pattern and colour throughout, not just on the surface, for heightened aesthetics and durability. In the vanguard of this innovation is SapienStone with their ‘4D’ ceramic worktops, which display a tactile depth and lifelike texture.
Equally commendable is the ‘vein-tech’ Infinity Surfaces, which offers a similar full-body vein porcelain technology that creates an exquisitely consistent and convincing natural stone look. Keep an eye out for such advancements when considering your options.
Considering Customer Reviews and Experiences
Lastly, don’t overlook customer reviews and experiences. They can provide invaluable insights into the real-life performance and durability of the different worktop materials and brands. Check out product reviews online and ask around in local home improvement communities for firsthand experiences.
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Note: The prices shown in this report are by The Worktop Library in London, Greater London, and surrounding counties and are only indicative.
Author:
Alan Nussbaum
Meet Alan Nussbaum, our Sales and Marketing Manager, whose expertise in stone worktops is second to none. With almost two decades of experience, Alan’s impressive track record includes creating one of the first online stone companies in 2012 and pioneering the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in construction in 2018 before co-founding The Worktop Library with Maria.
Alan’s outstanding work is featured in numerous Stone and Home Decor magazines. In addition, he collaborates with the industry’s leading stone brands, cementing his reputation as a true innovator.
Before starting a thriving career in the stone industry, Alan honed his skills by overseeing luxury fashion brands such as Burberry, Matches Fashion, and Patrick Cox. With his unique blend of experience and expertise, Alan is a true trailblazer in the stone worktop industry. His passion for delivering exceptional service is evident in every aspect of his work.
Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you Aniya!