Quartz vs granite: how to choose

Made versus quarried

Granite comes out of the ground: it is cut from a quarry block, sliced and polished. Quartz is manufactured from crushed quartz, resin and pigment. Nearly every practical difference follows from that one fact. Granite gives you nature’s variation, so each slab is unique. Quartz gives you control, so the slab matches the sample.

The look

For flat whites, pale greys and concrete effects, quartz is hard to beat, because quarried stone is seldom that uniform. For depth, sparkle and a surface that is plainly natural, granite wins. If you want veining, both can do it: quartz imitates marble, and some granites carry bold veins of their own.

Heat

Granite has the edge. It contains no resin, so setting a warm pan down for a moment will not mark it. Quartz’s resin can scorch or discolour under a very hot pan or tray. If your pans tend to go straight from hob to worktop, granite is the safer bet, though a trivet is a good idea on either.

Stains and upkeep

No sealer is ever needed on quartz, which has no pores. Granite ranges from dense stones that absorb almost nothing to lighter, more open ones that are sealed after fitting and resealed now and then. If upkeep is the deciding factor, quartz asks less of you.

Knocks and chips

Both resist everyday scratches. Granite is a touch harder; quartz has a little more give, so its edges chip slightly less readily. A chip in either can normally be repaired with tinted resin.

Silica

Standard engineered quartz has far more crystalline silica in it than granite. That is a hazard for the people who cut it, not for you at home. If it matters to you, ask for a lower-silica quartz, or look at granite or porcelain. Our silica guide explains more.

Quick verdict

• Quartz for a uniform colour, no sealing ever and the least effort to keep clean.
• Granite for serious cooks who like natural stone that tolerates heat.
• Porcelain if you want the easy care of quartz with better heat and sun resistance.