So which is better, granite or quartz countertops?  The answer is, of course, both! 

If you just want the bottom line, scroll to the bottom & skip the hashing.

Hardness:  Both are hard enough to eliminate most scratching. 8 out of 10 on the hardness scale.

Stainability: Granite needs to be sealed, but the sealers have gotten very good and they only need to be re-sealed once every decade for most types.  To make countertops, quartz is mixed with resin, poured, and baked like a sheetcake.  The resin acts as a sealer and makes Quartz countertops mostly non-stainable. (most warranties exclude staining).  What about all of the talk I hear about granite staining?  Since quartz is man-made, it has a marketing budget.  What better way to market quartz than to insinuate that granite will stain?  “Smear the opponent” is a time-honored marketing technique.  Here is the official straight scoop on granite staining. 

Appearance:  Granite has the advantage of natural beauty, and one-of-a-kind pattern potential, whereas quartz mostly looks man-made.  Quartz offers some interesting & different looks, including some colors that don’t appear in nature.  We regularly use both products and even mix them in the same room.

Granite & Quartz combined in the same kitchen

Heat Resistance: Both granite & quartz can be damaged by hot pots and the official recommendation is don’t. (most warranties exclude heat damage).  I regularly do put moderately hot pots on my granite without consequence, as do many people.  What is the critical temperature?  Depends on the individual stone, use common sense.

Bacterial Resistance:  Granite & Quartz are superior in bacterial resistance to most other surfaces, including stainless steel.

Price: Quartz is similar in price to mid-grade granite, which is where most of the sales volume is.  Granite can go much higher if you fall in love with an exotic. In most cases the price difference is not enough to influence your selection.

The Marble Institute of America has a great consumer guide for all aspects of stone countertops.  You can find it here.

The bottom line:  Both are incredibly tough, and mostly similar in price and performance.  Ignore the marketing hype and let your eyes and instincts make the call.  If you prefer consistencly of pattern, you will have lots of choices in both materials, if you prefer the beauty of a natural, varied, one-of-a-kind pattern, you will be limited to granite.  If you are after a more contemporary look, there are some stunning solid colors in quartz that are not found in nature. Good hunting!