Granite has been a staple of British kitchens for decades, and even with quartz now leading the market, it remains one of the most requested natural stones for its durability and completely unique appearance. If you are pricing up a kitchen, here is what actually drives granite worktop cost in 2026.
What Is the Average Granite Worktop Cost Per Square Metre?
Across the UK, granite worktop cost typically falls between £270 and £600 per square metre, including standard fitting. Entry-level, widely available colours such as Steel Grey or Baltic Brown sit at the lower end of that range. Mid-range colours with more distinct patterning move into the £350 to £500 bracket. Rarer or imported stones, including some white granite countertops with dramatic crystal structures, can push granite worktop cost up to £700, £800 or occasionally beyond £900 per square metre.
What Affects Granite Worktop Cost Beyond the Slab Itself?
Several extras typically get added to the base granite worktop cost:
- Edge profile. A standard eased or pencil edge is usually included, while ogee or bullnose edges can add £20 to £60 per linear metre.
- Cut-outs. Sink, hob and socket cut-outs generally add £80 to £200 each.
- Upstands. A matching upstand along the back wall typically costs £35 to £90 per linear metre.
- Thickness. 30mm granite is the UK standard, but 20mm slabs are sometimes chosen to reduce cost and weight.
- Access and location. Installations in London and the South East tend to sit higher due to labour and transport costs.
How Much Does a Full Kitchen Cost With Granite Worktops?
For a typical UK kitchen with 3 to 5 metres of worktop, total granite worktop cost usually lands between £1,200 and £3,000 fully installed. Larger kitchens with an island, or those specifying premium white granite countertops with striking veining, can move into the £3,500 to £5,000 range. As with any stone, getting a fixed, itemised quote that separates the slab, fabrication and fitting is the best way to avoid surprises once the job is under way.
Is Granite Worktop Cost Justified Compared With Quartz?
Granite and quartz sit in a similar price bracket overall, so the decision usually comes down to look and maintenance rather than budget. Granite is completely natural, meaning every slab is genuinely one of a kind, but it does need resealing roughly once a year to maintain its stain resistance. Quartz needs no sealing at all but cannot fully replicate the depth and movement of natural stone. Many homeowners choosing white granite countertops feel the natural variation is exactly what makes the extra maintenance worthwhile.
Tips for Getting a Fair Granite Worktop Cost
Get at least three like-for-like quotes covering the same colour, thickness and edge profile, since prices between fabricators can vary by several hundred pounds for an identical job. Ask whether templating, delivery and old worktop removal are included. And if budget is tight, choosing a more widely available colour rather than an imported rarity is the single biggest lever for bringing granite worktop cost down without changing material.
Real Granite Worktop Cost Examples From UK Kitchens
Numbers are easier to picture with real examples. A small galley kitchen in the Midlands using around 3 metres of a common colour such as Steel Grey might see a total granite worktop cost of roughly £1,100 to £1,600 fully fitted. A medium London kitchen with 5 metres of run, a sink cut-out and a hob cut-out in a mid-range colour typically lands closer to £2,400 to £3,200. A larger open-plan kitchen with an island, using a premium or imported stone such as select white granite countertops, can realistically push the total granite worktop cost to £4,000 or more once upstands and a decorative edge profile are included.
Granite Worktop Cost FAQ
What is the average granite worktop cost in the UK?
Most UK homeowners pay between £270 and £600 per square metre supplied and fitted, with a typical kitchen totalling £1,200 to £3,000.
Are white granite countertops more expensive than standard granite?
Often yes, particularly rarer white granites with distinctive crystal patterns, which can push the price closer to £700 to £900 per square metre.
Does granite worktop cost include sealing?
Initial sealing is usually included by the fabricator at installation, but ongoing annual resealing is generally the homeowner’s responsibility.
Is granite worktop cost per metre or per square metre?
Reputable suppliers quote granite worktop cost per square metre, since this reflects the actual area of stone used, though some smaller jobs may be quoted per linear metre for simplicity. Always ask which measurement a quote is based on before comparing prices between fabricators, since mixing the two can make a cheaper quote look more expensive than it actually is.
