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What changes the price of a granite worktop?
The price of a granite worktop depends on the stone you choose, how many pieces and joins the kitchen needs, the cut-outs and edges, and how hard it is to get heavy slabs into the house and onto level units. This guide does not print a price, so compare quotes that cover the same templating, fitting and extras.
Last reviewed:What is in a granite worktop quote?
A granite worktop is usually made to measure. The fabricator chooses or orders a slab, cuts it to your kitchen's exact shape in a workshop, finishes the edges, makes the cut-outs, and brings the finished pieces to fit. The quote covers the stone, the measuring, the fabrication, the delivery and the fitting, plus any extras such as upstands and drainer grooves.
This guide does not print a price per metre, per slab or per kitchen. It explains what makes one granite quote higher than another, so you can compare them fairly. Our kitchen fitters page covers the trade that fits units and often coordinates the worktop supplier.
QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post the job.
The stone itself
Granite is quarried natural stone, and two granites that look similar in a sample can be priced very differently. Colour, pattern, how rare it is, where it comes from and how consistent the slabs are all affect the cost. A stone with strong movement may need the pieces cut so the pattern flows across joins, which uses more of the slab.
Ask to see the actual slab if you can, or at least a large piece, rather than choosing from a small sample. Natural stone varies from slab to slab.
Thickness matters too. Thicker worktops use more stone and weigh more.
What changes the quote?
| Factor | What to ask | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Stone | Name, origin and thickness | Different stones are priced differently |
| Layout | Straight run, L-shape, U-shape, island | More pieces and corners mean more cutting |
| Joins | How many, and where | Joins need careful placement and finishing |
| Sink | Inset, undermount, or Belfast | Undermount cut-outs need polished edges |
| Hob | Cut-out size and position | Each cut-out takes workshop time |
| Drainer grooves | Number of grooves cut into the stone | Extra workshop time |
| Edges | Edge profile on each exposed edge | Some profiles take longer |
| Upstands and splashbacks | Height and length in matching stone | More stone and more pieces |
| Templating | Included, and whether the price is fixed after it | Measuring visit and possible changes |
| Access | Stairs, narrow halls, distance from the van | Heavy pieces may need more people |
| Removal | Taking out old worktops | Labour and waste [S6] |
| VAT | Included or extra. Registration applies above £90,000 of taxable turnover [S5] | Changes the total |
Templating, fabrication and fitting
Before templating, the base units must be fitted, level and fixed. If they are not, the template will be wrong. Ask your kitchen fitter to check the units are ready. The sink, the tap and the hob should be chosen, because their cut-outs are made from the maker's sizes.
Templating is a visit to measure precisely, often with a digital system or thin templates. Ask whether it is included in the quote, and whether the price is fixed after templating or may change.
Fabrication happens in a workshop. That is where most of the cutting and polishing is done.
Fitting is a separate visit. The pieces are carried in, set on the units, joined, levelled and sealed. The sink may be fixed underneath. Upstands go on last.
Between templating and fitting there is usually a wait while the stone is cut. Plan the kitchen around it, because you may have no worktop for a while if the old one comes out before templating.
Dust, cutting and your kitchen
Most of the cutting is done in the workshop, but some trimming or adjustment can happen on site. HSE says silica is found in varying amounts in most rocks, sand and clay, and gives granite as an example that might contain 15 to 30% silica [S1]. It says silica dust fine enough to reach deep inside the lungs when breathed in is known as respirable crystalline silica, and that it can cause irreversible lung damage, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer [S2].
HSE's page on engineered stone lists steps for workers, including water suppression, controlling the mist it creates, and suitable respiratory protection [S2]. That page is about engineered stone rather than granite, but the dust risk from cutting is the reason to ask the question. Ask the supplier how much cutting will happen in your home and how they will control dust. Keep children and pets out of the room while any cutting is done.
Units, weight and access
Granite is heavy. The base units must be sound, level and fixed to the wall or each other so the stone is supported along its length. Old units with soft or swollen carcasses may need replacing first.
Getting long pieces into the house can be the hardest part. Narrow hallways, tight turns, steps and flights of stairs to a first-floor flat can mean more people on the day or a different way of splitting the pieces. Tell the supplier about access when you ask for the quote.
If the worktop job is part of a full refit, kitchen costs covers the wider job.
Sink, tap, hob and plumbing
New worktops often come with a new sink, tap or hob. The worktop supplier cuts the holes, but someone has to connect the plumbing and the hob.
Planning Portal says refitting a kitchen with new units and fittings does not generally require building regulations approval, although drainage or electrical work that forms part of the refit may require approval [S3]. A like-for-like reconnection is different from a new circuit for an induction hob or a sink moved to a new position. Ask which trade does what. Our plumbers and electricians pages cover those trades, and kitchen sink replacement explains the sink side.
Care, sealing and repairs after fitting
The quote should say what happens after the stone is in, because some of it affects the price and some of it affects how long the worktop looks good.
Sealing. Some granites are sealed in the workshop or on the day, and some suppliers recommend resealing later. Ask whether sealing is included, what product is used, and how you will know when it needs doing again.
Cleaning. Ask the supplier which cleaners to use and which to avoid. Some general kitchen sprays are not meant for natural stone. Get the care instructions in writing.
Heat and impact. Ask what the supplier says about hot pans and heavy items on edges and corners, rather than assuming stone is indestructible.
Chips and cracks. Ask whether small chips can be repaired on site, who does it, and what a repair visit involves. A crack found at fitting is a matter for the supplier there and then. Photograph the worktops before the fitters leave.
Joins. A visible join is normal on long runs. Ask where the joins will be before fabrication, and how they will be filled and coloured.
Old worktops and waste
Removing old laminate or timber worktops is usually straightforward. Removing old stone is heavier. GOV.UK's waste code says that a tradesperson working on your property is responsible for the waste they produce, and that the cost of disposing of it should be included in what they charge [S6]. Ask whether removal and disposal are included. Replacing kitchen worktops compares other materials.
How do you compare quotes?
Give each supplier the same drawing: the layout, measurements, sink and hob models, edge profile, upstands and any island. Ask for the stone name and thickness, the number of pieces and joins, what is included in templating and fitting, and whether the price is fixed after templating.
Citizens Advice suggests trying to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders, and says some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first [S4]. It says a quote is a fixed price and an estimate is just a rough guess [S4]. A stone supplier may ask for a deposit before cutting. Citizens Advice says that if a deposit cannot be avoided, push it down as much as possible, do not agree to more than 25%, and always get a receipt [S4].
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "New kitchen units fitted and level. Looking for granite worktops for an L-shaped run with an undermount sink and a hob cut-out. Please quote including templating and upstands."
- "Replace old laminate worktops with granite on existing units. Units are sound. Please quote including removing the old tops and reconnecting the sink."
- "Granite island top wanted, kitchen on the first floor of a flat with stairs. Please say how you would get it in."
Posting a worktop job
Photos of the units, the access route and a sketch with measurements help a supplier quote. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
Questions about granite worktop prices
How much does a granite worktop cost?
This guide does not print a figure. The stone itself varies a lot, and a straight run with one sink cut-out is a very different job from an L-shaped kitchen with an island, an undermount sink, drainer grooves and upstands. Ask each supplier to price the same drawing, and to show templating, fabrication, fitting and extras separately.
What is templating and why does it matter?
Templating is when the fabricator measures the fitted base units precisely so the stone can be cut to fit. It usually happens after the units are in and level. A quote based only on your rough measurements may change after templating, so ask whether the price is fixed once the template is done.
Is granite the same as quartz?
No. Granite is a natural stone. HSE describes engineered stone, often sold as quartz, as artificial stone made from crushed natural stone or minerals bonded with resin. They are cut and priced differently. Quartz worktop costs covers that material.
Is cutting granite dangerous?
The dust is. HSE says silica is found in varying amounts in most rocks, and that granite might contain 15 to 30% silica. It says silica dust fine enough to reach deep inside the lungs is known as respirable crystalline silica. Ask how much cutting will be done in your kitchen and how dust will be controlled.
Do I need building regulations approval for new worktops?
Planning Portal says refitting a kitchen with new units and fittings does not generally require building regulations approval, although drainage or electrical work that forms part of the refit may. Swapping worktops alone is usually that kind of refit. A new hob circuit or moved sink is different.
Does VAT change the price?
It can. A business must register for VAT if its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. Ask whether VAT is included.
Does QuoteZila check worktop fitters?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Related pages
- Quartz worktops: what changes the price. In Cheshire, a quartz worktop quote turns on the slab, the cut-outs and the edge. No pound total is printed. See the dust risk and what to compare.
- Replace Kitchen Worktops: What Changes the Cost. What changes the cost of replacing kitchen worktops: material, length, joints, cut-outs, upstands, removing old tops, the hob and sink, templating and VAT.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: Silica dust (cancer and construction), Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/cancer-and-construction/silica-dust.htm
- S2: Working engineered stone: control silica risk, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.hse.gov.uk/stonemasonry/working-engineered-stone-control-silica-risk.htm
- S3: Is building regulations approval needed for work to a kitchen or bathroom?, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/kitchens-and-bathrooms/is-building-regulations-approval-needed-for-work-to-a-kitchen-or-bathroom
- S4: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat
- S6: Waste duty of care: code of practice, GOV.UK (Defra). Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice