How Much Do Quartz Worktops Cost in the UK in 2026

Quartz is the most popular kitchen worktop material in the UK right now, and it is easy to see why. It does not need sealing, it handles heat and stains better than most surfaces, and it comes in hundreds of finishes. But pricing can feel confusing when you start researching. Some websites quote £80 per square metre, others quote £500. Both figures are technically correct and both are misleading without the right context.

This guide cuts through the noise. We have pulled together real 2026 pricing from UK fabricators and price guides to give you a clear, honest picture of what a quartz worktop actually costs from start to finish.

The Short Answer

For a typical UK kitchen with 3 to 5 square metres of worktop, the fully installed cost of quartz in 2026 runs between £1,500 and £4,000. Larger kitchens with an island can reach £5,000 or more. These figures include the slab, templating, fabrication, cutouts for your sink and hob, and fitting.

If someone quotes you a number lower than £1,500 for a supply and fit job, ask what is included. More on that shortly.

Quartz Worktop Prices Per Square Metre in 2026

Most fabricators price quartz as a supply and fit cost per square metre. Here is how the market breaks down in 2026:

Entry level — £200 to £320 per square metre fitted. Plain colours, simpler patterns, standard 20mm thickness. Suitable for a budget kitchen refresh or a rental property.

Mid range — £320 to £490 per square metre fitted. This is where most UK homeowners end up. Marble effect designs, veined finishes, and popular brands like Silestone, Caesarstone, and Compac sit here. This tier covers around 80 percent of residential quartz installations in the UK.

Premium — £490 to £900 per square metre fitted. Exotic veining, 30mm thickness, premium brands, and complex layouts with multiple cutouts and unusual edge profiles.

As a benchmark: Checkatrade puts the average supply and fit price at around £375 per square metre based on 2026 UK data. That is a fair mid-range reference point.

What a Typical UK Kitchen Actually Costs

Rather than per square metre numbers, here is what real projects look like:

Small galley kitchen — around 3 square metres
Entry level: £900 to £1,100 for materials, £1,400 to £1,800 all in.
Mid range: £1,400 to £1,800 all in.

Average UK kitchen — 4 to 5 square metres
This is the most common size. A standard L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen.
Entry level: £1,200 to £1,600 all in.
Mid range: £1,600 to £2,500 all in.
Premium: £2,500 to £4,000 all in.

Larger kitchen with island — 6 to 9 square metres
Mid range: £2,500 to £4,500 all in.
Premium: £4,500 to £7,000 or more depending on complexity.

What Is Actually Included in a Supply and Fit Quote?

This is where a lot of homeowners get caught out. A proper supply and fit quote for quartz should include:

Templating visit: the fabricator comes to your kitchen and measures precisely. Without this, nothing fits. Standalone templating costs £150 to £300 if charged separately but most reputable businesses include it.

CNC fabrication: the slab is cut to your exact measurements using computer-controlled machinery. This is not a hand saw job. Good fabrication is what separates a watertight fit from a gap-ridden one.

Sink cutout: one cutout for your sink should be included as standard.

Hob cutout: one cutout for your hob should also be standard.

Edge profile: the finish on the front edge of the worktop. A simple pencil or flat polish is standard. Premium profiles like waterfall edges or mitred edges cost extra, typically £15 to £40 per linear metre.

Fitting: the actual installation, including sealing joints and securing the worktop to the carcasses.

What is usually not included: upstands, splashbacks, removal of the old worktop, plumbing disconnection and reconnection, and additional cutouts beyond the standard sink and hob.

The Extras That Add Up

Before you finalise a budget, factor in these additional costs:

Removal and disposal of old worktop: £75 to £250 depending on material. Stone worktops cost more to remove due to weight.

Upstands: the strip of material that runs along the back of the worktop against the wall. Matching quartz upstands run £40 to £80 per linear metre. A full set of upstands on an average kitchen adds £200 to £400.

Additional cutouts: a boiling water tap hole, a second sink, a soap dispenser. Each additional cutout costs £50 to £150.

30mm thickness upgrade: if you want 30mm instead of the standard 20mm, expect to add around 25 percent to the material cost.

Plumbing: a plumber to disconnect and reconnect your sink costs £80 to £150 and is usually booked separately.

Electrical: if your hob needs disconnecting and reconnecting, a registered electrician costs £100 to £200.

Does Where You Live Affect the Price?

Yes, noticeably. London and the South East consistently run 15 to 25 percent above the national average for the same specification of quartz. This is due to higher labour costs, delivery charges, and general operating costs for businesses in the capital.

The North of England, the Midlands, and Wales are generally at or below the national average. A mid-range quartz installation that costs £2,500 in London might cost £1,900 to £2,100 in Manchester, Leeds, or Birmingham.

If you are based outside London, this is genuinely one area where you benefit from being outside the capital. You can find worktop fitters in Manchester, worktop fitters in Leeds, and worktop fitters in Birmingham who offer excellent quality at meaningfully lower prices than the London market.

20mm or 30mm: Does It Matter for Cost?

Most UK residential quartz installations use 20mm thickness. It is the standard for a reason. It is lighter, easier to handle during fitting, and lower in cost. The visual difference on a finished kitchen is minimal in most cases.

30mm is used in higher specification kitchens, particularly on islands where the extra weight and visual solidity of a thicker slab is more noticeable. It adds around 25 percent to the material cost and slightly more to the fitting cost due to weight.

For most kitchens, 20mm is the practical choice. If you have a large island in a premium kitchen and you want that substantial, restaurant feel, 30mm is worth the premium.

How Quartz Compares to Granite on Price

Quartz and granite sit at a very similar price point in 2026 at the mid-range level. Entry-level granite can be slightly cheaper than entry-level quartz. Premium granite varieties can exceed quartz in cost.

The main practical difference is maintenance. Granite is a natural stone that needs sealing once or twice a year to stay stain resistant. Quartz is engineered and never needs sealing. Over 10 years, the zero maintenance of quartz represents genuine value even if the upfront cost is marginally higher.

You can read more about granite worktops costs and how they compare on our blog.

How Quartz Compares to Laminate on Price

Laminate is significantly cheaper than quartz. A fitted laminate worktop for an average kitchen runs £400 to £1,200, compared to £1,500 to £2,500 for quartz in the same kitchen.

The gap in cost is real and for rental properties or short-term installations, laminate is a perfectly rational choice. The performance difference is also real. Quartz is harder, more heat resistant, and lasts significantly longer. Most quartz fabricators cover their work with a 10 to 15 year warranty. Laminate typically carries a 1 to 5 year warranty.

If you plan to stay in your home long term, the maths generally favour quartz. If you are renovating to sell or for a rental, laminate can be the right call.

How to Get the Best Price on Quartz Worktops

A few practical things that make a difference:

Get at least 3 quotes. Prices vary significantly between fabricators even in the same area. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive quote for the same specification can easily be £500 to £800.

Choose a plain finish. Marble effect and heavily veined quartz costs 20 to 40 percent more than a plain colour for the same brand. If budget is tight, a plain white or grey quartz is perfectly modern and significantly cheaper.

Stick with 20mm. Unless you have a specific reason for 30mm, the standard thickness is the sensible choice.

Avoid peak season. Kitchen fitting in the UK picks up significantly in spring and before Christmas. Booking in late summer or early autumn gives you more negotiating room and faster availability.

Use a local specialist. National kitchen chains tend to be more expensive than local independent fabricators for the same specification. A local stone specialist in your area has lower overheads and is often significantly cheaper.

How to Find a Trusted Quartz Worktop Fitter Near You

The most important decision is not which brand of quartz you choose. It is who fits it. A poorly fitted quartz worktop, with poor joints, uneven surfaces, or gaps at the wall, will look wrong for the life of the kitchen regardless of how good the material is.

Look for fabricators with a strong review record on Google. A minimum of 20 genuine reviews with consistent ratings is a reasonable threshold. Ask to see examples of previous work. And always confirm exactly what is included in the quote before signing anything.

You can find trusted worktop fitters near you across the UK through our directory. We cover over 400 towns and cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, and hundreds of smaller towns. Every business is listed with their address, phone number, and customer review score so you can compare before you contact anyone.

Quick Summary: 2026 Quartz Worktop Costs at a Glance

Per square metre supply and fit:
Entry level: £200 to £320
Mid range: £320 to £490
Premium: £490 to £900

Typical kitchen fully installed:
Small kitchen 3m²: £1,000 to £1,800
Average kitchen 4 to 5m²: £1,500 to £2,500
Large kitchen with island 6 to 9m²: £2,500 to £5,000 plus

Regional variation:
London and South East: 15 to 25 percent above national average
Midlands and North: at or below national average

Key extras to budget for:
Removal of old worktop: £75 to £250
Upstands: £200 to £400 for a full kitchen
Additional cutouts: £50 to £150 each
Plumbing reconnection: £80 to £150
30mm upgrade: add around 25 percent to material cost

Prices rose 6 to 12 percent in 2026 compared to 2024 and 2025, mainly due to transport and energy costs. They have stabilised compared to the steeper rises seen in previous years.

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