Quartz vs Granite vs Quartzite — San Antonio Countertop Guide

At a glance

	Quartz	Granite	Quartzite
Type	Engineered stone	Natural stone	Natural stone
Durability	Excellent	Very good	Best (hardest)
Heat resistance	Good — use trivets	Excellent	Excellent
Stain resistance	Best (non-porous)	Good (sealed)	Good (sealed)
Maintenance	None — never seal	Seal yearly	Seal yearly
Look	Consistent, many colors	Bold, unique veining	Marble-like, natural
Installed cost*	from ~$50/sq ft	from ~$40/sq ft	from ~$70/sq ft
Best for	Busy family kitchens	Character & heat	Luxe, marble look

*Starting installed prices at WoodArt Cabinets, San Antonio. A standard 10×10 kitchen uses roughly 35 sq ft.

Quartz — the low-maintenance all-rounder

Engineered from ground natural quartz and resin, quartz is non-porous — it never needs sealing and shrugs off stains from wine, coffee, and oil. It comes in a huge range of consistent colors and marble-look patterns. The trade-off: it can scorch under a hot pan (use a trivet) and very long runs show seams. Best for busy family kitchens that want zero upkeep. Browse our quartz countertops →

Granite — natural character & heat

Granite is 100% natural stone, so every slab is unique with bold movement and depth no engineered surface can copy. It handles hot pots beautifully. It does need sealing about once a year and can chip on edges. Best for homeowners who want real stone and outstanding heat resistance. See our granite options →

Quartzite — the marble look, built tough

Don't confuse it with quartz: quartzite is a natural stone quarried from the earth that gives you the soft, veiny elegance of marble with far more hardness and scratch resistance. It's the most durable of the three. Like granite it's porous and needs periodic sealing, and it sits at the top of the price range. Best for a luxe, marble-inspired kitchen that still has to survive daily life. Explore quartzite →

So which should you pick?

Want zero maintenance? Quartz.
Want real, one-of-a-kind stone and great heat resistance on a budget? Granite.
Want the marble look without the fragility? Quartzite.

Still deciding? We'll bring samples to your free in-home measurement and show them against your cabinets and floor. Curious about total project cost? See our San Antonio kitchen cost guide.

FAQ

Countertop questions, answered

Which is better, quartz or granite?

Both are excellent. Quartz is engineered and non-porous, so it never needs sealing and resists stains better, which is ideal for busy family kitchens. Granite is 100% natural stone with one-of-a-kind patterns and excellent heat resistance, but needs sealing about once a year. Quartz wins on maintenance; granite wins on natural character and heat tolerance.

Is quartzite the same as quartz?

No. Quartz is a manufactured, engineered stone made of ground quartz and resin. Quartzite is a natural stone quarried from the earth, prized for marble-like looks with much greater durability. Quartzite is harder and more heat-resistant than quartz but is porous and needs periodic sealing.

Which countertop is the most durable?

Quartzite is the hardest of the three and the most scratch and heat resistant. Quartz is nearly as durable and is the most stain resistant because it is non-porous. Granite is very durable and heat resistant but can chip on edges and stain if left unsealed.

How much do countertops cost in San Antonio?

Installed at WoodArt, granite starts around $40 per square foot, quartz around $50, and quartzite around $70. A standard 10x10 kitchen needs roughly 35 square feet of countertop.

Do quartz countertops need to be sealed?

No. Quartz is non-porous and never needs sealing. Granite and quartzite are natural stones and should be sealed about once a year to stay stain resistant.

Quartz vs. Granite vs. Quartzite: Which Countertop Is Right for You?