Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “The 6 Best Materials for Kitchen Countertops, Ac”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
Business News The 6 Best Materials for Kitchen Countertops, According to Consumer Reports You'll want to choose carefully when redoing your countertops, especially if you hope they'll last a long time. By Quartz Staff Published 8 hours ago If you're renovating your kitchen, choosing the right countertop is important. The material you choose affects both the look of your kitchen and its resistance to daily use. Consumer Reports has tested popular countertop materials to see how they resist stains, cuts, heat, scratches, and dropped objects. They combined these results into an overall score. Here are the six best materials, each offering a balance of durability, performance, and value at different price points. Read on to find out which materials made the list.
#6: Ultracompact (Dekton)
Price: $50–$100 per square foot Ultracompact countertops score perfectly for stain resistance, cutting, and heat, but their lower impact score hurts their overall ranking. They also score slightly lower for abrasion, placing them behind some more forgiving materials.
#5: Tile (Ceramic and Porcelain)
Price: $5–$20 per square foot Tile countertops resist cuts and heat very well, but perform less well in terms of stain and impact resistance. Their varied durability results place them in the middle of Consumer Reports' ranking, though they are a much more affordable option than others on the list.
#4: Laminate
Price: $5–$25 per square foot Laminate stands out for excellent stain and heat resistance, but performs less well in terms of cutting and abrasion. Its relatively high impact score helps compensate for some of these weaknesses, as does its typical cost.
#3: Recycled Glass (Penetrating Sealant)
Price: $25–$100 per square foot Recycled glass scores high for cutting, heat resistance, and abrasion, but lower results for stains and impacts bring down its overall score. Consumer Reports' tests show it is durable in many areas, but not all.
#2: Granite
Price: $20–$60 per square foot Granite gets top marks for cutting, heat resistance, and abrasion, with good stain resistance as well. Its lower impact score is the main factor keeping it from the top spot.
#1: Quartz (Engineered Stone)
Price: $20–$60 per square foot We're not saying this because it's the name of our publication. Quartz comes out on top thanks to its strong performance in nearly all tests, including excellent resistance to cutting, heat, and abrasion, as well as very good stain resistance. Consumer Reports determined it offers the most comprehensive durability of all materials tested.
Source: Read the original article | Published: April 23, 2026