woman in kitchen comparing samples to find out what is the best material for kitchen worktops

What is the best material for kitchen worktops?

Trying to decide which worktop material is best? In this guide, we give expert guidance on the pros and cons of the most popular kitchen worktop materials.

Picking a worktop can be tricky. There are so many choices to consider, such as the colour, style and material, not to mention your budget, lifestyle and preferences.

It’s a tough but important choice because you want it to look fantastic in your kitchen, but you also need a worktop that stands up to everyday use. So, what is the best material for kitchen worktops? We’ve pulled this guide together to help you decide what’s best for you.

What are kitchen worktops made of?

Kitchen worktops are made from a variety of materials. Many are man-made, such as laminate, quartz, and acrylic, while others are natural stones, like granite and marble. Some, such as sintered stone and wood, are a mixture of both – they are made from 100% natural materials, but manufacturing is required to turn those materials into worktops.

You can read more about what each worktop material is made from below.

Laminate worktops

Laminate worktops are the best worktop material to choose if you’re on a low budget.

What are laminate worktops made of?

Laminate worktops are made from a high-density chipboard core covered in a plastic laminate sheet.

Laminate worktop pros:

  • Low prices: laminate is the cheapest worktop material available.
  • Lots of choice: there’s a vast range of colours and patterns to choose from, including many that mimic natural materials.
  • DIY installation: laminate can be cut with woodworking tools, so installation is cheap and easy.
  • Get them straight away: laminate comes in ready-to-buy slabs you can pick up from a DIY store or order online.
  • Maintenance-free: once laminate is installed, all you need to do is clean it with soapy water after use.
  • Durable: despite being cheap, laminate is resistant to stains, heat, and scratches.
  • Cheap to replace: if your worktop gets damaged, it’s cheap and easy to swap it.

Laminate worktop cons:

  • Limited design choices: laminate only comes in straight pieces, and any cuts reveal chipboard. This means it can’t be cut into curves (to match curved cabinets), and it isn’t suitable for use with undermount sinks or flush-mounted hobs.
  • Poor quality finish: the side edges of these worktops aren’t covered with laminate, which means the chipboard will be exposed at the end of a worktop run. The edges are covered with colour-matched laminate tape, but the tape can peel or chip away over time.
  • Not scratch or heat-proof: we’ve said laminate is durable and scratch and heat ‘resistant’…. but it’s not scratch and heat ‘proof’. It may get scorched or melt if an extremely hot pan is placed on it. So, always use hot pan trivets if you’re putting anything hot on it.
  • Damaged by water ingress: if a join in the worktop fails, water can seep through to the chipboard core and cause the laminate to blow.

The verdict

Laminate can look fantastic in the right kitchen, and it’s a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. But, if you’re going for high-end kitchen cabinets, be aware that laminate can cheapen the overall look.

Solid wood worktops

Wooden worktops add natural beauty and warmth to any kitchen. They’re the perfect choice for a country-style kitchen but also work well in a more contemporary room.

What are solid wood worktops made of?

Oak is probably the most popular wood chosen for worktops. But plenty of other woods are available, such as walnut, iroko, beech, ash and birch. The worktops are made using separate slats of timber that are joined together.

Solid wood worktop pros:

  • Low prices: solid wood is one of the cheapest worktop materials available, second only to laminate.
  • Many colour choices: wood comes in a good range of colours, from light maple to dark walnut and cherry red.
  • Unlimited design choices: wood can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink.
  • DIY installation: wood can be cut with woodworking tools, so installation is cheap and easy.
  • Get them straight away: wood worktops come in ready-to-buy slabs you can pick up from a DIY store or order online.
  • Repairable: scratches, scorch marks, and stains can be sanded away.
  • Durable: Wood is durable and long-lasting when properly looked after (see cons).
  • Ages well: as a natural product, wood’s appearance improves with age.

Solid wood worktop cons

  • High maintenance: wood needs a lot of care to keep it looking good. Its natural oil will slowly dry out, so it needs to be oiled with linseed or tung oil at least once a year.
  • Easily damaged: wood worktops are prone to scorching, staining, and scratches, so it’s essential to use hot pan trivets and chopping boards and wipe food spills away quickly.

The verdict

Solid wood is perfect for country-style kitchens. It looks beautiful and is cheap to buy and install. But it can get damaged easily, so you must look after it carefully.

Sintered stone worktops

If you want luxury, premium-quality worktops without an eye-watering price tag, sintered stone is the best material for kitchen worktops.

What are sintered stone worktops made of?

Sintered stone worktops are made of a blend of 100% natural minerals. The mix can vary depending on the manufacturer and brand. But typically, they’re made from materials such as porcelain, glass, quartz and other crushed stones. And there are no artificial resins because they’re bonded together using extreme heat and pressure. As a result, they’re often called solid surfaces or ultra-compact worktops. Some popular brands include Dekton and Neolith.

Sintered stone worktop pros:

  • Lots of choice: these worktops come in a wide variety of solid colours and styles. There are even wood effects available.
  • Cheaper alternative to natural stone: many styles are available that replicate natural stones, such as granite and marble.
  • High quality: sintered stone is a premium worktop material.
  • Unlimited design choices: sintered stone can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. You can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface and matching upstands and splashbacks are available.
  • Maintenance-free: once sintered stone is installed, all you need to do is clean it with soapy water.
  • Durable: each brand varies, but most are highly resistant to stains, scratches, and heat. Some are UV-resistant, which is perfect for outdoor or sunny kitchens. And they come with warranties that can last from 10-25 years, depending on the brand.

Sintered stone worktop cons:

  • Price: sintered stone is not a cheap worktop material, but it is cheaper than buying natural stone. It’s also an incredibly durable, high-quality material, so it’s excellent value for money.
  • Requires specialist installation: sintered stone worktops are custom-made for every kitchen as they are cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops (but it will be worth it!).

The verdict

Sintered stone is one of the best kitchen worktop materials available. It does come with a high price tag, and there’s a bit of a wait to get it installed, but it’s well worth paying the extra if it’s within your budget.

Granite worktops

Granite worktops have been popular for decades because of their attractive glossy appearance.

What are granite worktops made of?

Granite is a natural stone formed under the earth’s surface over millions of years from compressed molten rock. It’s drilled and blasted out of quarries in large blocks and cut into worktops by special milling machines.

Granite worktop pros:

  • Unique: granite forms naturally in the ground, so no two pieces are ever the same. For this reason, you should always go and pick the slab you want, as the pattern you see in a sample won’t be the pattern you receive.
  • High quality: granite is a premium worktop material with a glossy appearance.
  • Unlimited design choices: granite can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. You can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface and matching upstands and splashbacks are available.
  • Durable: granite is scratch, heat, and stain resistant (if it’s sealed – see cons).

Granite worktop cons:

  • Fewer colours: as we must rely on the colours nature gives us, the range available is more limited than manufactured worktop materials.
  • High price: granite is one of the most expensive kitchen worktop materials available. However, it’s a premium-quality, natural and incredibly durable product, so it’s excellent value for money.
  • Requires specialist installation: granite worktops are custom cut for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.
  • High maintenance: granite worktops must be sealed. Most granite comes pre-sealed when you buy it, but you’ll need to re-seal it once a year.

The verdict

Granite is one of the best worktop materials available for durability and looks. It’s expensive and needs to be regularly sealed to maintain it, but it’s well worth paying the extra if you have a high-end kitchen. And if you buy a brand like Sensa Granite, it comes already sealed with added stain-proofing protection.

Quartz worktops

Quartz has a very sophisticated look and has been a popular choice for kitchen worktops for decades.

What are quartz worktops made of?

Good quality, branded quartz worktops, are usually made from around 93% ground down quartz minerals bonded together with resin. They have a uniform pattern throughout the whole depth of the slab.

A few premium ‘quartz’ worktop brands, such as Silestone and Caesarstone, have redefined their material type as ‘mineral’ instead of ‘quartz’. This is because they have drastically reduced the amount of harmful crystalline silica content in their worktops in favour of using premium and recycled minerals.

But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean other brands of quartz worktops will be harmful to you because silica is only released when the product is cut or drilled into, and this only takes place in the factory, never in your home.

All Silestone worktops and around half of the Caesarstone range are now low silica, mineral worktops

Quartz worktop pros:

  • Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from.
  • Cheaper alternative to natural stone: quartz is a stone mineral, so quartz worktops look like natural stone but come with a lower price tag.
  • Unlimited design choices: quartz can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. You can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface and matching upstands and splashbacks are available.
  • Maintenance-free: once quartz is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
  • Durable: quartz varies, but a high-quality branded worktop, like Silestone or Caesarstone, will resist stains and scratches and come with 25-year warranties.

Quartz worktop cons:

  • High price: good, high-quality quartz isn’t cheap, but it does offer value for money.
  • Requires specialist installation: quartz worktops are custom-made for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.
  • Not heat-proof: hot pans can damage quartz surfaces, so they must be protected with a trivet.
  • Beware of cheap quartz worktops from China: they contain high levels of resin that result in poor quality looks and performance. Find out more about the problem with cheap quartz worktops here.

The verdict

Quartz is an excellent worktop material if you buy a high-quality brand. It’s mid-range in terms of price and will look fantastic in any kitchen. It’s long-lasting, but you do need to be careful with hot pans.

Acrylic worktops

Acrylic worktops are popular for their modern, sleek, designer look. In addition, they’re the only worktop material where two pieces can be fitted together with inconspicuous joins for a seamless look.

What are acrylic worktops made of?

Acrylic worktops are made from a mix of resins and natural minerals. They’re often called solid-surface worktops and have a similar feel to natural stone. Most people know acrylic worktops as Corian worktops. But Corian is just one brand (the original acrylic worktop brand). Other great acrylic worktop brands include HI-MACS and Durasein.

Acrylic worktop pros:

  • Lots of choice: there’s a huge range of colours and patterns to choose from, including solid colours, veined patterns, and styles that mimic other materials such as wood, concrete, and stone.
  • Cheaper alternative to natural stone: many styles are available that replicate natural stones, such as granite and marble.
  • High quality: acrylic is a high-quality worktop material.
  • Inconspicuous joins: acrylic is the only worktop material that can be joined without leaving visible lines. This gives the worktops a beautifully seamless look.
  • Unlimited design choices: acrylic can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. You can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface and matching upstands and splashbacks are available.
  • Repairable: scratches, scorch marks and stains can be sanded away with an abrasive cleaner and scouring pad.
  • Maintenance-free: once acrylic is installed, just clean it with soapy water.
  • Durable: all acrylic worktop brands are stain and impact resistant. Most come with a 10-year warranty, except HI-Macs which has a 15-year warranty.

Acrylic worktop cons:

  • High price: acrylic is not a cheap worktop material. However, it’s a high-quality material that’s incredibly durable, so it’s excellent value for money.
  • Specialist installation recommended: acrylic worktops can be purchased in straight runs, and it’s possible to install them yourself. However, as they are a premium product, we’d recommend getting expert fitting, so the finish is high-end and flawless. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktop, but the results will be worth it.

The verdict

Acrylic is one of the best kitchen worktop materials available in terms of looks and durability. It’s not a cheap worktop material, but it’s a great alternative to more pricey natural stones. In addition, it’s the only worktop material that has inconspicuous joins. And, apart from wood, which needs a lot of maintenance, it’s the only manufactured worktop that can be repaired.

Marble worktops

Marble is a material that’s been used in homes for centuries. It’s a natural stone that’s both beautiful and elegant.

What are marble worktops made of?

Marble is a type of limestone that’s compressed into a hard rock under the earth’s surface over millions of years. It’s drilled and blasted out of quarries in large blocks and cut into worktops by special milling machines.

Marble worktop pros:

  • Unique: as marble is a natural product, no two pieces are ever the same. For this reason, you should always go and pick the slab you want, as the pattern you see in a sample won’t be the pattern you receive.
  • Lots of choice: even though marble is a natural product, a surprisingly extensive range of colours and patterns is available.
  • Premium quality: marble is the ultimate worktop material for luxury.
  • Unlimited design choices: marble can be cut into any shape, which means you can have curved cabinets or an unusual breakfast bar. It’s also suitable for use with an undermount sink and flush-mounted hob. And you can have drainer grooves, or a recessed drainer, cut into the surface.
  • Great for bakers: marble stays cool to the touch, making it ideal for pastry and bread making.

Marble worktop cons:

  • High price: marble is one of the most expensive worktop materials available. It is a premium-quality, natural product, but it’s not very durable. So, although it will look beautiful in your kitchen, you’ll need to be very careful with it.
  • Prone to damage: marble is a porous surface, so it isn’t heat-proof, stain-proof or scratch-proof. It can also chip easily. So, chopping boards and trivets must be used on marble work surfaces. And spills must be wiped away quickly.
  • High maintenance: marble worktops should be professionally sealed every six months to help reduce instances of staining and scratching.
  • Visible joins: on veined slabs, joins across two pieces of worktop are very noticeable.
  • Requires specialist installation: marble worktops are custom cut for every kitchen because they must be cut by experts using specialist equipment. This means installation costs are involved, and you will have to wait a few weeks for your worktops.

The verdict

Marble is a premium worktop that comes with a premium price tag. There’s no doubt that it will look stunning in a high-end kitchen. But maintenance and the chance of damaging it is high.

So, what is the best material for kitchen worktops?

Ultimately, the best material for your kitchen worktops will depend on your budget, style preferences, and how much maintenance you’re willing to do. Laminate and wood are budget friendly but may not last as long. Marble, although beautiful, is high-cost and high-maintenance. And sintered stone, granite, acrylic and quartz are somewhere in the middle of these when it comes to cost, but they are premium quality materials that last for decades with little to no maintenance.

SEH Interiors have over 20 years of experience supplying and fitting premium-quality sintered stone, quartz, acrylic and natural stone kitchen worktops at affordable prices across the UK.
Browse our worktop ranges.