Granite kitchen countertops are often purchased in whole blocks and trimmed to fit. They are extremely heavy and are best installed by professional contractors.

Price-wise, granite costs as much per foot as some of the best hardwoods for kitchen countertops, is slightly more expensive than engineered stone, and costs much less than stainless steel countertops.

When properly sanded and sealed, granite countertops can last a lifetime. In addition, they are appreciated by the owners because each block of granite is a work of art in itself. Unlike engineered stone countertops that are man-made and therefore have preset patterns, granite is natural stone and therefore has unique patterns, textures, and colors.

Nobody can have exactly the same granite kitchen countertop as you, and if only for that, then this material can be considered the best that you can find.

Kitchen tiles are good reliable countertop materials. They take a while to install, but they can easily be a DIY project. They also radiate warmth to a kitchen and the stores offer a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from.

However, tiles can easily break and are difficult to clean. You have to make sure the grout is always well scrubbed, and a special solution is needed when mold and mildew start to build up between the tiles.

Stainless steel is a great choice for a kitchen countertop, but it costs twice as much as granite and other materials. This is preferred by chefs whose kitchens are always heavily trafficked and whose countertops take a lot of knocks.

Wood is a good material to bring warmth to a kitchen. It comes in different colors and patterns and is versatile enough to match a modern or country-themed kitchen. Some examples of hardwood used for kitchen countertops are oak, walnut, cherry, teak, mahogany, pecan, hard maple, and many others.

The downside to wood countertops is that they need to be polished and oiled from time to time to give them that beautiful shine and prevent discoloration from spills and exposure to extreme heat.

One of the newer countertop materials to hit the kitchen design market is glass countertops. Thick, tempered glass is used for this purpose, and there are a myriad of designs and textures to choose from. They are non-porous and extremely easy to maintain. These are perfect for modern kitchens, and their textures are ideal for camouflaging minor scratches and fingerprints.

When selecting the best kitchen countertop for your home, always keep durability and beauty in mind. Essentially, these two should be your main concerns before price, because these various materials are priced almost within the same range.

For the least expensive stainless steel kitchen countertop material, there are laminates. Laminates are very thin panels that are placed over existing countertops. If you are on a budget, they can give your kitchen an instant face lift for the lowest cost. However, they do not last long, do not withstand high temperatures and are not resistant to scratches.