Granite is the workhorse of natural stone: the most installed countertop material in North America for three decades, hard, heat-proof and priced from budget to premium. This index lists slab prices by variety and grade tier.
Granite slabs run roughly $30 to $90 per square foot at Western warehouses (polished 2–3 cm, market estimates, August 2026). Level-1 commodity granites — Ubatuba, Absolute Black from India or China — start near $30; exotic and white granites reach $80–90. Installed US countertops typically land at $45–120 per square foot all-in.
Slab prices in USD per square foot for polished 2 cm (3/4") slabs, ex-warehouse. Ranges are market estimates compiled from published supplier pricing, August 2026. Factory-direct quotes from our partner mill in China are typically 30–60% below Western warehouse prices; verified factory pricing is being added.
| Stone | Origin | Slab price, $/sqft | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Granite | India, Brazil, China, Africa | $30 – $80 | |
| White Granite | Brazil, India, China | $35 – $90 | |
| Absolute Black Granite | India, Zimbabwe, China | $30 – $75 | |
| Ubatuba Granite | Brazil | $30 – $60 | |
| Black Galaxy Granite | Andhra Pradesh, India | $35 – $70 |
Fabricators sell granite in "levels" 1 to 5 (sometimes to 7). The level is not a quality grade — it is a price tier reflecting rarity, colour and country of origin. Level 1 is commodity stone quarried at scale in India, Brazil and China: Ubatuba, Absolute Black, Tan Brown, Santa Cecilia. Level 3–5 covers whites, blues and dramatic exotics with limited quarry output. The same slab can be a level 2 at one yard and a level 3 at another; this index prices by variety instead so the numbers are comparable.
Granite is cheap to quarry and expensive to move: blocks weigh 20–30 tonnes and the material is dense, so freight is a larger share of the landed cost than for marble. That is why Chinese granites (Shanxi Black, G654, G603) undercut Indian and Brazilian equivalents in Asia and the Middle East, and why factory-direct cut-to-size — where you ship finished countertops instead of raw slabs — saves the most: you pay freight only for the stone you actually use.
Granite is harder than marble and nearly as hard as quartzite; it does not etch, tolerates hot pans, and works outdoors. Engineered quartz beats it on uniformity and needs no sealing but yellows in sun and scorches under heat. Quartzite matches granite's toughness with marble's looks at a higher price. For rentals, outdoor kitchens, commercial and memorial work, granite remains the value choice.
Slabs run about $30–$90 per square foot at Western warehouses (market estimates, August 2026). Installed countertops in the US typically cost $45–120 per square foot depending on grade, edge profile and cut-outs.
Level-1 commodity stones: Ubatuba, Absolute Black (Indian or Chinese Shanxi Black), Tan Brown, Santa Cecilia and the Chinese G-series greys — typically $30–45 per square foot for slabs.
Entry granite is cheaper than any branded quartz; premium and exotic granites cost about the same as mid-range quartz. Granite is more heat- and UV-tolerant; quartz is more uniform and needs no sealing.
Most granites benefit from a penetrating sealer every 1–3 years; very dense blacks often need none. A simple water-drop test tells you when to reseal.
Yes — India, Brazil and China all process granite at scale, and cut-to-size countertops ship by container. Factory-direct pricing is typically 30–60% below Western warehouse prices before freight and installation.
Change any variable — the whole chain from quarry block to installed countertop recalculates.
| Slab price, $/m² | — |
| Slab price, $/sqft | — |
| Quarry block, $/tonne | — |
| FOB slab | — |
| CIF slab | — |
| Landed material (CIF + duty) | — |
| Slabs needed (incl. 30% waste) | — |
| Container fill | — |
| Shipping weight | — |
| Material for your area | — |
| Fabrication + install | — |
| Total | — |
— saving vs warehouse on material alone
— saving vs warehouse on the whole project (fab + install are the same on both routes)
All numbers are market estimates derived from the index by a published model ($/m² = $/sqft × 10.764; FOB = 35–55% of warehouse; CIF = FOB + freight; block from slab yield). A factory quote replaces them in 48 hours.