Countertops guide

Countertop replacement: materials, pricing and planning

Published by Clear House · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer

Countertops are usually priced by square foot of finished surface, plus edges, cutouts and removal of the old top. Laminate typically costs least; stone and quartz cost more and vary by slab.

Measure your counters and pick a material type before quotes. Clear House lets you plan the project, preview some countertop options on a photo and see a ballpark, then send it to one local pro where one covers your ZIP code.

Key points

Sink and cooktop cutouts and edge profiles add cost.
Removing old stone tops and backsplash can be extra.
Fabricators usually template after cabinets are set.

Is there a Clear House pro for countertops near you?

Enter your ZIP code to check live. Anyone in the U.S. can plan a project and see a ballpark, even where no pro is available yet.

Or start planning now

What affects the cost of new countertops

Square footage and number of seams.
Material: laminate, solid surface, quartz, granite or others.
Edge profile and thickness.
Cutouts for sinks and cooktops.
Tear-out of the old top and backsplash.
Plumbing disconnect and reconnect.

How to plan it

Sketch your counters with lengths and depths.
Choose a material and look at full slabs if you can.
Decide on sink type; undermount sinks need a solid-surface or stone top.
Plan for a day or more without a working sink.

Questions to ask a contractor

Is removal of the old countertop included?
Who disconnects and reconnects the sink and cooktop?
Where will the seams go?
Is sealing included for natural stone?
What is the payment schedule?

How Clear House helps with new countertops

Clear House is a planning app and marketplace. It does not do the work itself. You choose the project, answer a few short questions and add a photo if you have one. Clear House then shows a planning ballpark so you have a starting budget before anyone visits your home.

For this kind of project you can also preview some of your choices on a photo of your own home. Previews use preview credits and are illustrations, not a promise of the finished result.

When you are ready, Clear House checks whether a reviewed independent pro covers your ZIP code and this trade. If one does, you send your project to that one pro, who can review it and send a quote in the app. You are not obligated to accept a quote, and your request is not sent to a crowd of contractors. If no pro covers your area yet, you can join the waitlist and Clear House emails you when one is available.

Common questions

Quartz or granite?

Both are popular. Quartz is engineered and uniform; granite is natural stone with more variation and usually needs sealing. Compare samples and prices.

Ready to plan?

Free to plan. See a ballpark before anyone visits. Your project goes to one pro at a time, only where a pro covers your area.

Start a project

Sources

U.S. Federal Trade Commission — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Advice on licenses, insurance, written estimates, contracts and down payments.

Clear House is a marketplace, not a contractor. Costs on this page are published averages or planning ranges, not quotes, and your price will differ. Always confirm licensing, insurance and permits with the pro you hire.