Average Cost of Countertops in Pittsburgh, PA (Research 2024)

Intro

When you’re thinking about replacing your kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor BBQ countertop, one of the most important factors when choosing a contractor is, “How much will the new countertops cost?” In the U.S., quartz, granite, and marble are some of the most popular materials. Each of these has unique qualities that fit different customer needs and preferences. The prices for natural and engineered stone can vary significantly, so it’s up to you to decide how much you want to budget for your perfect countertop.

As we prepared for our research on countertop pricing across the U.S., we spoke with many industry professionals and found that quartz, also known as "engineered stone," has become the most popular material today. That’s why we decided to request quotes specifically for quartz countertops. However, we’re confident that if you're planning to install granite or marble countertops, you’ll still find valuable information in this article. We believe that seeing price comparisons across different companies for the same material can help you understand the price range for marble, granite, and other stone options. In the near future, we may conduct separate research on the pricing for marble and granite countertops.

When a customer is choosing a contractor, they typically want to check the average cost of new countertops first. But what do you do if the contractor’s website doesn’t list any prices, portfolios, or reviews? The only option is to reach out to each contractor individually or schedule meetings. This process can take a lot of time before you finally get an estimate for your project. It can be quite overwhelming!

For this research, we created a custom project and a detailed scenario. Our mystery shopper contacted all the companies in our ranking using this project to request pricing estimates. 

We hope this article makes it easier for you to choose the right contractor. However, it’s important to note that the prices presented here are only rough estimates. They’re meant to give you a general idea of which company might fit your budget and help you find the best price for quartz countertops. Your project could cost more or less depending on the company you select from our study.

Key Takeaways

• The cost of fabricating and installing the same kitchen countertop made from the same material can vary significantly depending on the contractor. In our research, quotes ranged from $3,513 to $8,136, a difference of $4,623, which is impressive. This means that the price per square foot for quartz countertops ranged from $42.12 to $97.55.
• The cost of a kitchen countertop depends not only on the material but also on several other factors, including the company’s experience, profit margin, company size, and whether they have their own manufacturing facility. There may be additional pricing factors that we haven’t identified yet, but we plan to explore them in future research.
• Not all companies that fabricate countertops respond to customer inquiries promptly. Some ignore them altogether. This can make the process frustrating for potential clients.

Let’s talk about all of this in detail! 

Research Goal: To evaluate kitchen countertop contractors based on a huge amount of information about their work and assign them a position in our rating system. We believe that cost is one of the key criteria for making decisions by clients, which is why it plays a central role in our ratings. 

We want to clarify right away that our kitchen countertop price analysis was conducted exclusively on 9 contractors. These contractors were pre-selected by our analysts as the best based on our initial evaluation criteria from the entire pool of countertop contractors in Pittsburgh.

Comparison Price Table

Part 1: Research Methodology for Countertop Prices in  Pittsburgh

During our research, we understood that to obtain accurate results, we needed to ask all contractors to provide quotes for fabricating kitchen countertops of the same size and materials. To gather more comprehensive data, we requested estimates for not just one material, but at least two.

After consulting with our expert, we selected two materials that are highly popular in the U.S. today: Calacatta Idilio quartz and Carrara Morro quartz.

Quartz is a favored choice among homeowners for several reasons:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Quartz countertops mimic the look of natural stone, such as marble. They are available in many colors and patterns.
• Durability: Quartz is highly durable, resistant to scratches, stains, and heat.
• Low Maintenance: Unlike natural stone, quartz kitchen countertops are non-porous. That’s why they are easier to clean and maintain.
• Cost-Effective: While still a premium material, quartz is often more affordable than high-end natural stones. However, the cost of quartz can vary significantly. It depends on the manufacturer, its thickness, and quality. Quartz can range from inexpensive to very expensive. For our research, we selected a mid-range and popular option.

The quotes were only for two countertop materials. While we acknowledge that costs for countertops may vary for different materials, we believe our analysis provides a general understanding of the pricing strategies of the companies in our ranking.

Initial Company Selection

Our analysts did in-depth market research. The initial selection of contractors for our rating took a considerable amount of time. As the first step, our analysts compiled a list of all countertop companies in Pittsburgh, 20 contractors in total. However, after a thorough selection process, only 9 companies made it into our rating.

It's important to note that we believe the other companies are also reliable. They didn't make it into the rating this year because, at the time of selection, certain evaluated criteria did not meet our standards. We hope that by 2025, these companies will meet the criteria and earn their place in our rating.

Challenges in Initial Calls

Having selected the best countertop companies in  Pittsburgh, we proceeded to evaluate them through direct conversations. Here, we encountered a significant challenge: contractors were reluctant to talk. We believe this reluctance is due to the high volume of spam calls that companies in the U.S. face today. This was a setback, but we knew we couldn't stop there.

To overcome this issue, we adopted a more effective approach: the Secret Shopper Method. Below, let’s talk in detail about this method.

Part 2: Secret Shopper Methodology

Why the Secret Shopper Method?

We chose the secret shopper method to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our research. This approach allowed us to experience the contractors' services just like any typical customer would. It provided an unbiased view of their operations. We avoided formal introductions and industry jargon.

This way we minimized the risk of countertop companies altering their responses to present themselves in a more favorable light.

We selected this approach because contractors were unwilling to discuss their business with us as a rating website. The Secret Shopper method involves calling contractors as a potential customer that is ready to place an order. Contractors are much more willing to share information with someone who is ready to pay. This method worked really well!  

By changing our data collection method, we were able to get answers to many important questions needed to evaluate each countertop company. Our questions were designed from a buyer’s perspective (from you), because our rating system is meant to serve the customers!

Using the secret shopper method, we gathered more reliable data on several key aspects:

• Genuine Customer Experience: This method revealed how contractors treat potential customers, from the initial inquiry to the final quote. It gave us insights into their customer service and responsiveness.
• Unbiased Pricing Information: We posed ourselves as regular customers and obtained realistic price quotes that reflect what an average customer might expect to pay. They are free from any special treatment or adjusted rates.
• Service Quality: We were able to assess the quality of information provided, the clarity of communication, and the thoroughness of the kitchen countertop contractors' responses.

Part 3: Conducting the Research (Detailed Price Analysis)

Calls and Data Collection

We contacted 9 kitchen countertop contractors, talked to all of them over the phone, and sent emails with a clear task. All contractors received the same project to evaluate.

Initially, we researched over 20 companies in the Pittsburgh area, but only 9 met our criteria for inclusion in the 2024 rating. The others were not included in this year’s ranking. However, they have every chance to be included in the 2025 rating. They just need to reach out to us, tell us about their business, and demonstrate that they can qualify as one of the best countertop companies in Pittsburgh!

We quoted 9 companies for an actual project that you can see on the screenshot below.

Receiving and Analyzing Quotes from Countertop Contractors 

We evaluated the following criteria: friendliness (rated from 1 to 5), expertise (rated from 1 to 5), years in business, office availability, possibility to visit the production facility, turnaround time, veteran discounts, payment terms, required deposit, time needed to create and send us a quote, and, of course, the costs for our order of Calacatta Idilio and Carrara Morro.

We looked into why some prices were higher than others — it seems to us that it's not just about the quality of the materials or labor cost for countertop fabrication and installation. Things like the scope of services and the company’s reputation also play a big part in the final price tag.

Part 4: Research Results

Presentation of Obtained Prices

Our easy-to-understand comparison table of the top 9 countertop contractors in Pittsburgh is sure to help you make the right choice faster.

"—" indicates that these companies did not provide a price quote. 

Even though some contractors didn’t submit their quotes, we do not consider them unworthy of being included in our rankings. It’s important to note that these companies still scored above 4.0 and are part of our rigorous rating system. We take special circumstances into account: high demand, limited time to handle every inquiry, or other factors. That’s why we still included them in our ranking of the best countertop companies in Pittsburgh. However, as you’ll notice, their positions are slightly lower than if they had provided a quote.

The prices you see are not public offers from these countertop fabricators. These quotes were collected by us in July 2024.

In our detailed price analysis of countertops in Pittsburgh, we found a significant price range (both for entire projects and per square foot) among local suppliers for two popular stone types: Calacatta Idilio and Carrara Morro.

Here’s a quick summary of the pricing breakdown:

• Calacatta Idilio at Premier Granite & Stone would cost us $8,136, while Carrara Morro would be $7,627, a difference of $509. The company offers high prices for both models, making it suitable for clients willing to invest in the premium segment. This might be justified for those seeking high-quality service or exclusive materials.
• Armina Stone quoted Calacatta Idilio at $7,908 and Carrara Morro at $7,814. The prices are close to the upper range of the mid-tier segment but slightly lower than Premier Granite & Stone. This is a good option for clients looking to save a bit without compromising on quality.
• Calacatta Idilio at Lexmar USA would cost us $7,323, while Carrara Morro would be $7,699, a difference of $376. This is a mid-range offering, suitable for buyers seeking a balance between price and quality.
• At Express Cabinet & Granite, both Calacatta Idilio and Carrara Morro are priced the same at $6,000. The fixed pricing indicates a straightforward pricing policy, making the company appealing to clients who prefer clear terms and affordable rates.
• At Stone Connection Granite & Cabinetry LLC, Calacatta Idilio would cost us $5,527. Carrara Morro was not available for calculation during our request. This is an excellent option for those looking for mid-range pricing.
• At New Giant Stone LLC, Calacatta Idilio is priced at $5,514, while Carrara Morro is $3,513, a significant difference of $2,001. The company offers the lowest prices in our comparison table, especially for Carrara Morro, making it ideal for budget-conscious clients.
• Y&Q Home Plus does not provide pricing over the phone, preferring in-person meetings. This approach might attract those who value a personalized experience but could deter clients looking for quick cost estimates.

Factors Influencing Costs

Our cost analysis led us to introduce a “Thumbs Up” symbol, which reflects all of our evaluation criteria. Additionally, we rate each company based on the following categories:

1. High
2. Above Average
3. Average
4. Below Average
5. Low

This system simplifies the process of choosing a contractor from the list of top countertop providers in Pittsburgh.

In our view, companies with higher prices are not just charging for materials, but also offering a full range of services, including:

• detailed consultations,
• premium craftsmanship, 
• and a longer warranty, which all add value.

We believe that lower prices don’t always indicate lower service quality. Pay close attention to this factor because companies offering competitive prices can still deliver high-quality work.

Part 5: Importance of Price Transparency

Why Knowing Costs in Advance Matters

This is crucial for homeowners to know costs for a countertop project in advance. Our research provides insight into the different approaches to pricing among the countertop companies. This allows users to make their choice based on the price category of the company, as seen in our price comparison table, rather than just the cost of the specific project.

We believe that company owners will also read this article. We encourage them to display at least approximate prices to users. They can do this in the form of case studies of their completed projects. It’s convenient for users and clients and saves them time.

Many companies avoid listing prices on their websites to keep them hidden from competitors. However, we know that competitors use the same methods we do for our research—they call pretending to be customers to gather the information they need. Therefore, it’s simpler and more beneficial to display costs on the website.

Impact of Transparency on Trust in a Company

Price transparency significantly enhances trust between consumers and contractors. When companies are open about their pricing:

• Builds Credibility: Transparency shows that a countertop company has nothing to hide.
• Reduces Misunderstanding: Clear pricing prevents potential disputes over costs.
• Encourages Loyalty: Customers are more likely to return to and recommend companies that are honest about their pricing.

Role of Our Rating

Our rating system helps you:

• Identify Quality Providers: Our rating highlights the top-performing kitchen countertop contractors based on a variety of factors. So you can easily find reputable companies.
• Save Time: Instead of spending hours researching and comparing different contractors, you use our ratings to quickly narrow down your options.
• Make Informed Decisions: Our detailed analysis gives you a deep understanding of the current market.

Part 6: Recommendations for Choosing the Right Countertop Contractor in  Pittsburgh for Your Next Home Renovation Project  

How to Use Our Rating

Here’s a quick guide to hiring the right contractor:

• Find Contacts of the Companies. You can find websites of countertop contractors on Google, or visit aggregator sites where companies pay for listings. However, you can make the best choice by using our ratings, as we handpick and verify each contractor. Contractors do not pay us to be listed on our site. We include in our lists only those who meet our high selection standards.
• Evaluate Contractor Portfolio. When you review the portfolios of countertop contractors on our site, you gain inspiration. Also, you get an understanding whether a contractor is suitable for your project and is capable of bringing your vision to life or not.
• Assess Company Information. After reviewing photos, evaluate the information about each company. Soon we plan to add years in business, ranking position, communication rating, and other parameters to each listing.
• Choose by Price Tier. Select a countertop contractor based on their pricing tier. Once you've narrowed down your choices, you can contact them in any way convenient for you — call them, send a message through WhatsApp Telegram, Facebook Messenger, or submit a request.

Other Important Tips for Selecting a Contractor

Don’t just look at costs. Follow the steps outlined above. Even the top-rated companies in our listings may occasionally do something wrong. Thus, the choice and responsibility for it lie with you as the customer.

However, if you choose a contractor from our ratings and face any difficulties, we will do our best to assist you. If a contractor behaves unprofessionally or does something wrong, we may remove them from our ratings based on your comments and feedback. Also, you can leave your feedback or contractor review on our site.

Conclusion

We believe our research will be a valuable resource for you, offering insights on where to find your ideal countertop. Please note that the pricing information included is approximate, based on a single project from various contractors. These prices are provided solely for reference, and we cannot guarantee their accuracy for your specific project. Your final cost may vary, but these estimates should serve as a useful starting point in selecting a company.

Our primary goal is to give homeowners a general idea of pricing. We've documented all interactions with contractors and can provide evidence if required.

Use our rankings to find the best contractor for your needs and order your countertop in Pittsburgh!

Appendices

List of All Companies Involved in the Research