Countertops in St. George: quartz, granite and more

Quartz leads, granite comes second

Engineered quartz is the most chosen countertop in the U.S., picked by 32% of renovating homeowners in Houzz's 2026 study, though that's down 7 points from the year before. Granite came next at 15% and quartzite at 10%¹.

Those are national numbers; no survey tracks St. George on its own. The Cost vs Value report's cost recipes show the same divide by budget: its midrange major kitchen assumes laminate tops², while its upscale kitchen assumes stone counters³.

Quartz countertops in St. George: what they cost

Most quartz countertop projects run about $2,600 to $4,400, with a national average near $3,500. Installed prices range from about $50 to more than $200 per square foot, and installation labor alone is about $10 to $35 per square foot⁴.

Your total depends on how many square feet you need, the edge style, and the cutouts for a sink or cooktop. A big island adds up fast, so measure it before you fall for a pricey slab.

Granite countertops: what they cost

A typical granite countertop job costs $2,500 to $5,000. Fixr's national average is $3,500 for about 30 square feet with a simple eased edge and no backsplash. The slab itself runs about $40 to $200 per square foot, and installation averages about $30 per square foot⁵.

On price, the two are close to a tie. So let the look decide, and see full slabs in person before you choose.

How much of the kitchen budget goes to countertops

Countertops take roughly 10% to 14% of a kitchen remodel budget. A National Kitchen and Bath Association breakdown puts them at 10%⁶, and Fixr's 2026 split puts them at 14%⁷.

New counters can stand alone, but they often come with other updates. In a builder grade kitchen, a refresh might pair new tops with painted or refaced cabinets, a backsplash and a new sink. Bigger plans belong in a full kitchen remodel, and the kitchen remodel cost guide shows how the pieces add up.

Backsplash, sink and faucet

Most people choose tile for the backsplash: 72% did in Houzz's 2026 study¹. Fixr puts a tile backsplash at $500 to $1,500, or about $25 per square foot installed⁸.

New counters are also a good time to change the sink and faucet. St. George's water report says most Southern Utah water is hard and suggests softener settings of 13 to 24 grains per gallon⁹, and hard water leaves scale in pipes and water heaters¹⁰. Ask whether the kitchen line runs through your softener.

Leave room to work, too. NKBA guidelines call for at least 24 inches of counter on one side of the sink and 18 inches on the other, plus 12 and 15 inches on either side of a cooktop¹¹.

How long a countertop install takes

Counters come near the end. They can't be measured until the base cabinets are set, and Fixr says they add about 2 days to a week after that¹². The usual order:

1. The base cabinets go in and get leveled.
2. The fabricator makes a pattern of the cabinet tops.
3. The slab is cut, with openings for the sink and cooktop.
4. Installers set the tops, then a plumber connects the sink and faucet.

Permits and licenses for countertop work

Replacing countertops in place usually doesn't need a building permit. Utah's statewide residential code lists counter tops, cabinets, tile and painting as exempt finish work¹³. Moving the sink or adding outlets is different, so the remodeler should confirm with your city's building office.

In Utah, the S230 specialty license covers stone, granite, marble and tile, and S220 covers countertops and cabinets¹⁴. Even on small jobs, plumbing work goes to a licensed plumbing contractor, and jobs of $7,000 or more generally need a licensed contractor¹⁵. Check any license on DOPL's free lookup¹⁶. Local permit notes are on the St. George page.