Quartzite vs granite: which is better?
Last updated November 2026.
Quick answer
- Hardness (Mohs)
- Quartzite about 7; granite typically 6 to 6.5
- Origin
- Quartzite: metamorphic, from sandstone. Granite: igneous, from magma
- Installed cost (US)
- Quartzite about $70 to $200; granite about $40 to $150
- Sealing
- Both about annually; granite generally denser and more forgiving
- Fabrication yield
- Quartzite about 65 to 75%; granite about 80 to 90%
- Pietra Fonte
- Offers neither; carves marble, travertine and onyx
Quartzite is slightly harder (about Mohs 7 against 6 to 6.5) and offers marble-like veining, but costs more, about $70 to $200 installed against $40 to $150 for granite. Both tolerate heat, though trivets are advised, and both are typically sealed about yearly. Granite is the better value; quartzite suits a marble look.
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Which is better, quartzite or granite?
Granite is usually the better value and quartzite the better look. Both are hard, heat tolerant and long lasting. Quartzite is the pick when you want veining close to marble without marble's acid sensitivity; granite is the pick when you want proven durability at lower cost.
Granite is an igneous rock that crystallizes from magma, made mainly of quartz and feldspar with mica or amphibole and often showing dark flecks. Quartzite is metamorphic; see what is quartzite.
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How do quartzite and granite compare side by side?
| Quartzite | Granite | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | About 7 | Typically 6 to 6.5 |
| Heat | Brief hot-pan contact ok; trivets advised | Same guidance |
| Sealing | Varies by stone; dense types about yearly | Generally denser; annual sealing typical |
| Acids | True quartzite does not etch | Not an etching concern |
| Installed cost, US | $70 to $200 per sq ft | $40 to $150; most mid-range $60 to $100 |
| Look | Directional veining; whites resemble marble | Speckled or mottled crystals; wide color range |
| Supply | Less common, imported | Abundant |
| Slab yield | About 65 to 75% | About 80 to 90% |
Source: SlabWise (quartzite vs granite cost). Prices are ballparks and vary by slab grade and region.
Which is harder, quartzite or granite?
Quartzite, by a small margin. Quartz is 7 on the Mohs scale and feldspar is 6, so granite, which blends both, usually rates 6 to 6.5. One retailer treats the two as similar in practice, and well-sealed examples of either perform alike day to day.
Quartzite is more abrasive to cut, so blades wear faster, edges and sink cutouts risk chipping, and less of each slab becomes usable pieces. That feeds the price gap.
Which handles heat and acids better?
They are close on heat. Both tolerate brief contact with a hot pan, but thermal shock can cause micro-fractures, so use trivets on either. Acid is the difference where marble is concerned: neither granite nor true quartzite etches the way marble does. If you want to see how marble differs, read quartzite vs marble.
Which costs more, quartzite or granite?
Quartzite. Installed prices run about $70 to $200 per square foot against $40 to $150 for granite, with most mid-range granite kitchens at $60 to $100. Material-only figures from another source are $30 to $150 for quartzite and $10 to $75 for granite.
For a 50 sq ft kitchen, quartzite adds roughly $1,500 to $4,000 over comparable mid-grade granite, though some exotic granites cost as much as mid-range quartzite.
Do quartzite and granite need sealing?
Both, typically about once a year. Granite is generally denser and more forgiving. Quartzite varies by stone: dense types need it less often, while some slabs sold as quartzite are more porous. Test with water: if it darkens the stone within about 10 minutes, reseal with an impregnating sealer. Step-by-step method: how to seal marble, which applies to any porous stone.
Which is easier to source and fabricate?
Granite. It is one of the most abundant rocks in the continental crust, so supply is high and slab choice is wide. The most attractive quartzite is imported from Brazil, India or Norway, and logistics add cost.
In the shop, quartzite wears blades faster, slows CNC runs and risks chipping at edges and sink cutouts. Slab yield is about 65 to 75% for quartzite against 80 to 90% for granite, which means more waste per project. If you are matching veining at seams, quartzite's directional patterns also need careful layout.
Ask any fabricator for a written quote that covers edge profile and cutouts, and check local code and structural limits for any heavy installation with an engineer.
Which is better for a bathroom, and does Pietra Fonte offer either?
Either works as a vanity top; both shrug off acidic cleaners far better than marble. Choose granite for budget and a busy family bath, quartzite for a lighter, marble-like look. Pietra Fonte does not offer quartzite or granite pieces; we carve marble, travertine and onyx to order. For a granite versus marble decision on a vanity, see marble vs granite vanity tops.
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