Quartz vs. Marble Countertops

Quartz and marble countertops each bring elegance and luxury to any home. Choosing between them depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Marble offers distinctive veining and classic appeal. The Cambria quartz palette provides many veined designs with added durability and low maintenance. Let’s review their similarities and differences.

Quartz vs. Marble

Curious about the similarities and differences of quartz and marble countertops? Explore what sets them apart.

What Is Quartz?

Quartz countertops are made of natural quartz that is then combined with binders and pigments to create its final, beautiful product. This process enables quartz countertops to be maintenance free, extremely durable, nonabsorbent, and resistant to stains, scratches, and chips. Available in a wide range of designs, colors, and consistent patterns, quartz also presents a uniform look from slab to slab.

What Is Marble?

Marble countertops are made from natural stone quarried in large blocks, then cut, shaped, and polished. Known for its sophisticated veining and unique patterns, each marble slab brings a one-of-a-kind luxury to any room. However, marble’s porous nature makes it more susceptible to staining, etching, and scratching, requiring regular care to maintain its beauty.

Performance: Quartz vs. Marble

With their high-end look, quartz and marble elevate any space. Discover the differences between how the two perform.

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Maintenance

Quartz countertops are maintenance free, stain resistant, naturally nonabsorbent, NSF-51 certified, and never need sealing. To clean, just wipe with warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired. Because of its porous nature, marble requires ongoing care, including regular sealing to prevent staining from everyday substances like water, wine, and oil. If you’re willing to invest in its maintenance, marble can offer long-lasting beauty.

Durability

Quartz is extremely durable, resisting chips, scratches, and stains. While beautiful, marble is softer, making it more prone to scratches and chips. Marble can handle heat better than quartz in some instances, but sudden temperature changes may cause damage to both, so the use of a trivet is always recommended. Cambria quartz surfaces are backed by a transferable Full Lifetime Warranty to provide peave of mind for a lifetime.

Appearance

Quartz countertops offer a wide range of consistent colors and patterns, ideal for any space aesthetic and ensuring a uniform look from slab to slab. Marble countertops feature unique veining patterns and colors. While a positive for some, this variation can make it challenging to match multiple slabs or find the right slab for your project. Marble typically is found in neutral colors, limiting options for those looking for darker or more bold countertop colors. Quartz is often preferred for its versatility within various styles and color schemes, with Cambria known as an industry leader in design innovation.

Environmental Impact

Quartz is harvested by removing small aggregate quartz stones, which leaves a smaller footprint and generates less waste. This harvesting practice allows for more optimal native vegetation restoration. Marble extraction is a labor-intensive process that involves removing large blocks of stone that are then cut into slabs.

Countertop Cost Considerations

When choosing between quartz and marble, consider more than the initial investment. Factor in long-term upkeep, such as sealing and care, along with material and installation costs.

Learn about quartz pricing

Marble-Look Countertops

Get the luxurious look of marble with the maintenance-free durability of quartz. Cambria’s marble-look designs offer beauty without the upkeep.

Browse marble-alternative designs

Annaleigh™

Marbled and soft taupe cascades across a lustrous, alabaster-hued background featuring honey accents, cool charcoal gray veins, and delicate ebony flecks for unparalleled depth.

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Brittanicca Warm™

Warm translucent gray veins stream across a temperate white backdrop like venerable old rivers flowing into a fog-bound harbor.

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Everleigh™

Statement meets subtle in this movement-rich design that features cool gray and warm, sand-honey tonalities, combining the best of bold patterns and soft, tone-on-tone design.

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Detailed view of Cambria Everleigh™ quartz countertop design

Marble-Look Countertop Samples

Bring Cambria home. Order samples of your favorite designs, and we’ll send them to you to experience in your space.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cambria require care and maintenance?

No, keeping with its care-free promise, Cambria requires no sealing, polishing, or reconditioning. Simply wipe with warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired. Due to its nonabsorbent nature, and unlike marble, it does NOT require regular sealing and is stain resistant.

Do Cambria quartz surfaces stain?

Cambria’s nonporous and nonabsorbent surface is resistant to staining and eliminates the need for any sealing. Its nonabsorbent surface also greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth from food absorbing into your countertop.

Is Cambria a natural stone?

Cambria is made from pure natural quartz, pigments, and binders. Quartz is the extremely hard mineral that gives Cambria its strength. Our unique process results in a quartz product of uncommon elegance, style, and superior durability.

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What to Expect

Whether you’re planning a countertop refresh, room remodel, or a new build, learn what you can expect throughout the process.

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Cambria Brittanicca quartz kitchen island countertops.

Cambria Kitchen & Baths

Come discover the Cambria Difference and see how our quartz surfaces transform any kitchen or bath into tranquil spaces.

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Get Inspired

Visit a Cambria showroom or retail partner to see your favorite granite-look quartz designs in person and get expert advice on your project.

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