Silestone
Silestone is a leading quartz countertop brand that offers a line called Silestone Basic specifically designed to be an entry-level, lower-cost option. The Silestone Basic line features a limited selection of popular neutral colors and more simple patterns. Because the color palette is streamlined, it reduces costs. Silestone Basic counters are still made from the same high-quality quartz as the brand’s pricier options but start around $40 per square foot installed.
Cambria Bella
Cambria is known for its beautiful, high-end natural stone and quartz countertops, but the company’s Bella line offers a less expensive quartz option. Cambria Bella features a palette of 10 neutral shades ideal for contemporary kitchens. This line is budget-friendly, with prices starting around $55 per square foot installed. The quality and durability are still excellent.
IKEA Quartz Counters
IKEA offers ready-made quarts countertops as part of its kitchen collection, which can be a very affordable choice. The IKEA quartz counters come in set sizes to fit IKEA kitchen cabinets and start at just around $100 per slab. The available colors are more limited than designer quartz brands, but the quality is quite good for the price. IKEA also offers installation services if needed.
Home Depot House Brands
Home improvement stores like Home Depot offer their own exclusive brands of quartz countertops that provide significant savings compared to big name brands. Home Depot’s house brand MSI Q Premium Natural Quartz, for example, costs around $40-$60 per square foot installed. The quality meets kitchen counter standards, and you have the convenience of buying through Home Depot.
Lowe’s House Brands
Similarly, Lowe’s has its own line of affordable quartz countertops under brands like Allen + Roth Quartz and Sensa by Cosentino. These options from Lowe’s often start under $50 per square foot installed. The selection includes popular neutral quartz patterns and textures suitable for any kitchen or bath at an accessible price point.
Quartz Manufacturers’ Value Lines
Many major quartz brands offer a separate value line with pared-down colors and patterns to create a lower price point. Caesarstone has the Supernatural Value Quartz line, Cambria has their Bella line as mentioned above, and Silestone has Silestone Basic. These value lines by trusted brands offer quality at an affordable cost.
Agglomerate “Engineered Quartz”
Some very low-cost quartz options are made of quartz agglomerate, crumbled quartz bound together with resin. The resulting product contains a lower quartz content (around 85%) with more polymers compared to pure natural quartz slabs. But agglomerate quartz can provide the look of stone for less. Brands like Vim Quartz or Talat Enterprises’ Vali Quartz start under $30 per square foot installed.
In summary, Silestone Basic, IKEA, and home improvement store house brands offer some of the most competitive pricing on quartz countertops that still maintain decent durability and aesthetics. For the most budget-friendly options, engineered agglomerate quartz delivers quartz styling at the lowest cost, though may have slightly lower performance. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of different low-cost quartz brands to find the best value for your kitchen or bath remodeling project.
Frequently Asked Questions about Inexpensive Quartz Countertops
What is the least expensive brand of quartz countertop?
Some of the most affordable quartz countertop brands include Silestone Basic, Cambria Bella, IKEA, Home Depot’s MSI Q Premium Natural Quartz, Lowe’s Allen + Roth Quartz, and engineered quartz agglomerate brands like Vim Quartz and Vali Quartz. These options provide quartz countertops starting around $30 per square foot installed.
Is quartz cheaper than granite?
On average, quartz countertops tend to cost less than granite. Entry-level quartz often ranges from $40-$100 per square foot installed. Granite slabs tend to start around $80 per square foot installed and go up significantly in price for rare or imported varieties.
What are the disadvantages of low-cost quartz?
Lower-priced quartz options may have a more limited color/pattern selection. Budget quartz also tends to use more polymers in the resin binding, which can reduce heat and scratch resistance compared to premium quartz. However, quality budget quartz still performs very well for average kitchen use.
Does IKEA have good quality quartz countertops?
IKEA offers surprisingly good quality quartz countertops for the price point. They use the same Bretonstone quartz material as higher-end brands. The warranties and performance hold up well, especially for a lower-maintenance kitchen. The color selection is more limited than designer brands.
Is Silestone a good quartz brand?
Silestone is an excellent quartz brand that offers outstanding quality and variety in the premium lines. The Silestone Basic line is a more affordable option that still provides the same durable quartz in popular neutral colors starting around $40 per square foot installed.
Can you find cheap quartz that looks like marble?
Some budget-friendly quartz lines mimic the look of marble. For example, the Sensa Bianco Carrara-inspired pattern by Cosentino costs around $55 per square foot. Cambria Bella marble-look patterns are in the $55 range too. IKEA’s Skärhamn quartz has a marble aesthetic for under $100 per slab.
Conclusion
While quartz is generally more expensive than materials like laminate, there are ways to find affordable quartz countertops for your kitchen or bath remodeling project on a budget. Opting for a value line from a brand like Silestone, IKEA, or home improvement stores can provide quality quartz in the $50 per square foot range. For an even lower budget, engineered agglomerate quartz like Vim Quartz offers the stylish look of quartz for under $30 per square foot installed. With some savvy shopping, beautiful quartz countertops can fit many home improvement budgets.