If you’ve looked into installing granite countertops for your kitchen or bathroom, you’ve probably wondered at least once, what is the least expensive granite I can get that still looks nice?
Granite comes in just about every color that you can imagine, but we will highlight the difference in price between black and white today. Those are two of the most popular granite colors on the market, but you’ll find a significant difference in pricing between the two. Why? Let’s dive into some of the reasons right now.
Black vs. White
People love black and white countertops because they set the mood for the entire kitchen space. Black countertops, for instance, provide a lot of drama in the kitchen. They pair nicely with dark, sophisticated wood cabinetry, and they lend a lot of mystery to any space. They also need less maintenance than lighter colored granite, and some black granite slabs don’t even need to be sealed again after the initial install. They hide stains and scratches well, though they can show dirt a little more easily than white countertops.
On the other side of the color spectrum, white countertops make a kitchen feel open and homey. They can make even a small kitchen feel spacious, and they pair nicely with white and light-colored wood cabinets and large windows. White granite can show stains a little more easily than dark-colored granite, but by staying on top of routine sealing and other maintenance, your white countertops will glisten for years to come.
What Determines Price?
When you browse through a showroom, you’ll notice that the supplier has usually priced the granite according to an assigned level. As far as quality goes, a level one is generally as good of quality as a level three and above, but the price difference can be significant. What determines a granite’s level (and therefore its price) are the veining, colors, scarcity, and source location of the slab.
White and black granite slabs are some of the best canvases for showing off different colors and veining, so the prices can vary quite a bit. When you add scarcity and the source location into the mix, the price differences start to make sense.
Veining
Veining and pattern are two of the big players that determine granite pricing. When you look through a supplier’s stock, you’ll notice that there are slabs with a lot of movement and slabs with tight, repetitive patterns. In most cases, the smaller and more repetitive the pattern, the less expensive the slab will be. Brazilian Black and Ashen White are great examples of inexpensive slabs with tight patterns and slight veining.
White Macaubas and Mountain Mist are two excellent examples of higher-priced, gorgeous white granite slabs with incredible veining. If you love the look of veining but have a tight budget, don’t worry, there is still something there for you. Blue Night is a very affordable black granite slab that has unbelievable white and grey veining throughout. Similarly, Kashmir White has lovely veining at a fraction of the price of other elaborately veined slabs.
Colors
Blanc du Blanc is a slab that shows a lot of movement and a lot of color. The rich rust and dramatic black veins that run through each slab of Blanc du Blanc are big reasons why that slab is more expensive than some others on the market. Blue Garden is another white example with both color variation and a lot of movement, which is a big reason why it is more expensive than Fortaleza White, a slab with primarily tiny white, black, and grey speckles.
Scarcity and Source Location
At the end of the day, what it all comes down to is supply and demand. When there is very little of a particular kind of granite, its price will be higher because there is less to go around. Whether you think it’s pretty granite or not, if it’s scarce, it’ll be more expensive. The same goes with source location. If a quarry is remote, doesn’t produce very much, or has costly shipping prices, the granite slab’s price will reflect that. As a whole, Brazilian granite is less expensive because the quarries produce more than some Italian or Irish quarries that produce less and are therefore more costly.
Colors and veining also play a role in supply and demand because generally, there are more slabs that have tight (though still beautiful) color variations and veining. Many people crave the look of large, unique patterns and colors, which automatically increases the demand for it, but there is also generally a smaller supply of slabs available that have elaborate patterns and colors. When suppliers determine prices for white and black granite slabs, they have to weigh in all of these factors before assigning a grade.
Whether you have a big budget or a small one, have your heart set on a unique pattern or adore the look of a consistent pattern, want drama or openness, there is a slab of white or black granite out there for you. Check out our granite warehouse in Denver to find the perfect addition to your home renovation.