Is quartz or granite cheaper in Toronto?

In the GTA, quartz runs $65 to $85 per sq ft installed and granite $55 to $80 per sq ft installed, as published by Stone Valley Countertops (Mississauga, GTA quartz pricing guide); TecCorp Stone (Toronto, Level 1-3 guide, Jan 2026). The two overlap heavily, because both span a wide grade range: an entry-level quartz colour and a stock granite sit close together, while a designer quartz series and a rare imported granite both sit near the top. Comparing a specific slab against a specific quartz colour is the only comparison that means anything.

Which handles heat better, quartz or granite?

Granite. It is stone all the way through, while quartz is roughly nine parts ground stone to one part resin, and that resin is what a hot pan damages: it scorches or discolours, and the mark cannot be polished out. Quartz manufacturers require trivets and hot pads to keep a warranty valid. Granite tolerates hot cookware, but thermal shock can crack any stone slab, so trivets are still a sensible habit.

Does granite really need sealing, and how often?

Yes, granite is porous and needs a sealer, but no honest fixed interval exists because it depends on the density of the stone and the sealer used. Test it instead of guessing: spill a little water on the counter, and if it beads up you are fine, while if it darkens the stone within a few minutes the sealer has worn off. Quartz is non-porous and is never sealed.

Which one is easier to repair?

Granite, for anything beyond a chip. A stone restoration specialist can re-hone and re-polish granite in place, so scratches and dull patches can be worked out of the surface. Quartz cannot be refinished: heat damage has changed the resin, and there is nothing to sand back to. Both take colour-matched epoxy for chips, most often at the sink cut-out and along an exposed edge, and on both the repair is usually visible in the right light.

Quartz vs Granite Countertops in Toronto: Cost and Care (2026)

Last updated: August 3, 2026By The Slab Desk

In the GTA, quartz runs $65 to $85 per sq ft installed and granite $55 to $80 per sq ft installed, as published by Stone Valley Countertops (Mississauga, GTA quartz pricing guide); TecCorp Stone (Toronto, Level 1-3 guide, Jan 2026). The split is not really about money. Quartz is non-porous, never needs sealing and looks the same in every slab. Granite handles heat better because there is no resin in it, and every slab is unique. Pick quartz for low upkeep and a predictable look, granite for heat tolerance and one-of-a-kind stone.

Whichever way the price falls, Countertop Installers' own dataset lists 175 quartz countertop installers across the Greater Toronto Area at an average Google rating of 4.7★ over 10,329 reviews (August 2026), so you can move straight from this verdict to a ranked shortlist of pros who do the work.

Countertop Installers reconciles conflicting contractor quotes by widening the range rather than picking a favourite, and reviews every figure before publishing.

Quartz against Granite, line by line

Countertop Installers built this side-by-side from researched GTA pricing data, with every figure traceable to a named Canadian source in the cell that cites it.

Quartz vs Granite in the GTA. Researched August 2026, CAD, sources named per cell. Add 13% HST unless noted.
Criterion	Quartz	Granite
Cost per square foot	$65–$85 per sq ft installed, as published by Stone Valley Countertops (Mississauga, GTA quartz pricing guide)	$55–$80 per sq ft installed, as published by TecCorp Stone (Toronto, Level 1-3 guide, Jan 2026)
Hardness and scratch resistance	Very hard and consistent, because it is manufactured. Everyday scratching is rare, though it is not scratch proof.	Hard, but hardness varies by stone: a dense dark granite is tougher than a soft light one. Ask the supplier about the actual slab.
Heat resistance	The resin binder is the weak point. A pan straight off the element can scorch or discolour it, and makers require trivets.	Better. Stone with no resin in it takes heat well, though thermal shock can crack any slab, so trivets are still cheap insurance.
Stains and etching	Non-porous, so nothing soaks in and household acids do not etch it. Strong dyes and solvents can still mark the resin.	Porous. Unsealed, oil and red wine can soak in; sealed, it shrugs off normal spills. It resists acids far better than marble.
Seams and appearance	Colour and pattern repeat between slabs, so seams match easily. Heavily veined designs still need the vein lined up across the joint.	Every slab is different, so choose the slab, not a sample chip. Movement in the stone makes a seam harder to hide.
Maintenance and sealing	Soap and water. No sealing, ever.	Reseal periodically. How often depends on the stone and the sealer, so test it: water that stops beading means it is due.
Repairability	Chips take colour-matched epoxy, rarely invisibly. Heat damage cannot be polished out, because the resin itself has changed.	Chips take epoxy too, and a stone restoration pro can re-hone and re-polish a dulled area, which no engineered surface allows.
Resale expectations	Reads as a current upgrade to most buyers, and the uniform look photographs well in a listing. No Canadian source publishes a reliable figure for what a countertop returns at resale, so treat this as a soft factor rather than a number.	Still reads as real stone, though some buyers see busy speckled granite as dated. No Canadian source publishes a reliable figure for what a countertop returns at resale, so treat this as a soft factor rather than a number.

Where quartz is the better call

Choose quartz when you want a surface you never have to think about. It is non-porous, so there is no sealing schedule and no window where a spill can soak in, and because it is manufactured you can order a colour off a sample and know what arrives.

You want zero maintenance beyond soap and water, with no resealing.
You want a consistent, predictable colour across a big kitchen or a repeated unit.
You are happy to use trivets, because the resin in quartz does not like direct heat.
The surface is indoors and out of direct sun, since quartz is not UV stable and can fade in a bright window or outdoors.

Where granite is the better call

Choose granite when you want natural stone and better heat tolerance. There is no resin to scorch, every slab is unique, and a stone restoration pro can bring a dulled or scratched area back, which is not possible on an engineered top.

You cook hot and want a surface that tolerates pans off the element.
You want a one-of-a-kind slab and are willing to visit the supplier and pick it.
You are fine resealing it periodically and testing whether it is due.
The counter runs outdoors or into strong sun, where granite holds up and quartz is not recommended.

What does each cost on a real project?

Countertops are measured, not estimated, so treat this as arithmetic rather than a quote. Take a 40 square foot run of finished surface as an illustration and the ranges above, each published by the company named beside it, work out like this:

Worked example

Quartz ($65–$85 per sq ft installed, as published by Stone Valley Countertops (Mississauga, GTA quartz pricing guide)): 40 × $65–$85 = $2,600 to $3,400
Granite ($55–$80 per sq ft installed, as published by TecCorp Stone (Toronto, Level 1-3 guide, Jan 2026)): 40 × $55–$80 = $2,200 to $3,200

At these researched ranges, granite is the lower-cost surface on a layout this size. Read the unit beside each range before comparing them, because some rows are quoted supplied and installed and others price the surface alone. Either way, tearing out and disposing of the old top, disconnecting and reconnecting the plumbing, and 13% HST sit on top. A small layout can also hit a fabricator's minimum charge, which pushes the effective rate per square foot above the posted one.

Frequently asked questions

Is quartz or granite cheaper in Toronto?: In the GTA, quartz runs $65 to $85 per sq ft installed and granite $55 to $80 per sq ft installed, as published by Stone Valley Countertops (Mississauga, GTA quartz pricing guide); TecCorp Stone (Toronto, Level 1-3 guide, Jan 2026). The two overlap heavily, because both span a wide grade range: an entry-level quartz colour and a stock granite sit close together, while a designer quartz series and a rare imported granite both sit near the top. Comparing a specific slab against a specific quartz colour is the only comparison that means anything.
Which handles heat better, quartz or granite?: Granite. It is stone all the way through, while quartz is roughly nine parts ground stone to one part resin, and that resin is what a hot pan damages: it scorches or discolours, and the mark cannot be polished out. Quartz manufacturers require trivets and hot pads to keep a warranty valid. Granite tolerates hot cookware, but thermal shock can crack any stone slab, so trivets are still a sensible habit.
Does granite really need sealing, and how often?: Yes, granite is porous and needs a sealer, but no honest fixed interval exists because it depends on the density of the stone and the sealer used. Test it instead of guessing: spill a little water on the counter, and if it beads up you are fine, while if it darkens the stone within a few minutes the sealer has worn off. Quartz is non-porous and is never sealed.
Which one is easier to repair?: Granite, for anything beyond a chip. A stone restoration specialist can re-hone and re-polish granite in place, so scratches and dull patches can be worked out of the surface. Quartz cannot be refinished: heat damage has changed the resin, and there is nothing to sand back to. Both take colour-matched epoxy for chips, most often at the sink cut-out and along an exposed edge, and on both the repair is usually visible in the right light.

Questions to ask your installer

Which quartz line and colour is quoted, and will all my slabs come from one lot?
How will the pattern be matched across the seam?
Is the edge profile in the base price or an upgrade? Edge profile price benchmarks
What does the manufacturer warranty cover, and what does your labour warranty cover?
Do you fabricate in your own shop or subcontract the cutting?