Quartz Market Growth 2026
Quartz market growth tracks the year-over-year expansion of engineered quartz countertop sales, production volume, and market penetration across residential and commercial construction. In 2026, the global quartz countertop market is valued at approximately $14.8 billion, with the U.S. accounting for roughly $7.9 billion of that total.
TL;DR
- The global quartz countertop market reached $14.8 billion in 2026, up from $12.1 billion in 2022
- U.S. quartz market share sits at 36% of all countertop installations, the highest of any single material
- Year-over-year growth has slowed from 8-9% (2019-2022) to 4-5% (2024-2026)
- Silicosis regulations represent the biggest headwind, adding 10-15% to fabrication costs
- Quartz imports from India and Vietnam have grown 35% since 2023, putting pricing pressure on established brands
- The residential segment accounts for 78% of quartz demand, commercial makes up 22%
- Projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030 is 4.2-5.1%
Quartz Countertop Market Size: 2018-2026
| Year | Global Market Value | U.S. Market Value | U.S. YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $8.9B | $4.7B | 9.2% |
| 2019 | $9.7B | $5.2B | 10.6% |
| 2020 | $9.4B | $4.9B | -5.8% |
| 2021 | $11.2B | $6.1B | 24.5% |
| 2022 | $12.1B | $6.6B | 8.2% |
| 2023 | $12.9B | $7.0B | 6.1% |
| 2024 | $13.6B | $7.3B | 4.3% |
| 2025 | $14.2B | $7.6B | 4.1% |
| 2026 | $14.8B | $7.9B | 3.9% |
The pandemic dip in 2020 was followed by a massive rebound in 2021 as homeowners invested in kitchen and bathroom renovations during the remote-work era. Growth has normalized since then but remains positive.
What's Driving Quartz Growth in 2026
1. Continued Market Share Gains Over Granite
Quartz has been taking share from granite for a decade straight. In 2016, granite led with 35% market share and quartz held about 22%. By 2026, those numbers have flipped: quartz at 36%, granite at 24%. This shift is driven by consumer preference for:
- Uniform appearance (homeowners can pick an exact look from a sample)
- Zero maintenance (no annual sealing required)
- Wider color options (hundreds of colors and patterns available)
- Stain resistance (non-porous surface rejects wine, coffee, and oil)
2. New Construction Demand
Housing starts in the U.S. are projected at 1.4-1.5 million units in 2026. Quartz is the default countertop spec in many new construction homes priced above $350,000. Builders favor quartz because:
- It's easier to spec consistently across multiple homes
- Warranty claims are lower than with natural stone
- Installation is more predictable (consistent thickness, fewer natural flaws)
- Supply chains are reliable with multiple domestic and import options
3. Remodeling Activity
The kitchen and bathroom remodeling market continues to drive quartz demand. With 3.2 million kitchen remodels projected in 2026 and quartz chosen in roughly 36% of them, that's approximately 1.15 million quartz kitchen countertop jobs annually --- just in residential kitchens.
4. Price Competitiveness
Quartz occupies a sweet spot in the pricing spectrum:
| Material | Installed Price Range | Price Perception |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $15-$40/sq ft | Budget |
| Solid Surface | $45-$85/sq ft | Mid-range |
| Quartz | $50-$120/sq ft | Mid to High |
| Granite | $55-$130/sq ft | Mid to High |
| Marble | $70-$150/sq ft | High-end |
| Quartzite | $80-$200/sq ft | Premium |
At the entry level, quartz ($50/sq ft) is only slightly more than solid surface and actually cheaper than many granites. At the high end, premium quartz ($100-$120/sq ft) still comes in well below quartzite and exotic marbles.
Growth Headwinds: What's Slowing the Quartz Market
Silicosis Regulations and Bans
The single biggest threat to quartz market growth is the global response to silicosis in stone fabrication workers. Engineered quartz contains 90-94% crushed quartz (crystalline silica), and dry-cutting produces dangerous dust.
Key regulatory developments:
- Australia: Banned engineered stone fabrication in December 2024, the first country to do so
- California: Proposed stricter permissible exposure limits (PELs) for respirable crystalline silica, with potential fabrication restrictions under review
- OSHA: Enforcing the 2016 silica rule more aggressively, with fines up to $15,625 per violation
- Europe: The EU is considering harmonized silica exposure limits that would affect quartz fabrication across member states
For fabrication shops, compliance costs are significant:
| Safety Investment | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wet-cutting CNC system | $80,000-$250,000 | Required for compliant fabrication |
| Water recycling system | $15,000-$40,000 | Manages CNC water waste |
| Air monitoring equipment | $3,000-$8,000 | Ongoing exposure testing |
| Respiratory protection program | $2,000-$5,000/year | Fit testing, medical surveillance |
| Dust extraction/ventilation | $10,000-$50,000 | Shop-wide ventilation upgrades |
These costs get passed to consumers through higher per-square-foot pricing, which narrows quartz's price advantage over natural stone alternatives.
Import Competition Pressuring Margins
The quartz slab market has seen a flood of imports from India and Vietnam, growing 35% in volume since 2023. These imported slabs often retail at $25-$45 per square foot wholesale, well below domestic brands like Cambria ($45-$75/sq ft wholesale) or Caesarstone ($40-$70/sq ft wholesale).
For fabrication shops, this creates a mixed dynamic:
- Pro: Lower material costs mean healthier margins or more competitive pricing
- Con: More price shopping from homeowners who've found cheap quartz online
- Con: Quality inconsistency with some import brands (thickness variation, resin issues, color batch differences)
Quartzite Eating Into the High End
Quartzite, a natural stone that offers marble-like aesthetics with superior durability, is pulling affluent buyers away from premium quartz. The high-end quartz segment ($90-$120/sq ft) has seen the most competition from quartzite, especially popular patterns like:
- Taj Mahal (warm, marble-like veining)
- Mont Blanc (dramatic white with grey veining)
- Calacatta quartzite (matches the Calacatta marble look that premium quartz tries to replicate)
Homeowners willing to spend $100+ per square foot increasingly choose the "real thing" in quartzite over an engineered alternative.
Quartz Market Segmentation
By Application
| Segment | % of Quartz Market | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen countertops | 62% | 4.0% |
| Bathroom vanities | 18% | 5.2% |
| Commercial surfaces | 12% | 3.5% |
| Flooring/wall cladding | 5% | 6.8% |
| Other (bars, desks) | 3% | 4.1% |
The bathroom vanity segment is growing faster than kitchens because quartz's water resistance and non-porous surface are ideal for high-moisture environments.
By Price Tier
| Tier | Price Range (Installed) | % of Market | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | $50-$65/sq ft | 30% | Growing (import-driven) |
| Mid-range | $65-$90/sq ft | 45% | Stable |
| Premium | $90-$120/sq ft | 20% | Declining (quartzite competition) |
| Ultra-premium | $120+/sq ft | 5% | Declining |
By Region (U.S.)
| Region | % of U.S. Quartz Sales | Growth Trend |
|---|---|---|
| West Coast | 28% | Moderate (regulatory concerns) |
| Northeast | 24% | Strong |
| Southeast | 20% | Fast growth |
| Midwest | 16% | Moderate |
| Southwest | 12% | Fast growth |
What Quartz Growth Means for Fabrication Shops
Volume Opportunity
With 1.15 million residential kitchen quartz jobs per year spread across roughly 8,000-10,000 U.S. fabrication shops, the average shop handles about 115-145 quartz kitchen jobs annually. Shops in high-growth markets (Southeast, Southwest) may see 20-30% more quartz inquiries year over year.
Margin Compression Risk
The combination of rising compliance costs and import price pressure is squeezing margins. Shops that haven't invested in efficiency tools risk seeing gross margins drop from 30-38% to 20-28% on quartz jobs.
Key efficiency levers:
- Slab nesting optimization: AI-powered nesting tools like SlabWise can improve yield by 10-15%, saving $400-$1,200 per slab on quartz material alone
- Faster quoting: Reducing quote turnaround from 20 minutes to 3 minutes with tools like SlabWise Quick Quote helps close more jobs before price-shoppers move on
- Remake reduction: Template verification systems that catch errors before fabrication can prevent $1,500-$4,000 remakes --- which happen 2-4 times per month at the average shop
Diversification Pressure
Smart shops are adding quartzite and porcelain capabilities alongside quartz to capture the full range of customer demand. A shop that only offers quartz fabrication is missing the fastest-growing segments of the market.
5-Year Market Forecast
| Metric | 2026 | 2028 (Projected) | 2030 (Projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global quartz market | $14.8B | $16.2B | $17.8B |
| U.S. quartz market | $7.9B | $8.5B | $9.1B |
| U.S. market share | 36% | 37% | 36-38% |
| CAGR | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.2-5.1% |
| Avg. installed price | $50-$120/sq ft | $55-$130/sq ft | $58-$140/sq ft |
Quartz will likely plateau at 37-38% market share by 2030. Further growth depends heavily on whether U.S. regulators follow Australia's approach to engineered stone fabrication. If restrictions remain at the safety-compliance level (rather than outright bans), quartz should maintain its market leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the quartz countertop market in 2026?
The global quartz countertop market is valued at approximately $14.8 billion in 2026, with the U.S. market accounting for about $7.9 billion of that total.
Is the quartz countertop market still growing?
Yes, but at a slower pace. Growth has decelerated from 8-9% annually (2019-2022) to about 4% in 2026. The market continues to expand, driven by new construction and remodeling activity, but faces headwinds from silicosis regulations and competition from quartzite.
What percentage of countertops are quartz?
Quartz accounts for approximately 36% of all countertop installations in the United States in 2026, making it the single most popular countertop material.
Will quartz be banned in the United States?
No U.S. state has banned quartz fabrication as of early 2026. However, California and several other states are considering stricter regulations on respirable crystalline silica exposure. The focus has been on improved workplace safety requirements rather than outright bans.
How are silicosis regulations affecting quartz prices?
Compliance costs for wet-cutting systems, dust extraction, air monitoring, and respiratory protection programs add roughly 10-15% to fabrication costs. These expenses are gradually being reflected in higher installed prices for consumers.
Which quartz brands have the largest market share?
Caesarstone, Cambria, and Silestone (Cosentino) are the three largest branded quartz manufacturers in the U.S. market. However, imported and private-label quartz from India and Vietnam collectively represent the largest segment at about 32% of quartz volume.
How many quartz countertop jobs does the average shop do per year?
With approximately 1.15 million residential quartz kitchen jobs spread across 8,000-10,000 U.S. fabrication shops, the average shop handles about 115-145 quartz kitchen countertop installations per year, plus bathroom and commercial work.
Is quartzite replacing quartz?
Quartzite is growing faster than quartz (nearly doubling market share since 2022 vs. quartz growing by 4 percentage points), but it's primarily eating into the premium end of the quartz market. Entry-level and mid-range quartz remains strong. Quartzite represents about 9% of the total market compared to quartz's 36%.
How much can fabrication shops save with better nesting on quartz?
With quartz slab costs averaging $25-$72 per square foot wholesale, AI-powered slab nesting that improves yield by 10-15% can save shops $400-$1,200 per slab. For a shop processing 20-40 quartz slabs per month, that's $8,000-$48,000 in annual material savings.
What's the projected CAGR for the quartz countertop market?
The quartz countertop market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2-5.1% through 2030, reaching approximately $17.8 billion globally and $9.1 billion in the U.S.
Maximize Your Quartz Profitability
As quartz margins face pressure from rising compliance costs and import competition, fabrication efficiency matters more than ever. SlabWise's AI-powered slab nesting helps you get 10-15% more yield from every quartz slab, while Quick Quote lets you respond to homeowner inquiries in 3 minutes instead of 20. Try SlabWise free for 14 days.
Sources
- Grand View Research, "Quartz Countertops Market Size & Trends Report," 2025
- Freedonia Group, "U.S. Countertops Market," 2025 Edition
- Natural Stone Institute, "Engineered Stone Market Analysis," 2025
- U.S. International Trade Commission, "Quartz Surface Product Imports Data," 2025
- OSHA, "Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica," Enforcement Updates 2025
- Kitchen & Bath Business, "Annual Material Trends Report," January 2026
- Mordor Intelligence, "Engineered Quartz Stone Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts," 2025-2030