Consumer Reports Shares 2025's Best Kitchen Countertop So Far—and It's Not Granite

Searching for the perfect kitchen countertop can be an overwhelming experience — and it's a decision you shouldn't take lightly. There are so many options to choose from, all of which have their own unique qualities and advantages, from popular natural stones to butcher block and lesser-known countertop materials like ceramic tile and concrete. To narrow down your choices, though, you can count on Consumer Reports to give you an unbiased report on each material. They've done their part in collecting data on countertop materials to discern which are the top-performing. While granite is often regarded as a timeless favorite, you'd be surprised to learn that quartz is actually noted to be the best kitchen countertop material of 2025, per Consumer Reports.

In Consumer Reports' ranking of countertop material, quartz, also known as an engineered stone, underwent expert lab tests are based on how well the material resists stains, cutting, abrasions, as well as tolerating heat and other impacts. To discern the overall score, their tests rate each section out of 5. The report also includes a detailed explanation of each factor, so you can be sure to choose the perfect countertop for your kitchen. And based on their review, you'll learn why quartz sticks out as having an exceptional rating.

Generally, there are plenty of reasons why quartz is a top choice for kitchen countertops. For one, they come in a wide range of colors and styles, so it's easy to choose a countertop color that gives your kitchen the right vibe. Marble is also known to be one of the most durable kitchen countertops. A dive into Consumer Reports' rating corroborates this by looking at how well the material responds to certain wear of the product. For example, when it comes to stain resistance, Consumer Reports gives quartz a score of 4/5, explaining that it shows stain resistance to 20 common foods and other household items. Cutting, which shows how well the material resists damage from certain tools, such as a weighted chef's and serrated knives from slicing and chopping, received a rating of 5/5. Abrasion, which is defined by resistance to surface wear, scored a 5/5 as well. In terms of heat, the organization tested to see how quartz held up to damage and discoloration from an oil-filled pot at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and it got a score of 5/5. 

It's important to note, however, that quartz is not an indestructible material — after all, it's derived from rock. That said, the overall score for the Impact durability of quartz, or how well it handles heavy materials dropped on top of it, was 2/5. In general, lower-quality quartz may be more likely to break than high-end options. Because of this, it's not recommended to sit or stand on the countertop and to use caution with heavy objects, such as cast iron cookware.