Honed vs Polished Granite: From a 30-Year Fabricator
Honed vs Polished Granite: Which Finish Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Granite Guy Inc. · 10 minute read · Last Updated: December 2025
Trying to decide between honed and polished granite?
Here's the short answer: polished granite is glossy, stain-resistant, and shows fingerprints more easily. Honed granite is matte, hides scratches beautifully, but requires more frequent sealing.
Since 1995, we've installed over 10,000 countertops across Greater Boston and MetroWest. We've seen this decision play out in thousands of Massachusetts kitchens—and the same principles apply to quartzite, marble, and even engineered quartz countertops.
Let's break it down so you can pick the right finish for your New England home.
⚡ Quick Comparison
Honed Granite
- Matte, velvety appearance
- Hides fingerprints and scratches beautifully (except very dark colors—we'll cover this below)
- More porous — requires more frequent sealing
- Colors appear 20-30% lighter
- Best for: busy kitchens, farmhouse style, families with kids
Polished Granite
- Glossy, reflective surface
- Shows fingerprints and water spots more easily
- Better stain resistance — less frequent sealing needed
- Deep, saturated colors
- Best for: formal kitchens, dramatic stones, darker spaces
Cost? Same. The finish doesn't change the price.
Note: These same characteristics apply to quartzite, marble, and engineered quartz finishes as well.
🪨 What Is Honed Granite?
Honed granite is natural stone that's been ground smooth but stopped before the final polishing stage.
The result? A soft, matte finish instead of a glossy shine.
We create honed granite by running the stone through progressively finer abrasives—but stopping around 400 to 600 grit. This smooths the surface without creating that mirror-like reflection.
The finish feels velvety to the touch. It absorbs light rather than bouncing it back. That's what gives honed granite that calm, organic quality Massachusetts homeowners love in farmhouse kitchens and spa-like bathrooms.
This same honing process applies to quartzite, marble, and engineered quartz we work with at our Southborough showroom.
✨ What Is Polished Granite?
Polished granite is the classic shiny finish most people picture when they think of granite countertops.
We take the stone through all the finer grits—often up to 3000—until it looks almost like glass.
The result is deep, rich, and dramatic. Colors become bolder. Patterns get stronger. Mineral crystals actually sparkle.
Light bounces around your kitchen, which can help brighten darker New England spaces—especially helpful during those long Massachusetts winters.
Dark granites like Absolute Black or Blue Pearl become particularly stunning with polish—showing incredible depth and shimmer you just don't get with other finishes. The same applies to dark quartzite and marble varieties.
🔍 The Real Differences That Matter
Appearance
Polished brings the drama. Bold colors. Sharp reflections. Your countertops become the star of the show.
Honed creates calm. Soft, natural, understated. The stone complements your space rather than dominating it.
Colors appear about 20-30% lighter with a honed finish compared to polished. This is true for granite, quartzite, marble, and engineered quartz alike.
Fingerprints & Smudges
This is where the finishes really differ in daily life.
Polished granite shows fingerprints and water spots more easily. If you keep your counters relatively clear and don't mind a quick wipe-down after cooking, no problem.
Honed granite hides everyday wear beautifully. Fingerprints and water spots just disappear into the matte surface. For busy MetroWest families with kids, this can be a game-changer.
Scratch Visibility
Both finishes resist scratches equally well—granite is incredibly hard.
The difference is visibility.
On polished granite, even a tiny scratch can catch overhead light and become noticeable.
On honed granite, that same scratch virtually disappears into the matte surface.
This same principle applies to quartzite, which is even harder than granite.
Stain Resistance
Polished wins here. The polishing process closes the stone's pores more completely, making it naturally more resistant to staining.
Honed is more porous. Spills—especially oils, wine, or acidic liquids—need to be wiped up faster.
With proper sealing, both finishes perform well. But polished gives you more margin for error. This applies to all natural stone countertops. Engineered quartz is non-porous and doesn't require sealing.
Sealing Frequency
- Honed: Requires more frequent sealing
- Polished: Less frequent sealing needed
The process takes about 15 minutes and uses inexpensive products from any hardware store. Not a big deal—just something to factor in. Every stone is different, so sealing frequency varies.
💰 Does Honed Granite Cost More Than Polished?
No.
Honed and polished granite cost the same when you order slabs with the finish already applied. The granite slab price is identical—just the finishing process differs at the supplier level.
The only exception: converting finishes after fabrication. Changing polished to honed (or vice versa) in our shop adds labor costs that vary depending on the stone type. Some granites are harder and more difficult to refinish than others.
That's why we always recommend choosing your finish before fabrication begins.
⚠️ What Are the Disadvantages of Honed Granite?
Let's be honest about the tradeoffs:
- Requires more frequent sealing — More often than polished granite
- More porous surface — Spills need faster cleanup, especially oils and wine
- Shows fingerprints on very dark colors — Absolute Black honed, in particular
- Colors appear lighter — The matte finish mutes colors by about 20-30%
- Can develop patina over time — Though many homeowners actually love this
For many busy Massachusetts households, these tradeoffs are worth it because honed hides scratches and everyday wear so much better than polished.
🖤 A Reality Check on Absolute Black Honed Granite
I need to be direct with you here.
Absolute Black honed granite is gorgeous. Clean. Modern. Elegant.
But like a black car or black clothes, it shows everything—fingerprints, smudges, oil from your hands.
I always warn clients about this upfront. Even after hearing the warning, some come back surprised a couple weeks later.
I'm not trying to discourage you—it's not a bad choice. It just needs the right expectations.
If you love the look and don't mind wiping it a little more often, it can still be absolutely stunning. We've installed many Absolute Black honed countertops across Greater Boston that our clients love.
🧹 Is Honed Granite Hard to Take Care Of?
Not really. It requires a bit more attention than polished, but it's not difficult.
Sealing frequency: Plan to seal more frequently than polished granite. Takes about 15 minutes.
Spill response: Wipe up spills promptly—especially oils, wine, coffee, or acidic liquids like lemon juice.
Daily cleaning: Warm water and mild dish soap with a soft cloth. Same as polished. → See our complete guide to cleaning granite countertops
The upside: You won't spend time chasing fingerprints and water spots.
For most homeowners, the maintenance difference is minimal once you establish a routine. The same care principles apply to honed quartzite and marble.
🛡️ Does Honed Granite Need to Be Sealed?
Yes.
All granite should be sealed, but honed granite needs it more frequently because its pores are more open.
Honed granite requires more frequent sealing compared to polished granite. Every stone is different, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer.
How to test if you need to seal: Drop a few drops of water on the surface. If it beads up, you're good. If it soaks in and darkens the stone, time to reseal.
The sealing process: Apply sealer, wait for it to start drying, then wipe off the excess before it dries completely. If you let it dry completely, it can form a haze that's tough to remove.
Sealer isn't a protective coating on top of the stone. Its job is to penetrate into the granite and clog the pores so the stone doesn't absorb spills. Whatever's left on the surface is worthless—you need to wipe it off. The only thing that matters is the sealer that has penetrated the stone and clogged the pores.
Any quality granite sealer from your local hardware store works fine. This same sealing process applies to quartzite and marble countertops. Engineered quartz does not require sealing.
👜 What About Leathered Granite?
There's a third finish worth knowing about: leathered granite.
Leathered combines elements of both finishes. It has a matte look like honed, but with texture—little peaks and valleys that give the stone real character.
Why people love it:
- Hides fingerprints even better than honed
- Adds warmth and depth to the stone
- Feels amazing to the touch
- Unique look that stands out
Many Massachusetts homeowners choose leathered for a distinctive New England farmhouse look.
→ Read our complete guide to leathered granite
🎯 How to Choose: Honed vs Polished Granite
Choose Honed If You Want:
- A casual, organic, soft aesthetic
- Farmhouse or modern matte kitchen vibes
- A busy home where you don't want to chase fingerprints
- Stone that develops character over time
- Surfaces that hide scratches beautifully
Choose Polished If You Want:
- The stone's color and pattern to really pop
- That classic, elegant granite look
- Easiest everyday maintenance—just wipe and go
- Darker kitchens that benefit from reflective surfaces
- Better natural stain resistance
Still Can't Decide? Consider These:
Your lighting: Dark kitchens benefit from polished granite's reflective quality. Well-lit spaces can easily handle honed.
Your granite choice: Lighter granites with subtle patterns often look beautiful honed. Dramatic stones with lots of movement really shine with polish.
Your cleaning habits: Be honest. If you're meticulous about wiping spills, honed works fine. If you want more forgiveness, polished is better.
Your design style: Polished reads formal and traditional. Honed reads casual and contemporary—popular in many New England farmhouse kitchens.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a honed finish?
A honed finish is a matte surface treatment that stops the polishing process before buffing, creating a smooth but non-reflective surface that's soft to the touch.
What does honed granite mean?
Honed granite is natural stone with a matte, velvety finish instead of the glossy shine of polished granite.
Is honed granite more expensive than polished?
No. Honed and polished granite cost the same when ordered with the finish already applied.
Does honed granite need to be sealed?
Yes. All granite needs sealing, but honed granite requires more frequent sealing because it's more porous than polished.
How often should you seal honed granite?
It depends on the specific granite type, but generally more frequently than polished granite. Every stone is different.
Does honed granite stain easily?
Honed granite is more prone to staining than polished because it's more porous. With proper sealing and prompt spill cleanup, staining shouldn't be an issue. Every stone is different—there's no definite answer since granite types vary widely.
Which finish shows scratches less?
Honed granite hides scratches much better because they blend into the matte surface rather than catching light like on polished surfaces.
Can you mix honed and polished granite in the same kitchen?
Yes, though uncommon. Some designers use different finishes for perimeter versus island countertops to define different zones.
📞 Ready to Choose Your Perfect Granite Finish?
We've been doing this for 30 years and over 10,000 installations across Massachusetts. We're here to help.
Come see honed and polished granite samples side by side in our Southborough showroom. Sometimes the decision becomes obvious once you see the stone in person under your lighting conditions.
We also carry quartzite, marble, and engineered quartz—all available in polished and honed finishes.
📞 Call us: (508) 356-4703
📍 Visit us: 43 Turnpike Rd, Southborough, MA
→ Explore our granite countertops
Granite Guy Inc. · Serving Greater Boston & MetroWest since 1995
