Written by Granite Guy Inc., Southborough, MassachusettsUpdated: January 23, 2026
Honed vs Polished Quartzite:
Unlike marble, quartzite works great with either finish. This is one of the few stones where the choice really does come down to aesthetics rather than performance concerns.
After 30 years of fabricating and installing quartzite countertops across Greater Boston and MetroWest, I can tell you that both honed and polished quartzite hold up exceptionally well in busy kitchens. The main difference is the look you want and a slight edge in stain resistance for polished.
Let's walk through everything you need to know so you can make the right choice for your home.
Jump to a section:
- What is Honed Quartzite?
- What is Polished Quartzite?
- Quick Comparison
- Why Quartzite is Different From Marble
- Honed vs Polished in the Kitchen
- Honed vs Polished in the Bathroom
- The Dark Quartzite Warning
- Cost Differences
- Pricing
- Maintenance
- Design Considerations
- Can You Change Finishes?
- FAQs
🔍 What is Honed Quartzite?
Honed quartzite is natural quartzite that's been ground smooth but stopped before the final polishing stage. This creates a soft matte finish instead of a glossy shine. The surface feels velvety to the touch and absorbs light rather than reflecting it.
When you order from us, slabs come pre-finished from our suppliers. Since we work with multiple suppliers, we can usually find the finish you want. If we need to convert a polished slab to honed in our shop, that's doable for small sections, but it adds labor cost and isn't our standard process.
The finish gives you an elegant, understated look. You still see the quartzite's dramatic veining and movement, but it's softer and more subtle.
Honed quartzite has become popular in modern farmhouse kitchens and transitional designs where homeowners want natural stone without the high-gloss shine.
✨ What is Polished Quartzite?
Polished quartzite is the classic high-gloss finish that makes this stone famous for its marble-like beauty. It's fully polished through all the finer grits until it looks almost like glass.
The result is deep, rich, and dramatic. Colors become more vibrant, veining gets bolder, and the surface reflects light beautifully. This is where quartzite really shows off.
Polished quartzite on a kitchen island can genuinely stop people in their tracks. Popular varieties like Taj Mahal quartzite show off their warm, subtle veining beautifully in a polished finish. The depth and luminosity rival the most expensive Italian marbles, but with far better durability.
The polishing process also closes the stone's pores more completely. This makes polished quartzite slightly more resistant to staining than honed, which is a real practical advantage.
⚖️ Quick Comparison: Honed vs Polished Quartzite
✦ Honed Quartzite: The Subtle Choice
Honed quartzite is soft, velvety, and matte. It absorbs light and creates a calm, sophisticated appearance—perfect for spaces where you want the stone to complement the design rather than dominate it.
✦ Polished Quartzite: The Statement Choice
Polished quartzite is glossy, reflective, and dramatic. Colors and veining pop, and it's slightly more stain-resistant because the polishing process closes the pores more completely. It's the finish that makes people ask, "Is that Calacatta marble?"
💡 Pro Tip: If you're torn between finishes, ask to see the same quartzite slab in both honed and polished. The difference is dramatic, and seeing them side by side makes the decision much easier.
💎 Why Quartzite is Different From Marble
Here's the key thing: quartzite doesn't etch like marble does. Marble reacts with acids—lemon juice, wine, tomato sauce will all damage it. Quartzite is metamorphosed sandstone made of quartz, rating around seven on the Mohs scale. Acids don't touch it.
That means you can choose your quartzite finish based purely on what you like, not what hides damage. That's the real advantage of choosing quartzite over marble.
🍳 Honed vs Polished Quartzite in the Kitchen
Because quartzite doesn't etch, pick the finish you actually want for your kitchen quartzite countertops. Polished gives you showstopping drama and slightly more stain resistance. Honed gives you understated elegance.
Quartzite also handles heat well, so you don't have to panic about hot pans.
Go polished if you want maximum protection and love the glossy look. Go honed if you prefer matte and don't mind occasional wipe-ups. Either works great in a kitchen.
🛁 Honed vs Polished Quartzite in the Bathroom
Bathroom quartzite countertops give you even more flexibility because you're dealing with fewer staining risks than kitchens.
✦ Vanity Tops
Either finish works beautifully. Polished quartzite creates that luxurious spa feeling with dramatic veining and reflection. Honed quartzite gives you a softer, more organic vibe.
Your daily bathroom products won't damage quartzite the way they can damage marble. Choose based purely on the look you want.
✦ Shower Walls and Floors
For shower floors, honed quartzite is the better choice. Polished surfaces get slippery when wet, which creates a safety concern. The matte finish provides better traction.
For shower walls, either finish works. Polished quartzite creates a stunning, reflective surface that can make a shower feel more spacious and luxurious.
🌑 The Dark Quartzite Warning: Fingerprints and Smudges
I give this same warning for any dark honed stone: dark honed quartzite shows fingerprints and smudges. This applies to stones like Nero Quartzite or darker varieties.
The matte surface reveals every touch, every water spot, every bit of oil from your hands. It's not a flaw in the stone. It's just physics.
If you're considering a dark quartzite and want honed, be prepared to wipe it down more frequently. Some clients love their dark honed surfaces and don't mind the maintenance. Others find it frustrating after a few weeks.
For dark quartzites, polished is often the more practical choice. The glossy surface doesn't show fingerprints as readily.
If you want that matte, non-shiny appearance without the fingerprint issue, consider a leathered finish. The texture hides smudges while giving you that understated look.
⚠️ Warning: Dark honed surfaces require noticeably more maintenance than light colors or polished finishes. If you hate wiping down counters, think twice before choosing dark honed quartzite.
💵 Does Honed Quartzite Cost More Than Polished?
No. Honed and polished quartzite cost the same when you order slabs with the finish already applied. The slab price is identical regardless of which finish you choose.
If you need to convert a finish after the slab is processed, we can turn polished into honed or leathered in our shop. This adds labor cost, typically ten to twenty dollars per square foot.
Right now, we can't reverse it—we can't convert honed or leathered back to polished. But we're working on getting the equipment to do that in the near future as these finishes become more popular.
This is why we always recommend choosing your finish before fabrication begins. See the stone in person, compare finishes, and decide before we cut.
💰 Why Quartzite Pricing Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
How much is it per square foot? That's the most asked question. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.
💎 Total installed quartzite pricing typically ranges from one hundred to one hundred fifty dollars per square foot. Quartzite is a premium countertop material.
That's a huge range. Here's why the cost difference is so big.
✦ Exceptions
Some rare and exotic quartzites fall outside this range. Rare blues like Azul Macaúbas and translucent stones like the Cristallo family.
✦ What Makes the Difference
Sourcing: We work with various suppliers to find the best value for your project. Stock quartzite from our yard offers the best pricing, while special orders from specific suppliers may cost more.
Remnants: For smaller projects, ask about our quartzite remnant inventory. These are quality offcuts from previous jobs, premium stone at discounted pricing.
Supply and Demand: For natural stone like quartzite, rarity drives price. Something nature made very little of costs more than something abundant.
Complexity: Waterfalls, integrated sinks, and custom edges require more fabrication time.
Waste: Every project is like a puzzle. How efficiently we can fit your pieces on the slab affects the final cost. Intricate shapes mean less efficient cuts. And if your quartzite has bold veining or patterns, we have to plan cuts carefully so everything lines up.
That's why visiting our showroom is the best way to decide. You'll see our quartzite materials in person in our indoor heated warehouse, compare finishes, and get expert guidance to make the right choice.
🧹 Maintenance: Honed vs Polished Quartzite
✦ Sealing Frequency
Every natural stone has pores and needs sealing—that's just how stone works. But how often depends on the specific material.
Polishing closes some of the pores, so polished quartzite needs sealing less frequently than honed. Honed has more open pores, so it needs attention more often.
But here's the thing: some quartzites are so dense they barely need sealing at all. Cristallo family stones are a perfect example.
There's no one-size-fits-all timeframe. Every stone is different. The real guide is the water bead test: if water no longer beads up on the surface and instead soaks in, it's time to reseal. That tells you when YOUR specific stone needs it.
✦ Daily Cleaning
For both finishes, use warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap with a soft cloth. Unlike marble, you don't have to panic about acidic cleaners, but pH-neutral products are still the safest choice for any natural stone.
✦ The Practical Difference
Polished quartzite is more forgiving day-to-day. Spills sit on the surface longer before absorbing, giving you more time to wipe them up.
Honed quartzite requires slightly more attention, especially with oils and dark liquids like red wine or coffee.
Neither finish is high-maintenance compared to marble. Quartzite is genuinely one of the most durable natural stones you can choose.
🎨 Design Considerations: Which Finish Fits Your Style?
✦ Honed Quartzite Works Best For:
- Modern farmhouse kitchens
- Transitional designs blending traditional and contemporary
- Scandinavian or minimalist spaces
- Homeowners who want a marble look without marble maintenance
- Spaces where you want stone to complement rather than dominate
- Spa-like bathrooms with an organic feel
✦ Polished Quartzite Works Best For:
- Traditional luxury kitchens
- Contemporary spaces that want drama and impact
- Kitchen islands meant to be the focal point
- Homeowners who love the glossy Calacatta marble look
- Spaces with good natural light where reflections enhance the room
- Formal areas where you want maximum visual impact
🔄 Can You Change From Polished to Honed After Installation?
Yes, but it's a significant undertaking. Changing polished quartzite to honed requires grinding down the entire surface with diamond abrasives.
Quartzite is extremely hard, which makes this process more labor-intensive than with softer stones like marble. Expect to pay ten to twenty dollars per square foot for the conversion, and the process creates substantial dust.
If you're considering this, contact us for an assessment. In most cases, it's more economical to choose the right finish from the start.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is honed or polished quartzite better for kitchen countertops?A. Both work excellently. Polished is slightly more stain-resistant. Honed is purely an aesthetic choice for those who prefer matte finishes.
Q. Does quartzite etch like marble?A. No. Quartzite is made of quartz, not calcium carbonate. Acids won't etch it the way they damage marble.
Q. Does honed quartzite stain more easily than polished?A. Slightly. Honed surfaces are more porous, so spills absorb faster. Polished gives you more time to wipe up spills.
Q. How often should I seal quartzite?A. Honed every six to twelve months. Polished every twelve to eighteen months. Use the water bead test to know when it's time.
Q. Which finish is more slippery when wet?A. Polished quartzite is more slippery. For shower floors, honed is the safer choice.
Q. Can I mix honed and polished quartzite in the same kitchen?A. Yes. A popular approach is honed countertops with a polished backsplash, or vice versa. Just make sure the contrast is intentional.
Q. Does honed quartzite show fingerprints?A. On dark colors, yes. Dark honed surfaces show fingerprints and smudges more than light colors or polished finishes.
Q. Is quartzite worth the price compared to quartz?A. Quartzite is typically in the mid-to-high range. Some engineered quartz countertops cost less, but premium quartz brands can actually cost the same or more depending on style and brand. It comes down to what you want: natural stone with depth and variation, or engineered consistency. Both are durable—it's a personal preference.
Q. What's the most popular quartzite finish right now?A. In Greater Boston and MetroWest, polished still leads, especially for statement pieces like waterfall islands. But honed has grown significantly as farmhouse and transitional designs have become popular.
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🏠 Visit Our Southborough Showroom
Ready to see honed and polished quartzite side by side? Nothing beats standing in front of the actual slabs, comparing colors, patterns, and finishes in person. That's how you make the right decision.
Stop by our countertop store at 43 Turnpike Road (Route 9), Southborough, MA 01772 during business hours. We keep a large inventory in our heated warehouse, so there's always plenty to see.
We'll show you samples of the same quartzite in both finishes so you can see exactly how the look changes. Bring your cabinet samples or design plans and we'll help you decide which finish works best for your project.
Already done your homework and know what you want? Email us or give us a call.
📞 508-460-7900📧 info@graniteguyinc.com
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