Written by the Al Jory Marble team — countertop fabricators and installers in Crestwood, Illinois. Updated September 23, 2026.
Quick answer: Quartz in Chicagoland runs roughly $55 to $100 per square foot installed, with premium lines at $100 to $150. The cheapest real quartz comes from entry-tier lines in simple patterns, and for a typical kitchen that lands around $2,500 to $4,500 installed. Going cheaper than that usually means one of four things: thinner material, prefabricated pieces instead of slabs, a stripped-down quote, or an installer who won't be there in two years. Here's exactly what changes at each price tier, and which trade-offs are worth making.
Cheapest Quartz Countertops in Chicago: What Each Price Tier Buys, What Gets Cut, and Where It's Safe to Save
Working to a number? Tell us the budget at the showroom and we'll walk you through the slabs in it first.
📞 Call (708) 362-7674 · 📝 Tell us your budget — we'll show you that shelf first
What Quartz Actually Costs
| Tier | Installed per sq ft | Typical kitchen (40–50 sq ft) | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Solid colors and fine speckled patterns; limited color range | ||
| Mid | Light veining, more whites and grays, the volume of the market | ||
| Premium | Realistic marble-look veining, larger pattern scale | ||
| Designer | Dramatic book-matched veining, statement islands |
Full pricing detail is in our quartz countertop cost guide and the full countertop cost guide.
What Actually Changes Between Tiers
| What changes | Entry | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Solid or fine speckle — reads as "engineered" up close | Veining that runs through the material and looks like stone from a foot away |
| Color range | A handful of whites, grays and blacks | Dozens of whites alone, with different undertones |
| Pattern scale | Small, uniform — safe on any size counter | Large-scale movement designed for islands |
| Vein depth | Printed on the surface layer | Runs through the slab, so a mitred edge still shows veining |
| Durability | Essentially the same — entry quartz is as hard and as nonporous as premium | Same |
| Warranty | Varies by line — ask | Usually longer |
The most important line in that table is durability. You are not buying toughness when you move up in quartz — you're buying the look. Entry-tier quartz in a busy family kitchen performs the same as a designer line. That's what makes budget quartz a genuinely good buy rather than a compromise.
The Four Ways a Quote Gets "Cheap"
1. Thinner material
Quartz comes in different thicknesses, and the thinner option costs less. It can be perfectly appropriate — with proper support — but it changes the look of the edge and how the counter reads. Ask what thickness is in the quote. If two quotes differ and only one states it, you're not comparing the same product.
2. Prefabricated pieces instead of slabs
Prefab countertops come pre-cut to standard lengths with the edge already finished. They're cheaper, and for a simple galley with standard runs they can work. What you give up: the edge profile is already chosen, lengths are fixed so seams land where the pieces end rather than where they'd look best, and an unusual layout means awkward joins. Custom slab work is cut to your kitchen — see slab selection and templating.
3. A stripped-down quote
| Commonly left out | What it means later |
|---|---|
| Tear-out and disposal of the old tops | A separate bill, or you do it yourself |
| Sink and cooktop cutouts | Added after you've committed |
| Upgraded edge profile | You get the basic edge, priced as standard |
| Plumbing disconnect and reconnect | Another trade to arrange and pay |
| The template visit | Measurements taken from your drawing, with the risk on you |
Our 14-point quote checklist lists every line to ask about.
4. Cheap labor
The slab is a commodity; the fabrication and install aren't. Seams that don't line up, a lip you can feel, an overhang with no support, cutouts that chip — none of that gets cheaper to fix later. This is the one place we'd tell you not to economize.
Got a quote that looks too good? Bring it in. We'll tell you what's missing from it, even if you don't buy from us.
📞 Call (708) 362-7674 · 📝 Tell us your budget — we'll show you that shelf first
Where It's Safe to Save
- Choose an entry or mid-tier color. Same durability, a fraction of the difference — this is the biggest saving available
- Keep the standard edge. An eased or straight edge looks clean; upgrade only the island if you want a statement — see edge profiles
- Use a 4-inch backsplash instead of full height, or full height only behind the range
- Skip the waterfall — it's the most expensive island feature per square foot
- Accept one well-placed seam rather than paying for a jumbo slab — see where seams go
- Keep your existing sink if it's in good shape
- Use a remnant for a vanity, bar or laundry top — see countertop remnants
- Keep your cabinets if they're solid — see replacing countertops without replacing cabinets
Where Saving Costs You Later
- Skipping the on-site template — a piece cut from a drawing rarely fits an out-of-square kitchen
- An unsupported overhang — stone needs brackets or a steel plate past a certain reach
- An installer with no address — punch-list items need someone to come back
- Undersized material with no support
- A deposit that's most of the job before anything is cut
Budget Quartz vs. Granite and Laminate
| Entry quartz | Entry granite | Laminate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $45–$60 per sq ft | Cheapest up front | |
| Sealing | Never | Periodically | None |
| Heat | Use trivets | Handles heat well | Burns |
| Water at seams | No swelling | No swelling | Swells and delaminates |
| Lifespan | Decades | Decades | Years |
| Resale impact | Strong | Strong | Minimal |
If the budget is genuinely tight, entry granite is often the lowest-cost stone you can install — see our granite countertop cost guide and quartz vs granite vs quartzite. We'd rather tell you that than sell you the wrong material.
A Realistic Budget Kitchen
| Choice | Why |
|---|---|
| Entry-tier quartz in a light, simple pattern | Biggest single saving, same durability |
| Standard eased edge | Looks intentional, costs nothing extra |
| 4-inch backsplash from the same slab | Saves 25–35 sq ft of material |
| One seam, well placed | Avoids jumping to another slab |
| Existing sink, undermount reused | Saves a fixture and the cutout change |
| Cabinets kept | The countertop does the visual work |
That kitchen, in a typical 40 to 50 square feet, lands at .
Why Our Price Can Be Lower Without Cutting Corners
We're not a middleman. Al Jory Marble templates, cuts, edges and polishes every slab in our own Crestwood shop, and installs with our own crew. There's no fabricator markup and no subcontracted install in the price — which is why we can quote entry-tier quartz competitively and still template on site and stand behind the fit.
"I shopped around as I wanting to replace my kitchen counter… this place gave me the cheapest quote by far for the exact same counter other places were charging me. However, after installation I was so impressed with the quality and how everything was on time or ahead of schedule…"
About Al Jory Marble
Al Jory Marble is a countertop fabricator and installer based in Crestwood, Illinois, founded by Motie Hamdan, with more than 35 years of hands-on stone experience, and Naser Hamdan, with 45+ years of combined founder expertise. Our crews each have 10 to 20 years in the trade, and every slab is templated, cut and finished in our own shop.
How We Price Your Kitchen
- Visit the Crestwood showroom at 4711 W 135th St — tell us your budget and we'll start with the slabs in it
- We measure at your home, free and with no obligation
- You get written pricing, line by line
Cheap Quartz Countertop FAQs
What's the cheapest quartz countertop?
Entry-tier lines in solid or finely speckled patterns. They're as durable as premium quartz — you're paying for the look, not the toughness.
How much is quartz for a small kitchen?
At entry pricing, a 25 to 30 square foot kitchen is the lowest-cost quartz job we do. Ask for a written estimate on your actual layout.
Is cheap quartz less durable?
No. Hardness and porosity are essentially the same across tiers. What changes is pattern, color range and vein realism.
Is prefab quartz worth it?
For a simple galley with standard runs it can be. You give up edge choice and seam placement, and unusual layouts don't fit well.
What thickness should I get?
Ask what's in every quote. Thinner material costs less and can be appropriate with proper support, but it changes the edge and how the counter reads.
Why is one quote thousands cheaper?
Usually thinner material, prefab instead of slab, missing lines like tear-out and cutouts, or cheaper labor.
Is granite cheaper than quartz?
Entry granite often is. If the budget is the priority, it's worth comparing honestly.
Can I save with a remnant?
For vanities, bars and laundry tops, yes. Kitchens usually need full slabs.
Does a simpler edge really save money?
Yes, on every exposed linear foot. Upgrade the island only if you want the detail.
Should I skip the full-height backsplash?
It's one of the easiest savings — it can be 25 to 35 square feet of material.
What should never be cut from the budget?
The on-site template, proper overhang support, and fabrication quality.
Do you price-match?
Bring us the quote. If it's the same material, thickness and scope, we'll show you exactly how ours compares.
Get a Price for Your Budget
Get a free written estimate · Call (708) 362-7674 · Showroom: 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood · Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Related: quartz countertops · quartz cost guide · how many slabs your kitchen needs · granite cost · kitchen countertops · kitchen countertops in Chicago
Serving Chicago & Surrounding Areas
Get Your Free Kitchen Countertop Estimate
Fill out the form and our team will get back to you in next 24 hours.