Marble vs. Granite Countertops: What Actually Differs
How marble and granite countertops actually differ in durability, maintenance, and look, so you can compare them by more than price per square foot.
Marble and granite are both natural stone, priced similarly per square foot in most markets, but they behave differently enough in daily use that the choice usually comes down to more than looks.
The real differences
| Marble | Granite | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Softer — scratches and etches more easily | Harder — more resistant to scratches |
| Acid sensitivity | Etches from lemon juice, vinegar, wine | Much more resistant to acidic foods |
| Sealing | Needs resealing more often | Holds a seal longer |
| Look | Classic veining, softer color range | Speckled or granular pattern, wider color range |
Where each one tends to make sense
Granite's hardness and acid resistance make it a common pick for heavy-use kitchen countertops that see a lot of cutting and spills. Marble shows up more often on bathroom vanities, backsplashes, and lower-traffic surfaces where its veining and cooler surface (useful for pastry work) outweigh the extra care it needs.
Both weigh roughly the same for a given thickness, so the Marble Calculator weight estimate applies to granite too if you swap in its density (granite runs slightly higher, around 175 lb per cubic foot).