How to estimate countertop square footage
Countertops are priced by the square foot, and each run is just a rectangle — its length times its depth:
Square feet = length (ft) × depth (ft), where depth (ft) = depth in inches ÷ 12.
The standard depth is about 25 inches — a 24-inch base cabinet plus roughly a 1-inch overhang (a touch more, ~25.5 in, with a 1.5-inch overhang). So a 10-foot run is 10 × (25 ÷ 12) ≈ 20.8 sq ft. Measure each straight run separately, enter an island as its own run, and add them up — then add an overage for cuts and seams.
Countertop cost by material
Material is the biggest cost driver. These are typical installed ranges (materials + fabrication + labor); enter your own price per sq ft above for a local number.
| Material | Typical installed cost / sq ft |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $15–$40 |
| Tile | $25–$50 |
| Butcher block / wood | $30–$60 |
| Solid surface (e.g. Corian) | $40–$90 |
| Granite | $40–$100 |
| Quartz (engineered) | $50–$120 |
| Concrete | $65–$135 |
| Marble | $60–$150 |
Linear feet vs. square feet
Fabricators often talk in linear feet (the running length of counter) while pricing in square feet. At the standard 25-inch depth, one linear foot is about 2.08 sq ft. This calculator shows both, plus the cost per linear foot, so you can compare quotes either way.
Tips for an accurate countertop estimate
- Measure the depth, including overhang. Most counters finish at about 25 in; a deeper overhang or a custom cabinet changes it.
- Add ~10% overage. Seams, cuts, and breakage add up — use more for natural stone where you want the veining matched, or for kitchens with many corners.
- Don't subtract cutouts. Sink and cooktop openings are cut from the full slab, so you still pay for that area.
- Plan the backsplash separately. A backsplash is its own area — height × the run length along the wall.
- Get a template for stone. Slab sizes and seam placement affect the real total; a fabricator's template and quote is the accurate final step.