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The Ultimate Guide to White Kitchen Countertops

White kitchen countertops have become very popular in recent years. What is so fabulous about them is that they go with whatever design style you are going for and you can get them in just about any budget. Today I will go into all the pros and cons of different white countertops so you can decide which one is best for you.

An all-white kitchen is a classic design that never goes out of style. However, you don’t need white cabinets to have a white countertop. There are plenty of people who have dark wood cabinets and install white countertops.

I love my white counters because it gives the feeling of cleanliness. I can easily see if there is a spot that needs wiped up and let’s face it, that happens a lot in a household of 3/4 people!

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White Kitchen Countertops

I have 11 different examples of white kitchen countertops to share with you. I will also share photos of each so you can see what each type of white countertop you might like for your home.

Light brown floors with white cabinets and silver hardware with marble counters.
Source: At Lane and High

White Laminate Countertops

Laminate counters are by far the most cost-effective choice when it comes to kitchen countertops. They are made by gluing a sheet of veneer to plywood or particleboard.

Not only are laminate countertops inexpensive but they also come in just about any look you can think of! Want the look of marble but have only a budget for laminate, that’s okay. You can get a white laminate countertop that is exactly what you want.

The negative thing about laminate counters are they are not heat-resistant. If you put a hot pan on them they will scar and burn. My brother did this in his first home after college. He learned the hard way that trivets are necessary.

Laminate counters can also scratch so make sure you always use a cutting board when using sharp knives.

If you decide to go with laminate I recommend a certain design choice. The rounded or bull-nose edges from the 90s will date your countertops even if they are brand new. Instead, go with the square edge which you would see in other more high-end counters.

Laminate countertops are available at most big box stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot but you will also find some really great options at IKEA!

A kitchen that has a wall of windows, gold hardware and white marble looking laminate countertops.
Source: Home Depot

Believe it or not the countertops in the photo above are laminate! They look like real marble don’t they. And these are available from the Home Depot.

White Concrete Countertops

Concrete countertops really surged in popularity early on in the 21st century. They can be stained to look exactly the way you want them. Want the look of marble? Yep, they can even add some color to mimic the look of veining like marble counters.

Concrete is a porous material so it will need to be sealed often to prevent staining. The last thing you want to have on your new white countertops is a stain from spaghetti sauce or an oil ring.

Another reason this material surged in popularity is because of the DIY factor. A homeowner can DIY their own countertops and save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Many will say you can DIY concrete countertops in a weekend but I wouldn’t be so quick to believe them. This isn’t an easy project no matter what anyone says. You also need to allow time for drying, which depending on the time of year, and humidity levels, can take anywhere from 1-4 days.

Is this project doable? Absolutely! Just keep in mind that it is a big project and prepare to not be about to use your kitchen counters for about a week from start to finish.

Brown base cabinets with white concrete countertops and the rest of the kitchen is still under construction.
Source: Chris Loves Julia

This is a great tutorial from Chris Loves Julia on how to DIY white concrete countertops yourself. They make it look so easy!

White Granite

Granite is a gorgeous natural stone that has been popular and widely used for decades! It’s more high-end than laminate but doesn’t carry quite the price tag of marble and quartz.

Because granite is a natural stone you cannot design the look you want. Granite is a material that doesn’t come in all one color so if you want a solid white countertop you might want to choose something else.

Granite comes with flecks of different colors in it which makes each slab unique and special.

White cabinets with white granite countertops that have flecks of brown and gray in it.
Source: Designing Idea

You can see from this image that the countertops are white but have flecks of browns and grays. One thing I love about these countertops are that they really hide crums. I like to have a clean kitchen but sometimes it’s nice to not feel like you have to clean all the time!

White Marble Countertops

Marble is by far the most luxurious white kitchen countertop, and is also in the higher price range. Marble is extremely popular right now but there is a lot you should know about marble before you purchase it for your kitchen.

The biggest pro about marble is that it’s absolutely stunning, especially when used on a large surface like a kitchen countertop. It also stays cool to the touch which is great for bakers.

Marble is gorgeous but it’s also a natural stone and is very porous. You do need to keep your marble countertops sealed to help prevent stains from happening.

Even then there is no guarantee that spaghetti sauce or red wine won’t leave a permanent stain.

Etching is another thing that can happen with marble. Anything citrus like limes or lemons, even soda and milk, can leave an etch that you will see. What is great about marble thought is that those etch marks and some stains can be sanded out and re-sealed.

I have marble in my kitchen and had it refinished a couple of years ago. I also have a post on how to take care of your marble countertops and keep them looking beautiful!

A marble countertop with a vase and one white carnation.
Source: At Lane and High

This is my kitchen just after cleaning. The flower was from Mom’s weekend at my daughters sorority.

White Quartz

Quartz is also a very popular choice among white countertops because of its durability. you don’t need to seal it, it’s easy to clean, and also is scratch-resistant! And unlike its friend marble, quartz will not stain.

Quartz is a man-made material made up of the mineral quartz and other materials which are added to make the surface stronger. Because it’s man-made you will find tons of different styles from solid white to quartz that mimics marble and other natural stone.

Quartz does come with a heftier price tag than other options. It falls somewhere between granite and marble. Even though it is expensive the durability of this product and ease of care make it a very popular choice for homeowners.

An island with a dark wood base and white countertops and the perimeter cabinets are white, marble subway tile backsplash and a pretty blue stove.
Source: HGTV

As you can see quartz can be made to look just like marble. Most of the time you have these deeper thick veins rather than the smaller more abundant veins you will see in marble. But it is no less stunning!

White Quartzite

Quartzite might sound a lot like quartz but it’s quite different. Quartz is a man-made material, Quartzite is a solid surface natural material that is mined from quarries and comes in a slab like granite or marble.

It’s strong like granite and has a look like marble but it’s definitely more expensive than quartz.

Quartzite requires regular sealing to keep foods from staining the surface. It also can etch from acidic foods like marble.

Why choose quartzite over marble then? It’s a bit cheaper than marble making it more affordable for the average homeowner.

White cabinets with a white counter and two vases with pink and white flowers on top.
Source: Legacy Countertops

It’s amazing how much these countertops look like marble. What an affordable way to get the look you want for a cheaper price.

White Kitchen Countertops made of a Solid Surface

Solid surface countertops were very popular in the late 90s early 2000s and for good reason. They were very easy on the wallet but gave a higher-end look than laminate.

Corian is a very popular brand name of solid surface countertops that might sound familiar to you. However, there are many brands and you should definitely do your homework on them if you are thinking of buying this type of countertop.

These types of countertops are made from acrylic and can be made to look like just about anything. Love that marble but it’s out of your price range? Try a solid surface countertop instead!

There are a couple of drawbacks to these solid surface countertops. They will scratch and they are not heat resistant. This can trip some people up because they might look like granite but they will scar if you put a hot pan on them without a trivet underneath.

Light wood floors with white cabinets and white counters with lots of tall windows.
Source: Remodelista

Here you can see the countertops and cabinets all meld together. The one thing I love about solid surface counters are they can be made to look like anything! You can get them to look like stone or in almost any color imaginable!

White Kitchen Countertops made from Recycled Glass

If you are eco-conscious then you might want to take a look at countertops made from recycled glass. You won’t find a countertop that is a solid white but you will find counters that are white with almost any other color you can dream of incorporated into it.

Recycled glass countertops, despite their name, are very durable. They can scratch but they do not need sealing. They are very easy to maintain.

The corner of recycled glass countertops on light gray cabinets.
Source: Backsplash

I just love the look of receyled glass countertops. They add a little color and a lot of texture to your kitchen. And who doesn’t want to help the environment?!

White Porcelain Kitchen Countertops

Porcelain kitchen countertops are rising in popularity here in the US. They are already very popular in Europe and are trickling into more kitchens elsewhere.

Porcelain is more cost-effective than marble or quartz but they still have that high-end look to them.

Porcelain is made up of many materials but is mostly kaolinite, also known as “china clay”. These materials are mixed together under extreme heat to create what we know as porcelain.

Because of the manufacturing process, porcelain countertops are heat resistant as well as stain-resistant. Yay! They are also very strong and not likely to scratch.

Another pro to porcelain countertops is that because it’s a man-made product you can get it in almost any color imaginable!

Dark cabinets with an island that has porcelain countertops that have a waterfall edge all the way around that look like marble.
Source: Sapienstone

I love how much this stone looks like marble! It comes in large slabs and as you can see in this photo you can do a waterfall edge for a dramatic look!

Sintered Stone Countertops

You probably haven’t heard of this type of countertop, it’s only just rising in popularity. There are two manufacturers of sintered stone that might ring a bell, Dekton and Neolith.

Sintered stone is very similar to porcelain countertops but the main difference is in the manufacturing process. Sintered stone uses a few raw ingredients in its creation that porcelain doesn’t, including those in making glass and quartz slabs.

Because sintered stone uses these ingredients it makes it a more stronger and durable product than porcelain.

Modern gray cabinets with a horizontal wood grain and white sintered stone countertops.
Source: Cartridge Glue

White Resin Countertops

Resin countertops have really gained popularity because they are easy to DIY. Now, I have seen my fair share of DIY fails when it comes to trying this at home so you might want to consider hiring someone to do it for you. But if you have used resin before then go for it!

What is great about resin counters is you can pick and choose exactly what you want your counter to look like. It’s your choice what colors go into it. I also love how shiny they are, which really looks good in a clean kitchen.

These types of counters are not porous and won’t stain! They are also very durable and strong.

Gray cabinets with white resin countertops that look like marble and fruit in a wood dough bowl.
Source: Family Handyman

The Family Handyman has a great tutorial on how you can create countertops like this with resin!

Other kitchen posts you might like:

A grid of four kitchens with white countertops and text overlay.

As a licensed Real Estate Agent and an avid home decorator, I strive to give my clients the very best I can when it comes to staging, selling, and decorating their homes. I have lots of experience with paint color choices and love to DIY my home so I can have everything just the way I want it. I share my ideas and projects with the world in the hopes that I can help others have their homes just the way they want as well.

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