Kitchen Countertops

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Demand for kitchen countertops in the US is forecast to rise 5.0% per year to 662 million square feet in 2026, valued at $37.3 billion. Gains will be supported by:

• consumer willingness to trade up to more expensive materials such as granite and engineered stone to improve home values
• trends favoring larger kitchens with more counter space, including kitchen islands and bar seating areas
• rising commercial building construction
• popularity of extended backsplashes in kitchen designs, particularly of materials that match the countertops themselves

New housing construction and home remodeling began to normalize in 2022 following exceedingly high levels in 2021. This trend will continue through the forecast period, limiting even greater demand gains.

Engineered Stone Surpasses Laminate as the Most Popular Kitchen Countertop Material

In 2021, engineered stone surpassed laminate to become the most used kitchen countertop material in the US, marking the first time in decades that laminate was not the most popular countertop material. Through 2026, engineered stone will significantly expand its leading market share to account for 44% of kitchen countertop demand in area terms:

• The rapid increase in low-cost slabs from foreign markets – particularly India, Turkey, and Vietnam – has made engineered stone countertops more affordable for middle-class homeowners.
• Consumers will continue to strongly prefer the aesthetics and quality of engineered stone over laminates, especially as engineered stone’s color availability expands.

Laminates will continue to fall out of favor, with more expensive types like natural stone seeing use instead.

Demand for Porcelain Slab Kitchen Countertops Grows Robustly

Rapidly rising in popularity as an alternative to engineered stone and granite, porcelain slab is expected to be the fastest growing kitchen countertop material. Porcelain slab appeals to consumers who want to differentiate their homes but still install countertops with a natural appearance and favorable performance properties, such as:

• stain resistance in both indoor and outdoor settings, as well as heat and frost resistance, which makes porcelain a top choice for outdoor kitchens
• greater strength and durability when compared to granite
• absence of discoloration or color change issues
• wide variety of finishes, patterns, and colors available from manufacturers
• easy-to-clean, hygienic surface

Historical Market Trends

Kitchen countertop demand is driven by a number of factors, including:

• new housing construction
• single-family residential remodels, which often include the replacement of kitchen countertops or the addition of more kitchen countertop space
• commercial building construction
• shifts in consumer tastes, such as a change in preference toward countertops with a more natural stone aesthetic and away from laminates, resulting in increased demand in the residential remodeling market
• recreational vehicle and boat, civilian aircraft, railroad equipment, and heavy vehicle production

During the 2011-2021 period, kitchen countertop demand grew at a 5.1% annual rate, with only a slight decline in 2019 and stagnation in 2020 due to weakness in new construction. Significant single-family housing remodeling activity in the US supports a rather steady level of demand for kitchen countertops.

Demand by Market

Demand Forecasts

Demand for kitchen countertops is projected to rise 5.0% per year to 662 million square feet in 2026. The residential market is the dominant outlet for kitchen countertops, due to the sheer size of the US housing stock, as well as the popularity of countertop replacement in single-family housing.



Surface Materials

Demand by Material

Through 2026, demand for kitchen countertops is expected to expand 5.0% annually to 662 million square feet valued at $37.3 billion, supported by:

• increasing interest in kitchen renovations, during which the replacement of countertops is a key component
• ongoing consumer interest in adding islands and breakfast bars to kitchens
• growth in the construction of office, hospitality, and institutional buildings, which are likely to have kitchen facilities
• increasing popularity of outdoor kitchens
• shifts in the product mix favoring high-value materials at the expense of laminates

Engineered stone is projected to remain the leading kitchen countertop surface material, supported by:

• its more pleasing aesthetics and greater durability than laminates
• rising use in commercial building applications
• continued market penetration, albeit at a more modest pace than during the 2016-2021 period

Demand for laminates will continue to decline, as consumers in the residential market opt for more natural and aesthetically pleasing materials, such as wood, granite, porcelain slab, and engineered stone.

Industry Composition

• While the laminate, solid surface, and engineered stone kitchen countertop segments are concentrated with fewer than 10 leading firms in each, the remaining material segments – such as natural stone, tile, and cast polymers – are highly fragmented and are without clear leaders.
• Cost leadership and product differentiation are two key competitive strategies utilized by countertop manufacturers.
• In recent years, product development activities in the kitchen countertop industry have included laminates with soft-touch matte finishes, metallic appearances, and embedded wireless electronic device charging capabilities.
• Distribution channels, which include master distributors, wholesalers, builders, and retailers, often vary depending upon the countertop material.
• Merger and acquisition activity is typically limited in the kitchen countertop industry as a result of the substantial differences between the types of materials used to make countertops. In general, producers of one type of countertop are unlikely to acquire firms making countertops from different materials.
• Marketing is a key barrier to entry for potential kitchen countertop suppliers, particularly in segments such as laminates and solid surface materials, where certain well-established brands dominate.
• Cooperative agreements, including licensing and distribution arrangements, are important means for countertop firms to access key technologies, expand into new markets, and bolster their presence in existing markets.