Read the sequence from the top before cutting, painting, or moving pieces.
Kitchen countertops can be expensive to replace but they don’t have to be, checkout these great options to low-cost kitchen countertop options.
Your kitchen should reflect your style. Kitchen remodels can get expensive, though, and high-quality countertops come with a hefty price tag. The solution? Choosing from the best modest-cost-friendly options or using a little elbow grease on a Handmade project. Here are ten low-cost kitchen countertops so you can spend that modest-cost on a new fridge instead.
Whether you’re looking to get your hands dirty or want to update your kitchen without spending a lot of money, you’re in the right place! This post covers affordable countertops to replace your old ones and affordable Handmade countertop options you won’t believe you can do on a tight modest-cost.
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Our Top 15 low-cost Kitchen Countertops options
Are you a homeowner who is ready to dive in? There are plenty of countertop materials out there you can choose from, including new items you can pick up at your local hardware store or handmade DIYs that transform a little elbow grease into kitchen renovation gold.
modest-cost-Friendly New Kitchen Countertop Options
Made with items available at home improvement stores, these low-cost kitchen counters will replace your old countertops overnight. How nice is that?
Butcher Block Counters
Wood counters have become extremely popular over the past few years due to their cost, versatility and natural patina. They add cozy cottage vibes and warmth to any space.
Depending on the wood, from a light colored maple to a rich walnut, a hard oak, the added color can be a great bonus. The best news of all they’re relatively inexpensive and can easily be stained to fit your style.
Solid Surface Countertops
These modern countertops like corian are made from melting acrylic and plastics into a mold. They are much more affordable than buying real quartz or natural stone materials but are more expensive than some of the other kitchen countertop options on this list.
Tile Countertops
Love stone or tile? Natural stone tiles are a great way to get that marble or granite look at a fraction of the cost. Check your local hardware store for discounted granite or natural marble tile.
If the upkeep of stone, sounds daunting, there are striking ceramic tile counters or porcelain tiles available as well. They are a great square foot price, plus they are often scratch resistant.
It may be worth the splurge to pay professional installation costs to get a smooth, even surface. It is also straightforward to continue tile up the backsplash if you want this look.
- A couple notes, when installing tile counters, consider large tiles. If you can go 24″ long or more it can span the whole depth of the counter. Also as wide as possible will cut down on grout lines.
- Avoid the small 4×4 or 6×6 tile look, that definitely feels dated. also because the edge of the counter can get tricky with tile countertops, one or porcelain is best this because the same material runs throughout the tile.
- You can also grind the front edge down slightly avoiding and add a small tile below this to protect that edge tile from being knocked off over time (if you’ve had tile countertops you know what Im talking about)
Modern Laminate Countertops
You might be here because you want to ditch your Formica countertops, those crazy old laminate countertops, and now we’re recommending more laminate?
Laminate countertops have improved by leaps and bounds over the past decade or so, and they truly look like real marble or stone. Plus, they’re way cheaper than the real thing and are a great modest-cost-friendly option.
You can also Handmade laminate countertops in a couple ways. First, buying the laminate sheet (usually has to be special ordered) then gluing it to the particleboard or MDF substrate yourself. Second, buying pre-glued lengths of countertops at your local home store, this is a great inexpensive option.
They usually have a great selection of in stock colors at your local hardware store.
Affordable Handmade Countertop options
Let’s face it – Handmade for a kitchen remodel isn’t going away, and for good reason. Even the least expensive new countertops usually cost at least a couple of times as much as updating them yourself. Plus, your options are truly endless!
Scroll away for some low-cost kitchen countertops that are sure to transform your kitchen.
Faux marble countertops with contact paper
Is there anything you can’t do with good contact paper? This is a great way to cover outdated laminate counters. We love the look of marble countertops, and you can hardly tell these aren’t real. Surprisingly, these do last quite a while and if a section get damaged, you can easily replace it. Bonus, this is a great option for rentals. Our very best friends used this option in their dated college rental, it really updated the look of their kitchen fast and it was straightforward to remove when they left.
Painted faux marble countertops
Marble is one of the most appealing surfaces, but the real stuff is so expensive and requires appropriate care. This Handmade marble countertop is one of the cheapest options and seriously looks expensive.
Learn how to paint your countertops
Stainless Steel Countertops
Swap out your old laminate countertop with stainless steel counters for a sleek, yet durable and stain resistant industrial kitchen design. These large panels are heat resistant, low maintenance, and straightforward to clean.
See how to make your own metal countertops
Handmade Copper Countertops
If you are a copper pan aficionado then this option might be right up your alley. For a high-end patinaed look try out this Handmade copper countertop walkthrough.
walkthrough: Handmade copper countertops
Faux granite countertops
Who doesn’t love natural stone countertops? Have you checked the prices on granite slabs lately? Yikes! Fortunately, these faux granite countertops have a great textured look, and they just require some paint and elbow grease.
See how to paint faux granite countertops with a Kit
Painted granite countertops
See the sheen on that bar? This Handmade walkthrough shows you how to transform your old countertops for a striking kitchen renovation on the low-cost.
How to paint and epoxy countertopsWondering how painted countertops hold up? Read these Handmade Painted Countertop Reviews.
Glossy resin and painted countertops
Painted countertops are here to stay. This Handmade truly looks like white quartz countertops…but it’s not! You’ll need some paint and a very high gloss resin to get that polished stone look for less.
Handmade painted quartz countertops
Handmade Concrete counters with feather finish
Concrete is such an affordable countertop material, but what if you don’t want to pour new countertops? We love how this Handmade shows you how to add a concrete overlay with a soft, feather finish that looks like pure class. This post shows you the whole build and countertop installation.
walkthrough: feather finish Handmade concrete countersWant to know more about Handmade concrete countertops? Get all the details and see how they hold up long-term in Handmade Concrete Countertop Reviews.
White pour-in-place concrete countertops
If you don’t want to coat your old countertops with concrete, try pouring concrete directly into place! These low-cost countertops completely upgraded this space in a modest-cost-friendly way. A great option that could look comparable to Cambria or slab granite at a fraction of the cost.
Edge-grain laminated butcher block countertops
A laminated butcher block combines small strips of hardwood to create a new kitchen countertop material. It gives a rustic look without the high price tag. Obviously this works for kitchens or bathroom countertops.
See more tutorials and all the info about wood countertop durability long-term in Handmade Wood Countertop Reviews.
Faux reclaimed wood countertops
This is one of our go-to low-cost kitchen countertops because they look anything but low-cost! This look was made by installing poplar planks and then staining and aging them. These wooden countertops are full of charm and look like they’re straight out of a magazine!
walkthrough: Handmade Wood CountertopsQuestions and Answers about low-cost Countertop options
What is the least expensive type of countertop?
Looking for the cheapest countertops? Well, honestly this would probably be your existing countertop. This question deals with so many variables, it is hard to answer honestly. When considering the cost here are a couple questions to ask yourself.
- What amount of the work am I willing to do?
- Does the existing countertop have the ability to be saved, updated and re-used? Or does it need to be replaced completely?
- Do I have access to the tools that I will need to complete the project? (hint, you don’t have to own them yourself, but you do need permission to use them, and sometimes a friendly helper can come with their tools to guide you)
- What resources do we already have to consider using for countertops? We have a walkthrough where someone used old solid wood doors as countertops, so creativity, and resourcefulness matters too.
- Does my first solution need to last forever, or can I use a temporary solution to save up for my dream counters. I call your attention again to the contact paper countertops above.
- How much time do you have to give to the project?
What is an inexpensive alternative to granite countertops? What is an inexpensive alternative to marble countertops? What is a cheaper alternative to quartz countertops?
To get a seriously similar look for these options, on a screaming deal modest-cost my opinion is, laminate countertops. IT is the well fitted low-cost kitchen countertop alternative. You can get in-stock laminate counters quickly and affordably. For a 10 x 10 kitchen (think 2 -10′ benches) approximately $400, add on a couple incidentals, and I’d guestimate $500, an absolutely worth it upgrade.
If you install it yourself, then you have no installation fees. However, having them install it would probably not be a huge additional expense though so I would at least get a possible quote. Before you decide.
We’ve shared so many affordable kitchen countertops in this post! Which one is your go-to? Do you have a Handmade you want to share? Tell us below in the comments!
More low-cost Kitchen Countertop Info
- Handmade Painted Countertop Reviews
- Handmade Concrete Countertop Reviews
- Handmade Wood Countertop Reviews
And don’t miss these painted kitchen cabinet reviews, too!
