Granite vs Sintered Stone Benchtops: Which Is Better?
Reviewed by Team Asetica · Sydney · Perth · Melbourne · Updated June 2026
Sintered stone is the lower-maintenance choice and granite is the natural-stone choice. Both are hard and heat resistant, but granite is porous and needs sealing every 12 to 18 months, while sintered stone is non-porous, never needs sealing, and resists acids, UV and stains. Granite gives you authentic natural stone; sintered stone gives you consistent slabs in any look, indoors or out.
Granite has been a benchtop staple for decades, and sintered stone is the newer engineered surface taking its place in many kitchens. Both are durable — the real differences are maintenance, consistency and how they behave over years of use. Here is how they compare.
- Granite is natural stone but porous — it needs sealing every 12–18 months and can stain unsealed.
- Sintered stone is non-porous — never needs sealing, and resists acids, heat, UV and scratches.
- Hardness is close (both around Mohs 7); sintered stone is more consistent slab to slab and comes in any look.
- Choose granite for natural authenticity; choose sintered stone for zero maintenance and outdoor use.
Comparing benchtop materials? View full sintered stone slabs and order free samples at our Sydney and Perth showrooms. View the Collection →
What Is the Difference Between Granite and Sintered Stone?
The core difference is origin and porosity. Granite is a natural igneous rock, quarried and cut into slabs, with genuine geological variation. Sintered stone is manufactured by compressing natural minerals and firing them above 1200°C into a non-porous slab with no resin. Granite is porous, so it absorbs liquids and needs sealing; sintered stone is fully non-porous, so nothing soaks in and no sealing is ever required.
How Do Granite and Sintered Stone Compare?
Sintered stone leads on maintenance, stain resistance, UV stability and slab consistency; granite leads on natural authenticity. The table sets them side by side.
| Property | Granite | Sintered Stone |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Natural igneous rock | Manufactured, fired >1200°C |
| Hardness (Mohs) | ~6–7 | ~7 |
| Porosity / sealing | Porous — reseal every 12–18 months | Non-porous — never seal |
| Stain / acid resistance | Can stain unsealed; mostly acid-resistant | Resists stains and acids (Class A) |
| Heat resistance | Very good | Excellent |
| UV / outdoor | Can fade; needs sealing outside | UV-stable, warranted outdoors |
| Slab consistency | Varies slab to slab | Consistent, repeatable |
| Look range | Natural granite patterns only | Marble, stone, concrete and more |
Maintenance: Sealing and Everyday Care
Granite needs sealing and sintered stone does not. As a porous natural stone, granite should be resealed every 12 to 18 months and wiped promptly after spills to avoid staining; an unsealed granite benchtop can absorb oil and harbour bacteria. Sintered stone has no porosity to seal — everyday care is mild soap and water, and acids, oils and heat do not affect it. For a busy family kitchen, that maintenance difference is often the deciding factor.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose granite if you want genuine natural stone with its unique geological character and you accept periodic sealing. Choose sintered stone if you want a hard, premium surface with zero sealing, full stain, acid and UV resistance, consistent slabs and the freedom to pick any look — marble, stone or concrete. Sintered stone is also the safer pick for outdoor kitchens, where it is warranted and granite is not.
Want the stone look without the sealing? Order complimentary samples of sintered stone to compare against any granite at home. Request samples or call 1300 161 388.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sintered stone better than granite?
For low maintenance, sintered stone is better than granite because it is non-porous, never needs sealing, and resists acids, UV and stains. Granite is a durable natural stone but is porous, needs sealing every 12 to 18 months and can stain or harbour bacteria if left unsealed. Choose granite for natural authenticity, sintered stone for zero maintenance.
Does granite need sealing?
Yes. Granite is porous and should be resealed roughly every 12 to 18 months to resist staining and bacteria. Sintered stone is non-porous and never needs sealing, which makes it the lower-maintenance of the two.
Is sintered stone harder than granite?
They are very close. Granite rates about 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale and sintered stone about 7, so both strongly resist scratches. Sintered stone has a slight edge and is also more consistent slab to slab.
Which is cheaper, granite or sintered stone?
Upfront costs overlap and depend on the slab; both typically run around $700 to $2,000 per square metre supplied and installed. Over ten years sintered stone is often cheaper because it never needs sealing or restoration, while granite carries ongoing sealing costs.
Can granite and sintered stone be used outdoors?
Both can be used outdoors, but sintered stone is the more reliable choice. It is UV-stable, frost resistant and warranted for outdoor use, while granite can fade or weather over time and usually needs sealing to cope outside.
More guides from Asetica:
- What Is Sintered Stone? Properties, Uses and Comparisons
- Quartzite vs Sintered Stone Benchtops
- Sintered Stone vs Porcelain: Key Differences
Asetica Surfaces is a trade sintered stone supplier serving architects, builders, stonemasons, cabinet makers and designers across Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. Our team draws on hundreds of completed benchtop, splashback and facade projects and a European manufacturing partner that has produced sintered stone since 2007. Every guide is checked against current Australian standards and the engineered stone regulations in force since 1 July 2024. See the range at our Sydney (Padstow) and Perth (Subiaco) showrooms, or call 1300 161 388.
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