Kitchen Benchtops: How to Choose Stone for Your Kitchen

Reviewed by Team Asetica · Sydney · Perth · Melbourne · October 2026

Colours in this guide

Calacatta White

Classic range

Taj Mahal

Designer range

Pure Black

Classic range

Supergrey

Designer range

Asetica sells sintered stone slabs only to stonemasons, cabinet makers and builders. Choosing a kitchen benchtop comes down to four decisions: the material, the thickness, the colour and the budget. For most Australian kitchens we suggest sintered stone: it is non-porous, never needs sealing, is fired above 1200 degrees Celsius, is UV stable and is backed by a 25-year Asetica warranty, and it comes in marble, quartzite, travertine, concrete and solid looks. Slabs start from about $820 (Classic range, 12 mm, including GST) as an indicative guide, and your stonemason quotes the finished benchtop.

Which stone is best for kitchen benchtops?

For a stone-look kitchen benchtop, the main choices are sintered stone, porcelain and natural stone such as granite and marble. Here is how each suits a kitchen:

Sintered stone is not natural stone: our colours give a marble, quartzite or travertine look without the sealing natural stone needs. For a property by property comparison, including composite stone, see stone benchtops compared. More head-to-head guides: porcelain vs sintered stone, granite vs sintered stone, quartzite vs sintered stone and sintered stone pros and cons.

12 mm or 20 mm: how thick should a kitchen benchtop be?

Asetica supplies 12 mm and 20 mm in the same 3200 x 1600 mm slab. Our thickness guide recommends 20 mm for kitchen benchtops and islands, where it reads as solid stone; 20 mm is ordered on request with minimum quantities, and some colours come in 12 mm only. 12 mm gives a slim, contemporary edge, and your stonemason can mitre a strip of the same slab to the edge so it reads as 40 mm, although mitring adds fabrication work. Ask your stonemason which thickness suits your cabinets, overhangs, edge profile and budget.

Read 12 mm vs 20 mm: which thickness to choose and our guide to kitchen benchtop edge profiles.

Stone benchtop prices: slabs, fabrication and installation

Your stonemason prices the finished benchtop. As a guide, Asetica's indicative slab prices are:

Guide prices as at October 2026, per 3200 x 1600 mm slab, including GST. Indicative only, not a quote. Slab only, with no delivery, cutting, edging or installation. Full-body colours are not covered by these prices.

Installed, porcelain and sintered stone benchtops from Melbourne fabricators typically run about $1,500 to $1,600 per square metre, or about $5,000 to $6,500 for a standard galley or U-shape kitchen, covering templating, substrates, CNC cutting, installation and caulking. Typical add-ons are about $800 to $900 per waterfall panel, $2,300 to $3,000 for a matching full splashback and about $500 for a mitred window sill. These figures are indicative only, and your stonemason quotes the final price. Looking for the most affordable Asetica colours? The Classic range has the lowest guide prices, and a simple square or arris edge keeps fabrication down. Stonemasons with an Asetica trade account can obtain sharper rates than these guide prices.

See the full sintered stone price guide, our kitchen benchtop replacement cost guide and five ways to save money on your benchtop project.

Replacing or resurfacing an old benchtop? If your cabinets and layout are sound, an overlay can resurface it by bonding a thin stone slab over the existing benchtop, usually without demolition. See stone benchtop overlays: how they work.

Homeowner? Asetica supplies slabs through stonemasons, so we can't quote you directly. Choose your colours, then ask your stonemason for a full quote. They can obtain sharper trade rates than the prices above. Need a stonemason? Ask us for a referral

Which benchtop colour suits my kitchen?

Start with the look, then compare a few colours side by side. Every colour below is in the current Asetica range, and most come in 12 mm and 20 mm. Check each colour's page for thickness and stock.

Not every colour is stocked in every state. Check availability with your stonemason or call 1300 161 388.

Colour guides: Calacatta marble look, Taj Mahal stone benchtops, travertine look and full-body colours.

How do I care for a stone kitchen benchtop?

To remove marks and stains from sintered stone, wipe it with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth, and use a gentle surface cleaner for tougher marks. Avoid abrasive pads and strong chemicals; they are unnecessary. It is non-porous, so stains stay on the surface and it never needs sealing. Granite and marble need resealing from time to time to keep stains and etching at bay. The cleaning guide is on our downloads page, with more answers in the sintered stone FAQ.

Splashbacks, islands and outdoor kitchens

• Splashbacks: a full-height splashback in the same slab as the benchtop removes grout lines. See kitchen splashbacks.
• Islands: design tips in kitchen island bench ideas, and standard bench heights in kitchen benchtop height.
• Outdoor kitchens: sintered stone is UV stable, so it suits alfresco areas. See outdoor kitchen benchtops.

Where can I see full benchtop slabs?

A sample shows the colour; a full slab shows the movement and veining across a whole benchtop. Visit a showroom, or read the city guides for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

How do I get a price for my kitchen benchtop?

1. Choose your colours. Order up to 3 free samples from the sintered stone collection, sent the next business day (NSW, VIC and WA), or see full slabs at our showrooms.
2. Take your plans to your stonemason. They measure and template the kitchen, then cut, edge and install the benchtops. They can open an Asetica trade account for current trade pricing and quote your job in full.
3. No stonemason yet? Contact us and we can refer you to stonemasons who work with Asetica slabs.

Stonemasons, cabinet makers and builders: call 1300 161 388 or contact us for the current trade price list.

Comparing colours? Order up to 3 free samples, sent the next business day, to see them in your own kitchen light. Samples are available to NSW, VIC and WA addresses. Choose your samples

Frequently asked questions

What is the best material for kitchen benchtops?

For most Australian kitchens, Asetica suggests sintered stone: it is non-porous, never needs sealing, is fired above 1200 degrees Celsius and is UV stable, and it comes in marble, quartzite, travertine, concrete and solid looks. Granite and marble offer genuine natural variation, but they are porous and need periodic resealing.

What thickness should a kitchen benchtop be?

Asetica supplies 12 mm and 20 mm in the same slab size. Our thickness guide recommends 20 mm for kitchen benchtops and islands; it is available on request with minimum quantities, and some colours come in 12 mm only. A mitred edge can make a 12 mm slab read as 40 mm, though it adds fabrication work, so ask your stonemason which suits your design and budget.

How much do stone kitchen benchtops cost?

Your stonemason quotes the finished benchtop. As a guide, Asetica slabs start from about $820 per 12 mm slab (Classic), $1,020 (Designer) and $1,480 (Luxury), including GST. For the installed price, ask us for a quote, and see our sintered stone price guide for typical installed figures.

What is the most durable kitchen benchtop?

Asetica's view is sintered stone. It is non-porous, never needs sealing, resists heat, scratches, stains and UV, and is backed by a 25-year Asetica warranty. Its edges can chip, so talk to your stonemason about the edge profile.

How do you remove stains from a stone benchtop?

For sintered stone, wipe with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth, and use a gentle surface cleaner for tougher marks. Avoid abrasive pads and strong chemicals. It is non-porous, so stains stay on the surface and it never needs sealing.

Is sintered stone the same as marble?

No. Sintered stone is not natural stone. Colours such as Calacatta White give a marble look, but the surface is non-porous and never needs sealing, unlike natural marble.

Can I buy benchtops directly from Asetica?

No. Asetica is a trade wholesaler supplying slabs to stonemasons, cabinet makers and builders. Choose your colour with free samples or at a showroom, and your stonemason orders the slabs, makes the benchtop and installs it.

Where can I see full slabs?

At our showrooms in Sydney (Padstow, bookings only), Melbourne (South Yarra, walk-ins) and Perth (Home Base Subiaco, walk-ins). You can also order up to 3 free samples, sent the next business day to NSW, VIC and WA addresses.

More guides from Asetica:

1. Sintered Stone Benchtops: Everything You Need to Know
2. What Is Sintered Stone? Properties, Uses and Comparisons
3. Kitchen Benchtop Replacement Cost in Australia
4. How Much Does Sintered Stone Cost in Australia?

Choosing a benchtop? See sintered stone in person.
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