How This Guide Should Be Positioned. This is not a “Top 10 materials” list. If you’re choosing kitchen countertops in 2026, here’s how materials are actually evolving — and which ones will still make sense in 10 years.

This guide explains what defines high-quality kitchen countertops, compares the most common kitchen countertop materials, and highlights why newer surfaces like sintered stone are increasingly specified in modern kitchens.