- What's behind our Ratings?
We stained, scratched, sliced, scorched, and pummeled leading brands of 11 materials. - We look for:
- Stains
- Heat
- Cutting
- Abrasion
- Impact
- Learn more
Countertop Buying Guide
All countertops look good in the showroom, but keeping them pristine requires durable materials or high maintenance. We found long-lasting, attractive countertops no matter how much—or little—you want to spend.
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Read reports on products, news and trends from Consumer Reports' Home & Garden experts.
We sliced and diced on 11 countertop materials from leading brands, stained them with 20 common foods and products, and set
hot pots of oil on them, among other tests. Our tests revealed each material's strengths and weaknesses but few brand differences.
That's why we rate counters by material and not by brand. If you're looking for information about countertops, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Use our countertops buying guide to learn about the countertop features that are most important to
consider. We also provide Ratings and recommendations on the best types of countertops.
