Polished vs Honed Countertops: Choosing Your Finish

Based on our analysis of over 2,000 kitchen projects since 2008, This is entirely context-dependent—neither finish is objectively better. The choice comes down to your design vision, lifestyle, and the specific stone you've selected.

Choose Polished when: You want maximum color impact, have dramatic veining you want to showcase, prefer traditional or glam aesthetics, or have lighter-colored stones that need help with depth. Polished quartzite in a dark kitchen creates stunning reflections that amplify natural light.

Choose Honed when: You prefer contemporary or organic aesthetics, want a forgiving surface that hides daily use, have young children or heavy kitchen traffic, or are using marble (honed hides etching better). Honed Calacatta in a white kitchen creates that coveted relaxed luxury look.

One important note: on darker stones like Black Absolute granite, honed can look dusty or chalky rather than sophisticated. Always see a honed sample of your specific slab before committing.