Bathroom Vanity Top Materials: Types and Styles

Whether you’re remodeling a master suite or renovating a guest bathroom, choosing the right countertop is vital. You’ll want to prioritize durability, style, and overall quality when making this decision. But with so many bathroom vanity top types available, how can you be sure you’re picking the right one?

Bathroom Vanity Top Ideas

From elegant quartz to ceramic tile, your chosen countertop material will set the tone for your bathroom, working cohesively with other design elements, from light fixtures to luxury bathroom faucets.  

Continue reading to explore which vanity top is right for you, whether you need a countertop for a 60” or 36" wide bathroom vanity.

Quartz Vanity Tops

Due to its sturdy engineering and versatility in design, quartz is often considered the most durable and stylish material for luxury bathroom vanity tops.

Quartz countertops offer a perfect blend of natural stone beauty and unparalleled durability, making them ideal for high-traffic areas of your home. Their impermeable surface resists stains, mildew, and bacterial growth, while the uniformity of color in quartz guarantees a sleek and flawless appearance.

This precisely engineered material combines quartz with resins and pigments, allowing it to resemble natural stone in various shapes and colors.

Is Quartz a Good Material for Your Vanity Top?

According to a 2020 Consumer Reports test of over a dozen vanity tops, quartz was found to be resistant to stains, abrasion, and heat. Quartz vanity tops are durable, require minimal maintenance, and do not require sealing—unlike marble and granite.

Colors and Patterns Available in Quartz

Quartz can be dyed any color and have any pattern added, allowing for endless style opportunities. You can find quartz countertops imbued with unique visual elements, including stark solid colors and marble-inspired flecks and veining.

Bring artisanal style into your space by pairing a 36" wide metal and wood bathroom vanity with a white vanity top made of quartz.

Marble Vanity Tops

With natural veining and a long history of renowned style, marble is available in various colors and patterns, including shades of white, blue, and black.    

Because each piece is one-of-a-kind, marble is often seen as an elegant and artistic touch. One downside is that its porous surface requires frequent sealing, as often as every six months.

Is Marble Right for Your Countertop?

While marble is unmistakably beautiful, the continual maintenance can make it too demanding for many homeowners who simply want a place to relax and unwind.

In fact, Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend marble for a bathroom because it stains and scratches too easily.  

Quartz countertops can be specifically engineered to resemble the most beloved marbles, such as Calacatta Gold and Nero Marquina—and they don’t ever need to be resealed.

If you prefer a natural and truly unique slab of stone over an engineered quartz top, you may be willing to deal with the maintenance requirements of marble.

Granite Vanity Tops

Granite is a naturally occurring stone, mined in large slabs from the earth. It is commonly used as a bathroom vanity top material due to its natural colors and patterns, as well as its durability against heat, abrasions, and stains.

Is Granite a Good Vanity Top Material?

According to a HomeAdvisor comparison of quartz vs. granite, quartz is the better material for bathroom countertops due to its non-porous qualities.  

Granite needs regular resealing and is susceptible to harboring stains and bacteria, especially from moisture. Water, soaps, and shampoos can leave stains more easily on granite countertops, especially if not sealed properly.

However, granite may be a more budget-friendly consideration. On average, granite costs $50 per square foot, while quartz costs $75 per square foot.

Glass Vanity Tops

Glass vanity tops, which can be configured with an integrated sink bowl for a seamless look, offer a pure and polished finish by combining quality and clarity.

At Robern, we use low-iron glass to virtually eliminate the greenish cast commonly found in thick glass, allowing for cleaner, brighter white tones.  

Is Glass Right for Your Bathroom Vanity?

According to HomeAdvisor, the durability and scratch resistance of glass countertops make them ideal for bathrooms. Unlike porous surfaces, glass countertops are also easily cleaned, which is practical in bathrooms. Be aware that glass tops are susceptible to fingerprints, chips, and cracks.

Ceramic Vanity Tops

Tiled ceramic can offer a distinctive look for bathroom countertops, with various colors, patterns, and grout options available.  

Ceramic tiles are often used in traditional or highly decorative interiors with eccentric embellishments.  

Do Ceramic Tiles Make Good Vanity Tops for Bathrooms?

While ceramic tiles are often sought after for their particular visual qualities, they require more maintenance than other vanity top types. Debris and bacteria can build up in the grout between tiles, meaning they require frequent cleaning.  

For the most quality and beautiful ceramic, opt for handcrafted artisan tiles. Just be mindful that they are more expensive than mass-produced ones.

Laminate Vanity Tops

Laminate is one of the most cost-effective bathroom vanity material types. These countertops are made from layers of plastic attached to a particle board. The good news is that laminate is notably effective at resisting stains, heat, chips, and cracks. Plus, laminate vanity tops can mimic the appearance of marble and granite at a fraction of the cost.

Is Laminate Right for You?

If your project has strict budget constraints, laminate is a feasible option. However, laminate is easily scratched and generally doesn’t last as long as quartz.

Other Factors to Consider  

As you narrow down your choices for a bathroom vanity top, consider the appearance and shape you desire.

Vanity Top Thickness

Thick vanity tops are trending in interior designs ranging from rustic to modern minimalist. This approach allows you to showcase your chosen material more prominently, making your vanity an impressive statement piece.

Pictured above is a Nordic-inspired wooden 36" bathroom vanity topped with a minimally-textured slab of quartz for subtle elegance.  ‍

Vanity Top Corners

‍You should also think about what type of edges and corners you desire, as this will impact the appearance and functionality of the room. Compact bathrooms benefit from rounded corners, like this rounded top on this bleached wood bathroom vanity, so you don’t accidentally ding yourself against a sharp edge.

FAQs About Bathroom Vanity Top Materials

What is the best bathroom vanity top material?

Quartz, granite, and laminate are among the best vanity top materials, according to Consumer Reports testing. At Robern, our luxury vanity countertops are made of quartz, as it remarkably combines durability, style, and function.

Ultimately, the right vanity top material for you depends on your preferences, budget, and style.  

For example, if you’re getting an aged brass bathroom vanity for a high-end remodel, a stylish pairing is a thin slab of quartz in a neutral color. But if you’re looking for a cheap replacement for an existing vanity, laminate may be a more reasonable option.

What is the cheapest vanity top material?

Laminate is generally the most affordable material for vanity tops, costing about $30 per square foot on average.  

What are most bathroom countertops made out of?

The most common bathroom vanity top materials are quartz, granite, marble, laminate, and tile.

What is the most durable vanity top?

Quartz vanity tops are considered to be some of the most durable.

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