Cost Range for Soapstone Countertops
The cost range for soapstone countertops, including installation, is between $50 and $150 per square foot. The cost factors depend on the size of countertops being installed, the type or grain you choose, installation difficulty and who installs the soapstone countertop.
Average Cost
The average cost to install soapstone countertops is $95 per square foot, including installation. A cost that is competitive with granite, marble and quartz. Installing your own soapstone counters is not recommended, though you can purchase the slab for between $50 – $75 per square foot.
Overview of Soapstone Counters
Soapstone counters are naturally gorgeous with gentle veining that isn’t as “busy” as veining in marble and most granite countertop slabs. Also called steatite counters, the stone isn’t porous, so no sealing is required.
Soapstone kitchen and bathroom countertops can be left to darken slowly and naturally or be treated with mineral oil to facilitate balanced darkening of the patina. Fabricating drainboards near the sink or producing matching sinks and backboards are common extras.
Soapstone cost factors are discussed below to give you an accurate estimate based on factors that apply to your project. Material, supplies and labor are itemized. We include reader-submitted costs and costs from other estimate sites. You’re invited to share your costs too.
Soapstone Countertop Installation Cost Factors
Installed cost starts at about $55 per square foot for a 1.25-inch soapstone slab countertop with minimal fabrication. Costs rise to $150 or more per square foot based on these factors.
- Slab Size: Slabs wider than standard countertops, for use on an island or breakfast bar, cost 25% to 30% more.
- Slab Thickness: Standard slabs are 1.25 inches (3cm) thick. Slabs up to 2.5 inches (6cm) are produced at a premium cost. They also require added support, which further increases cost.
- Soapstone Color: Most soapstone is gray, ranging from pale to charcoal. Slabs with blue and green tones are rarer, so cost more.
- Edge Cut: The standard edge has corners that are lightly ground away to produce an “eased” edge. Adding a full bullnose, ogee, cove, chiseled, chamfer or other design raises countertop cost.
- Drainboard: The drainboard is cut into the stone, sloped toward the sink opening. Drainboard styles include flat, raised or recessed grooves and custo designs.
- Source Location: Soapstone mined in the US costs more than stone from areas with lower labor costs.
- Difficulty of Installation: If your countertops are a wide design or have several special cuts or corners, expect the installation cost to go up accordingly.
Soapstone Countertop Cost Estimator
Calculate the estimated cost of installing soapstone countertops in your kitchen, bathroom, or any other area of your home by completing this easy to use cost calculator.
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Step 1: Setting Local Cost Variables
Your 5-digit Zip Code and State are used to help the calculator obtain and set local cost variables that are unique to your area. We’ll try to populate this automatically based on your location and browser settings.
Soapstone Slab, Projects and Installation Supplies Cost
Average project costs for bathroom and kitchen soapstone counters.
- Medium bathroom countertop (12 sq. ft.): $720 to $1,380
- Average kitchen countertops (50 sq. ft.): $3,000 to $5,750
- Kitchen countertops with island (60 sq. ft.): $3,600 to $6,900
Itemized materials and supplies used in soapstone bath and kitchen counters.
- $48-$85 per square foot| Soapstone slabs.
- $14-$56 | Optional plywood support and fasteners for large and/or thick slabs.
- $12-$25 | Caulk and adhesive used for seams, sinks and countertop installation.
- $20-$28 per gallon | Food grade mineral oil – optional.
Permits, Inspection, , Related Costs and Installation Time
Permits and Inspection Cost
- $0 | A permit is not required for soapstone counter installation.
Related Costs and Installation Time
The soapstone counters prices in the table above includes ALL costs – slabs, supplies and labor. The costs here are to show how labor and “extras” affect cost.
- $10 -$16 per square foot | Installation cost when hiring a licensed, insured countertop contractor. Single-slab counters are easiest to install, so cost is low. Multiple slabs, supports below the counters, modifying the edge on location and installing a backsplash raise the cost.
- $75 – $100 | Additional sink hole cuts. This cost is less than for cutting marble and granite, because soapstone is softer.
- $85 – $215 | Total cost to remove and dispose of old countertops. If they are ceramic tile, cost might be as high as $400. Learn more about tile removal costs.
Countertop Install Time Schedule
When countertops are fabricated in the factory, installation goes quickly. The more cutting, sanding and fabricating that is done at your home, the longer the process will be.
For most jobs:
- 1 hour or less | Remove existing countertops
- 1-3 hours | Installation of a single slab counter
- 4-8 hours | Installation of two or more slabs
- 1-3 hours | Additional fabricating such as cutting a sink opening or drainboard ridges or grooves
Related Projects
Are You a Pro Countertop Installer?
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DIY or Hire a Pro?
If no fabricating will be done and the counter is a single slab with a “perfect” fit, experienced DIY homeowners may do the job. Some shimming might be required.
It becomes a job best left to professionals when the tools, techniques and precision required for grinding back edges to fit an uneven wall, cutting in a sink opening or drainboard are needed. Gluing seams with epoxy adhesive and sanding away the excess will be required for multi-slab counters. That’s a pro job too, in our opinion.
If you hire a pro for soapstone counters installation, be sure they are experienced, licensed and insured. That will protect the sizable investment you’re making.