Countertop Repair Cost: How Much Does It Cost to Repair, Resurface, or Re-Laminate a Countertop? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $211 - $542
It costs anywhere from $211 to $542 to repair or resurface a countertop, depending on the material, size, and any countertop damage.
Depending on the material of the countertop as well as what type of repair it needs, countertop repair costs can range from as low as $100 to as high as $1,000. However, most homeowners only report paying around $376 for their countertop repairs or resurfacing.
Your countertops can make or break a kitchen. So when a sudden chip, crack, or even dent appears on the surface, you’re going to want to hire a countertop repair contractor in your area ASAP.
- Average
- $376
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $1,000
Countertop Repair Cost Breakdown
This is where it truly starts coming down to your individual countertop. There’s going to be a much different process for repairing butcher block countertops with a crack than a stainless steel countertop with a dent. Labor can also vary greatly depending on where you live.
Size of Countertop
The average countertop is cut from a 41-square-foot piece of material. It’s then roughly cut down to around 30 square feet on average. This brings the cost of countertop repair to around $10 to $12 per square foot, including materials and labor.
Materials
Countertop repair prices can vary depending on what’s currently trending for home decor. Whereas granite countertops were once the top dogs, countertops such as butcher block or quartz are now finding themselves in the spotlight.
Here are common prices to repair different countertop materials:
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $150–$650 |
| Granite | $200–$1,200 |
| Marble | $200–$1,200 |
| Slate | $100–$300 |
| Corian® | $200–$500 |
| Quartz | $200–$500 |
| Caesarstone | $200–$500 |
| Tile | $350–$400 |
| Wood/butcher block | $200–$500 |
| Stainless steel | $500–$1,000 |
Labor
The cost of labor will range anywhere from $35 to $100 per hour. Though for smaller jobs that take under an hour, some contractors may charge a flat fee ranging from $50 to $150.
Cost to Repair, Resurface, or Re-Laminate a Countertop
There are several different types of common repairs for countertops. This may be something along the lines of repairing a crack in the countertop, or maybe you’re looking to completely resurface the countertop because the laminate has worn away from food spills and everyday use.
“One of the most common problems we see in countertops are burn rings from hot pots and pans that were placed directly on the surface,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Review Board Member and Raleigh, N.C.-based general contractor. “We then evaluate the cost of repair versus replacing it entirely. In most cases, we end up replacing the countertop.”
| Common Problems | Cost Range to Repair or Resurface |
|---|---|
| Repairing cracks, chips, or dents | $150–$1,000 |
| Resurfacing | $100–$1,200 |
| Scratch repair | $100–$800 |
| Paint touch-up | $6–$15 per square foot |
| Bubble repair | $50–$350 |
| Heat damage repair | $150–$800 |
| Water damage repair | $300–$800 |
Repairing Cracks, Chips, or Dents
Repairing a crack, a chip, or dents in countertops will come down to the type of material the countertop is made out of. The easier the material is to work with, the less it typically costs to repair those imperfections.
This makes countertops made of laminate cost around $150 to $650 on average, whereas stainless steel countertops will range anywhere from $500 to $1,000.
Resurfacing
Resurfacing, sometimes known as re-laminating, revolves around adding a new layer of laminate or sealant on the countertop. This may mean stripping the rest of the laminate and completely replacing it or simply adding another layer over the existing laminate.
People often resurface their countertops because certain food items, such as ketchup, may spill and ruin them if not cleaned up in a timely manner.
“We tell customers to avoid putting hot pots and pans on countertops, avoid chopping and slicing food on the countertop, and clean up acidic liquids—like vinegar, lemon juice, and tomato sauce—as quickly as possible,” says Tschudi.
Expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1,200, depending on the material and type of sealant you want to use on your countertops.
Scratch Repair
Scratches in countertops can lead to an unsightly space and create an area for germs and bacteria to hide. Repairing scratched countertops can cost between $100 and $800, depending on the countertop material and the number of scratches.
Paint Touch-Up
Typically, it costs between $6 and $15 per square foot to paint laminate countertops, but if you’re just tackling a chip or a scratch, it may not cost anything if you still have the paint and materials from the original paint job.
Bubble Repair
If you set a hot pan on a laminate countertop, a bubble can form as the laminated layers separate. Repairing a bubble in a laminate countertop can be as simple as laying a towel on top and running an iron over it. But if that doesn’t work, you can also cut a small hole to help it lay flat again before patching it. Bubble repair averages $50 to $350, depending on the extent of the damage.
Heat Damage Repair
While some countertop materials, like granite, are pretty heat resistant, other materials, like quartz and laminate, don’t handle heat well. This means that setting a hot pan on the counter could leave a burn mark behind. Fixing a burn mark can cost about $150 to $800.
Water Damage Repair
You may have to deal with water damage if you or the manufacturer didn't seal the countertops properly. In some cases, the countertop may just need to dry out, but in extreme cases, you may need to refinish it.
Fully refinishing the counters can cost about $300 to $800, but the material and size of the area will impact the price. Laminate countertops are difficult to refinish, so if they end up with water damage, you may need to replace them rather than repair them.
Countertop Repair vs. Replacement
Depending on the extent of the damage, repairing the countertop may make more sense then replacing the entire thing. However, replacement may be the only option in some cases, such as extensive water damage to laminate countertops or large cracks in granite countertops.
It typically costs between $100 and $800 to repair a countertop, while the cost of replacing a countertop can be anywhere between $1,900 and $4,500. On the lower end, laminate countertops cost around $8 to $27 per square foot; on the higher end, Corian® countertops cost between $26 to $65 per square foot.
| Repair vs. Replace a Countertop | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Repairing a countertop | $100–$800 |
| Replacing a countertop | $1,900–$4,500 |
Cost to Repair a Countertop Yourself
If you’re comfortable with a paintbrush, this is certainly a task you can handle yourself. There are plenty of DIY resurfacing and repair kits out on the market.
These kits will run from $25 to $50, though you may need to pick up extra materials such as tarp and tape, which will run you another $25 to $50.
DIY Countertop Repair vs. Hiring a Contractor
You may be able to achieve your kitchen countertop ideas on a budget by repairing a countertop yourself. Doing the labor can save you roughly $250 on average. You’ll need a couple of hours to complete the project, so keep this in mind.
However, there are certain cases where the cost of labor is worth it like when you need to apply the countertop coating evenly, or else you might have a lopsided prepping experience. You also want to ensure the colors come out even. Hiring a local countertop repair professional can help the job go more smoothly and leave your countertops looking great.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, you’ll need to resurface or reseal your countertops every three years—but this is general guidance. The actual time between resealing or resurfacing your countertop will come down to how much wear and tear it endures. If you have a busy house and the countertop seems to wear down quickly, you may need to reseal every two years. If it still looks good after three years, you may be able to wait another year or so.
Yes, it is possible to cover old countertops with new ones. Using a countertop overlay to cover your existing countertop is a good way to get a totally new surface without removing your old countertops. This method can be more cost-effective and less time-consuming than a total replacement.
If done correctly, a resurfaced countertop can last for years, and it can save you between $1,650 and $4,845 on your countertop project. While resurfacing often doesn’t save much time, as it can take two to five days to complete, the cost difference is significant. If your existing countertops are structurally sound, resurfacing is worth it.
Extensive chips and cracks may require a full replacement of the countertop. The cost to install a new countertop is around $3,100 on average. But, if the damaged area is relatively small, you may want to consider repairing it yourself or calling in a qualified professional. Depending on the material, some epoxy and sandpaper may do the trick. Or you can consider painting laminate countertops or refinishing butcher block countertops.
To care for your kitchen countertops, always take care of food spills right away. You should also match the countertop cleaner to your countertop surface, as certain cleaners can erode the sealant for the wrong countertop. Regularly wiping countertops with an all-purpose cleaner or mild soap and water can prevent food from sticking and remove dust.