Stones buying guideLast updated October 2026

Engineered Quartz

Consistent, non-porous surfaces, with new rules to know.

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Price level
Mid-range
Best to buy
Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
Top sources
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Engineered quartz slab with a white ground and gold veining

Photo: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

What is engineered quartz?

Engineered quartz is a manufactured slab made from roughly 90% crushed quartz and silica bound with polyester or acrylic resin, pigments and additives, then vibro-compressed under vacuum and cured. It gives the same colour and pattern batch after batch, is non-porous and never needs sealing.

Two things have reshaped the category. Silicosis among workers cutting high-silica slabs led Australia to ban engineered stone from 1 July 2024, and other markets have tightened silica rules. In the US, stacked trade remedies now apply. Low-silica and silica-free "mineral surfaces" are the industry's response.

Composition
About 90% quartz + resin and pigments
Hardness
About 7 Mohs at the surface
Porosity
Non-porous: no sealing
Heat
Limited: resin can scorch under hot pans
UV
Most grades are indoor-only (resin yellows)
Slab sizes
About 3.0 × 1.4 m standard, 3.2 × 1.6 m jumbo

Applications

Best used for

  • Kitchen countertopsStain-resistant, low maintenance and uniform.
  • Bathroom vanitiesConsistent colour for repeated units.
  • Hotels and apartment projectsBatch consistency across hundreds of units.
  • Commercial countersReception, retail and healthcare.

Think twice for

  • Outdoor kitchens. UV yellows the resin unless the product is rated for exteriors.
  • Markets with silica bans. Australia bans engineered stone; check your market's rules.

Know the names

Popular varieties

  • Calacatta look

    All makers

    Bold veins on warm white.

  • Carrara look

    All makers

    Soft grey veining.

  • Pure white

    All makers

    Solid, uniform white.

  • Concrete grey

    All makers

    Industrial matte grey.

Origins

Which countries to source from

The producing countries that matter for engineered quartz, what each is known for, and a direct link to vendors there.

Timing

Best time of year to buy

Factory-made, so supply is steady. Just avoid the Lunar New Year shutdowns in China and Vietnam.

  1. Jan: slower or pricier
  2. Feb: slower or pricier
  3. Mar: best time to buy
  4. Apr: best time to buy
  5. May: best time to buy
  6. Jun: best time to buy
  7. Jul: normal
  8. Aug: normal
  9. Sep: best time to buy
  10. Oct: best time to buy
  11. Nov: normal
  12. Dec: normal
Best time to buy Normal Slower or pricier
  • Chinese and Vietnamese plants close for Lunar New Year; Indian plants for Diwali week.
  • Buy one production batch per project so shades match.

Import costs

Tariffs and import duties

Base duties for the main import markets, the extra US surcharge by origin, and the trade remedies to check before you quote a landed price.

HS codes

  • 6810.99Articles of artificial stone (quartz surfaces)

Base import duty (MFN)

  • United StatesFree MFN + safeguards + remediesMFN is free, but imports are subject to a four-year tariff-rate quota safeguard measure effective August 15, 2026, in addition to existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Safeguard duties are 25 percent for within-quota and 50 percent for over-quota im
  • European Union1.7%
  • United Kingdom0%

Importing into the US? Add the 2026 origin surcharge

Section 301 rates in force since 24 July 2026, stacked on the MFN rate above.

  • China flagChina+12.5% & 30112.5% Section 301 (2026) plus the legacy China Section 301 duty (25% on most stone and machinery lines), on top of MFN.
  • India flagIndia+10%Section 301 (2026) adds 10% on top of the MFN rate.
  • Vietnam flagVietnam+12.5%Section 301 (2026) adds 12.5% on top of the MFN rate.
  • Turkey flagTurkey+12.5%Section 301 (2026) adds 12.5% on top of the MFN rate.
  • Spain flagSpain10% min.Section 301 (2026) tops the duty up to at least 10% in total; no surcharge if MFN is already higher.
  • Israel flagIsrael+12.5%Section 301 (2026) adds 12.5% on top of the MFN rate.
  • US anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders cover quartz surfaces from China (since 2019) and from India and Türkiye (since 2020, continued in 2026). Rates depend on the producer.
  • China-origin quartz also carries the legacy 25% Section 301 duty.
  • Australia banned the manufacture, supply and installation of engineered stone from 1 July 2024.
  • US implemented a global safeguard tariff-rate quota on August 15, 2026, starting at 25 percent within quota and 50 percent above it, reducing annually through 2030. Numerous countries are excluded, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and many developing nations.
  • US anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders remain in effect for quartz surfaces from China, India, and Türkiye, and these duties are applied in addition to the new safeguard tariff-rate quota.

Rates checked October 2026. Indicative rates for planning, not a customs ruling. Duties depend on the exact tariff line, origin, trade agreements and the rules in force on the day of entry. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before you price an order.

Before you order

Buying checklist

  1. 1Ask for crystalline silica content on the spec sheet. Low-silica ranges are safer to fabricate and future-proof.
  2. 2For US imports, check the exact producer's anti-dumping status and the safeguard quota before ordering.
  3. 3Buy from one batch or lot number per project.
  4. 4Check the warranty is valid in your country and sales channel.
  5. 5Confirm slab size and thickness (12, 20 or 30 mm) against your layouts.
  6. 6Only use UV-rated products outdoors.

Price level: Mid-range; US landed cost depends heavily on origin and trade remedies.

Vendor Network

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