How Much Does a Recycled Glass Countertop Cost?
For an average 30-square-foot kitchen, expect to pay as low as $1,500 or as high as $5,850 for recycled glass countertop costs. Most recycled glass countertops will run somewhere in the middle, from $1,800 to $3,600, with an average price of $2,700 to install recycled glass countertops.
There are two main cost factors to consider when pricing your project: material and installation. Recycled glass countertops pricing for just the material ranges between $40 and $170 per square foot, given the extensive range in quality. Labor costs are generally $30 to $80 per hour, or about $10 to $30 per square foot.
Average Recycled Glass Countertop Cost
| Average Cost | High Cost | Low Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $2,700 | $1,800 | $3,600 |
Recycled Glass Countertop Installation Costs per Square Foot
When you hire a professional countertop installer near you, they may quote their labor costs as an hourly or per-square-foot rate. Hourly labor costs for recycled glass countertop installation range from $30 to $80 per hour. As a square-foot estimate, contractors typically charge between $10 and $30 per square foot for installation.
Here are some factors that can increase labor costs:
Complex countertop layouts
Homes that are difficult to reach
Seasonal and workload factors
Adding LED lights
On-site fabrication
Discuss any of these relevant factors with contractors when fielding quotes, as some can add considerably to your end cost.
Recycled Glass Countertop Costs by Type
How much you spend on installing a recycled glass countertop can vary depending on the type of glass, including crushed, sea, and tempered glass counter surfaces.
| Recycle Glass Countertop Type | Average Cost Range per Sq. Ft. for Materials and Labor |
|---|---|
| Crushed glass | $60 – $130 |
| Sea glass | $80 – $130 |
| Tempered glass | $85 – $150 |
Crushed Glass Countertop
At between $60 and $130 per square foot, crushed glass is a common and affordable type of recycled glass countertop. Different shades of reused glass mix with resin or concrete to create a unique slab.
Sea Glass Countertop
Add sea glass to your recycled glass countertop for around $80 to $130 per square foot. The glass particles, combined with resin or concrete, create a slab with pops of blue and green.
Because sea glass is semi-rare, these countertops are a bit more expensive, with materials alone costing around $70 to $100 per square foot compared to around $50 to $100 per square foot for crushed glass.
Tempered Glass Countertop
Tempered glass counters cost approximately $85 to $150 per square foot and look like one large sheet of thick glass. Because tempered glass is heat-treated, it's stronger and more durable than other options, making it more expensive. Manufacturers frequently include installation in the cost because this material is heavy and difficult to install.
Recycled Glass Countertop Costs by Brand
You'll come across economy and high-end manufacturers when shopping for recycled glass countertops. Some big-box stores may carry some of the economy brands. But often, you'll have to work with a specialty distributor to order your glass countertop.
Here are nine popular manufacturers and their typical cost range for recycled glass countertops:
| Recycled Glass Countertop Manufacturer | Average Price Range per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Bio-Glass | $95 – $150 |
| Curava | $60 – $100 |
| ECO by Cosentino | $65 – $95 |
| Environite | $60 – $160 |
| GEOS Recycled Glass Counters | $60 – $120 |
| IceStone | $50 – $85 |
| ThinkGlass | $200 – $400 |
| Vetrazzo | $95 – $200 |
| Vetrostone | $85 – $170 |
Bio-Glass
Bio-Glass countertops cost anywhere from $95 to $150 per square foot for labor and materials. These countertops are made by melting glass into a solid sheet, and they contain 100% recycled glass and are 100% recyclable. This melded surface contains hollow glass, tableware, and factory shards, depending on the color and availability of the product.
Curava
Curava countertops fall between $60 and $100 per square foot, including installation. They’re composed of roughly 60% recycled glass, 30% natural quartz, and 10% resin binder. Curava offers a 15-year limited warranty on their products.
Keep in mind that this material is only for indoor use. And because it’s difficult to install, this manufacturer typically includes labor rates in the price.
ECO By Consentino
ECO by Cosentino is a brand of recycled glass countertops that sell for about $65 to $95 per square foot with installation. This eco-friendly option is affordable compared to other countertop brands. This product doesn’t require surface sealing and contains at least 75% recycled content. It also has a limited warranty of 25 years.
Environite
Environtite recycled glass countertops go for around $60 to $160, fully installed. Their solid surface product consists of epoxies, recycled glass, refractory, and other discarded materials to create a “green” countertop. It contains a high percentage of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials.
Though not truly recycled glass countertops, these green-friendly countertops are eco-friendly and easy to maintain.
GEOS Recycled Glass Counters
At about $60 to $120 per square foot with installation, GEOS promises no staining, sealing, waxing, or glass pop-outs for your new counters. The company offers a limited 15-year warranty on its products, which contain 100% recycled glass in a resin binder.
IceStone
IceStone recycled glass countertops are priced from around $50 to $85 per square foot, fully installed. These budget-friendly countertops come with a 10-year limited warranty and are composed of 100% recycled glass, Portland cement, and nontoxic pigments.
ThinkGlass
This thermoformed glass costs around $200 to $400 per square foot with installation. While it’s 100% recyclable, this brand only uses 25% recycled materials in manufacturing. ThinkGlass is a high-end product that comes in solid, translucent slabs with the option to add LED lighting under the surface.
Vetrazzo
Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops cost approximately $95 to $200, fully installed, and are one of the most expensive brands on our list. Vetrazzo countertops are similar in price to the cost of quartz countertops.
The high price is understandable since Vetrazzo is a high-end brand that only makes 16 recycled glass countertop slabs a month. The brand employs eight skilled artisans to hand-make each slab, and the company that manufactures the brand, Polycor, aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025. These countertops come with a 10-year warranty.
Vetrostone
Budget between $85 and $170 for Vetrostone countertops. This brand is unique because it blends the best of glass and quartz countertops into a single product: engineered quartz with recycled glass, sea glass, and even seashells. The countertops come with a 1-year limited warranty.
Tile vs. Slab Recycled Glass Countertop Costs
The average recycled glass slab countertop cost is around $90 per square foot to install. Slab countertops allow for a more seamless surface, making them popular in kitchens.
Because glass tiles are lighter, they’re much more affordable, roughly $30 per square foot for the materials, or $40 to $60 per square foot with installation.
Recycled Glass Countertop Cost Factors
You'll have to consider a few cost variables when shopping for recycled glass countertops. These will affect the final price of your project to varying degrees, so they're well worth researching before the start of your project.
Higher overall costs are possible for:
Thicker glass slabs
Upgraded edges
More seams
Sink and utility cutouts
Matching backsplashes
Curved or rounded corners
Split levels, slopes, or grooves
Rare colors like blues and greens
Keep in mind that colors fall in and out of fashion, and the countertop pattern can affect the price as well as the appearance. Small glass pieces soften the look, while large chips give the counter a contemporary look. Some pieces still have manufacturing marks or other identifying features, which some people find to be a sort of treasure hunt.
You can lower both labor and material prices by installing glass tiles yourself. However, if the tiles are in a high-use area like the kitchen, it's best to hire a pro. Glass tiles can pop out from heavy use if placed incorrectly.
Recycled Glass Countertops vs. Granite Countertops
Another popular option for kitchen and bathroom countertops is granite, but how do recycled glass countertops compare to granite countertops?
Glass countertops consist of old bottles, windows, light bulbs, and other post-consumer and post-industrial items. These countertops come in an array of colors. The glass is melted, crushed, recolored, and fused together with resin or cement.
Granite countertops come from natural stones like feldspar, mica, and quartz. Typically, the stone is quarried in large pieces before being cut into stones or slabs. No two pieces look alike, and slabs can have unique marks and fissures that add character.
Cost
Granite countertops cost between $40 and $100 per square foot, installed, making them more affordable than the average $60 to $120 per square foot price of recycled glass countertops.
For reference, compare these costs to the price of other similar countertops:
Corian countertop cost: $45–$65 per sq. ft.
Quartzite countertop cost: $80–$210 per sq. ft.
Solid-surface countertops cost: $50–$100 per sq. ft.
Appearance
Granite countertops come in dark and light colors, with tight, granular patterns of colorful veins and streaks. Colors can vary from section to section.
Recycled glass countertops boast light to neutral backgrounds and contain varying sizes of glass flecked throughout. The glass is sometimes transparent and sometimes opaque, with the colors being more uniform. You can even get these countertops in thermoformed, clear, solid sheets.
Care
Granite countertops require maintenance to avoid staining. You’ll need to use gentle stone cleaners and reseal the countertops every one to two years.
Recycled glass countertops vary in maintenance requirements. Some resin-bound countertops may not require any sealing, while cement-bound slabs could call for routine sealing. It’s best to check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure.
Repair
If granite breaks, expect a rough surface. You may be able to glue back small fractured pieces with a stone adhesive. On the other hand, if a glass countertop breaks, it’ll leave a sharp surface that a countertop repair pro near you must fix. If there’s a clean break, you can replace a piece using stone or epoxy adhesives.
DIY vs. Hiring a Countertop Contractor
Installing a recycled glass slab countertop isn't an easy DIY project. It's best to find a countertop installer for the job. The installation is labor-intensive, and the material will likely be very heavy. Experienced installers will know if your existing structure requires supports to accommodate the weight, so check reviews and references to work with countertop and cabinet contractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glass countertops in a bathroom are a good idea because they’re durable and scratch-resistant. Because they aren’t porous, glass countertops are also easy to clean, which is especially important in a bathroom. Many homeowners especially like to install sea glass countertops in their bathrooms for a beachy vibe.
Recycled granite isn’t the same thing as recycled glass. Granite is a natural stone material, while recycled glass is human-made. Composite glass contains a combination of different materials, but those materials must be specified as "recycled materials" for the composite countertop to be labeled a recycled glass countertop. Granite countertops tend to be more affordable than glass countertops.
It's not a good idea to DIY install glass slab countertops because they're heavy and require professional knowledge for proper installation. It's possible to DIY install glass tile counters if you have a lot of time and an eagle eye for detail. But if incorrectly installed, the tiles can pop out over time. When in doubt, get a local countertop installer to handle the work.
Glass countertops have a lot of great attributes, but the biggest drawback is the price. The average cost to install countertops is between $15 and $70 per square foot, while recycled glass countertops cost from $60 to $120 per square foot—up to $200 per square foot for high-end materials. Glass countertops can also break or chip from sharp or heavy objects, and glass countertop repair costs can be expensive.
While recycled glass countertops are known for their durability, they can chip or crack. If you place too much weight on the corner of a glass countertop, it could crack off. Similarly, if you drop a heavy object on the glass surface, it may splinter or crack. Repairing these issues can be costly.
Because of how glass countertops are manufactured, they’re resistant to scorching and burning. That means you can place hot pans and plates on the countertops without worry. However, it’s not a good idea to leave a hot pan on a glass countertop for too long. When possible, place hot pans on potholders, regardless of the countertop material.
