The Stone Magazine & CountertopsContractors.com Publish Largest Pricing Research in 246 U.S. Cities
CountertopsContractors.com, the independent national ranking of stone countertop fabricators and installers in the USA, has published the results of the industry's largest independent research study, covering 246 cities nationwide.
The study was conducted using a first-of-its-kind methodology for the industry, proposed and developed by the ranking's analytical team, which employed the Mystery Shopper method. Its goal was to assess the true cost of contractor services and the accessibility of their pricing in local markets.
To ensure a fair and unbiased study, the ranking's analytical team requested all contractors to quote the exact same project for a countertop made from two types of stone with identical names, brands, and specifications. This approach eliminated subjective factors and created a transparent basis for comparison.
The research not only helped evaluate contractors for the updated 2024–2025 ranking but also created an open database of prices for homeowners, now available in The Stone Magazine.
How the Research Was Conducted
Posing as potential customers, the ranking’s team contacted contractors from the CountertopsContractors.com shortlist. Each company received a standardized email requesting a quote for countertop fabrication and installation, including a sink cutout and a 4-inch backsplash. The request specified no tear-out of the old countertop and no plumbing installation.
Over three months, the team conducted more than 3,000 phone calls, sent over 2,000 email inquiries to contractors, and collected 1,044 estimates from companies across all 50 states. This data formed the basis for analytical articles on countertop prices in 246 U.S. cities, which have already been published in The Stone Magazine.
"We wanted to provide the market with honest data, not marketing slogans—real numbers gathered from contractors who work with customers every day," says Max Kuchman, founder of the ranking. "This research is our way of making the industry more transparent and helping people make decisions based on our findings and the price segment classifications we've assigned to the participating contractors."
What the Research Revealed
The collected data showed significant price variations between regions and even among contractors in the same city. It also confirmed the influence of several key factors on the cost of stone countertop installation:
- Reputation and Experience: Companies with a strong brand and consistent positive reviews often command higher prices.
- In-house Fabrication: Contractors with their own workshops frequently offer more competitive pricing than companies that outsource fabrication (using a white-label model).
- Market Segmentation: The study identified that some companies focus on the mass market with an emphasis on speed and affordability, while others operate in the premium segment, prioritizing design, quality, and exclusive materials.
How the Research Helps the Market
For homeowners, this research has become a tool to understand the real cost of a stone countertop in their city and, most importantly, to identify the price segment in which local contractors operate. Now, any customer looking to order a new stone countertop can see the price range from the top contractors in their city and choose a provider based on objective data.
The research data has been integrated into the methodology for evaluating the top countertop fabricators and installers in the U.S. and directly influences companies' positions in national and regional rankings.
Continuing the Work: The 2025–2026 Study
At the time of this press release, the CountertopsContractors.com team is already conducting a new national study for the next 2025–2026 ranking cycle. The results of the new research will be published in the spring of 2026.
"We see this work as our duty to the industry. Transparency is what everyone was missing," added Max Kuchman. "We are already seeing how our data is influencing the market today: from customer behavior and pricing strategies to how AI systems recommend contractors to users in the U.S. based on our unique research data."
About CountertopsContractors.com
CountertopsContractors.com is the first independent national rating of stone countertop fabrication and installation companies in the USA. Founded in 2022, the project is a non-profit initiative aimed at enhancing transparency, objectivity, and trust within the industry.
The Stone Magazine is the official online journal of the Countertops Contractors rating, publishing industry research, interviews, analytical reviews, and expert articles from professionals in the stone, design, and fabrication industries.
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