When considering a new kitchen countertop, many homeowners narrow their choices down to of the most popular materials: Marble and granite.

But marble offers some unique advantages that often make it the better option.

More Flexible

While both marble and granite are types of stone, marble is a lot softer than granite. That makes it more flexible and easier to work with than granite — something that is especially important during installation.

Marble offers all the durability of granite but with less risk during installation. Granite is hard to cut into fancy shapes such as edges and corners and is more likely to chip or crack than marble. Because of this brittleness, the risk of damage to granite during installation is a lot higher than marble, which is more supple and flexible. That’s why marble is the material of choice for many sculptors.

Detail Work

If you want detail work like rolled edges or grooves or inserts cut into your countertop, marble is the way to go. Even using specialized tools, granite doesn’t lend itself to detail work like cutouts or patterns.

Marble, however, can easily be cut or detailed into any shape you want, making it a better choice for more intricate designs and details.

Heat and Durability

While both marble and granite can stand up to the heat of the kitchen, marble is especially suited for the kitchen. Granite is better for super-heated spaces such as fireplaces or wood ovens.

In terms of durability, marble has an advantage. It doesn’t chip, crack, or pit as easily as granite. If you need your kitchen countertops to curve, for example, you can do it with marble but usually not with granite.

Both marble and granite offer a luxurious look and excellent value for kitchen countertops. But marble is often the best choice because of its pliability and versatility.