Marble vs. Granite — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 14, 2024
Marble is known for its elegant veining and softer composition, ideal for indoor aesthetics, whereas granite is more durable and resistant to scratches, suited for high-traffic areas.
Difference Between Marble and Granite
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Marble is highly appreciated for its unique veining and luxurious appearance, making it a popular choice for decorative interiors. Whereas, granite is prized for its strength and scratch resistance, which makes it suitable for kitchen countertops and other high-use surfaces.
Marble is generally formed from limestone and tends to be softer and more porous, making it susceptible to staining and etching from acids. On the other hand, granite is an igneous rock, which means it's harder and less porous, offering better resistance to stains.
The maintenance of marble requires more care, including regular sealing to prevent stains. Conversely, granite is easier to maintain due to its durability and can be cleaned with mild soap and water without frequent sealing.
In terms of cost, marble can often be more expensive due to its perceived luxury and aesthetic qualities. Granite, on the other hand, while also considered high-end, generally comes at a lower price point, making it accessible for a variety of projects.
Marble is often used in low-traffic areas like bathroom vanities, fireplace surrounds, and sculptures due to its softness. Granite is favored in kitchens and high-traffic flooring areas because of its toughness and resistance to abrasion.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Metamorphic (from limestone)
Igneous rock
Hardness
Softer, more porous
Harder, less porous
Maintenance
Requires regular sealing
Easier, less frequent sealing
Typical Use
Decorative interiors
High-traffic areas
Cost
Generally more expensive
Generally less expensive
Compare with Definitions
Marble
Ideal for indoor and decorative applications.
The bathroom's marble vanity added a touch of elegance to the space.
Granite
An igneous rock, notable for its durability.
The kitchen counters were upgraded to granite to withstand daily use.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated, although there are exceptions.
Granite
Resistant to scratches and stains.
Granite is favored for kitchen surfaces because it resists damage from knives and spills.
Marble
A metamorphic rock formed by alteration of limestone or dolomite, often irregularly colored by impurities, and used especially in architecture and sculpture.
Granite
Less maintenance than marble.
The granite floor in the entryway is cleaned easily with just soap and water.
Marble
A piece of this rock.
Granite
Often used in high-traffic areas.
They installed granite flooring in the mall for its ability to endure heavy foot traffic.
Marble
A sculpture made from this rock.
Granite
Offers a balance of luxury and practicality.
Granite provides a luxurious look without the high maintenance of marble.
Marble
Something resembling or suggesting metamorphic rock, as in being very hard, smooth, or cold
A heart of marble.
A brow of marble.
Granite
Granite () is a coarse-grained igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies underground.
Marble
A small hard ball, usually of glass, used in children's games.
Granite
A common, coarse-grained, light-colored, hard igneous rock consisting chiefly of quartz, orthoclase or microcline, and mica, used in monuments and for building.
Marble
Marbles (used with a sing. verb) Any of various games played with marbles.
Granite
Unyielding endurance; steadfastness
A will of granite.
Marble
Marbles Slang Common sense; sanity
Completely lost his marbles after the stock market crash.
Granite
(rock) A group of igneous and plutonic rocks composed primarily of feldspar and quartz. Usually contains one or more dark minerals, which may be mica, pyroxene, or amphibole. Granite is quarried for building stone, road gravel, decorative stone, and tombstones. Common colors are gray, white, pink, and yellow-brown.
Marble
Marbling.
Granite
Toughness; the quality of having a thick skin or being rough.
Marble
To mottle and streak (paper, for example) with colors and veins in imitation of marble.
Granite
A crystalline, granular rock, consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica, and usually of a whitish, grayish, or flesh-red color. It differs from gneiss in not having the mica in planes, and therefore in being destitute of a schistose structure.
Marble
Composed of metamorphic rock
A marble hearth.
Granite
Plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
Marble
Resembling metamorphic rock in consistency, texture, venation, color, or coldness.
Granite
Something having the quality of granite (unyielding firmness);
A man of granite
Marble
A metamorphic rock of crystalline limestone.
Marble
A small ball used in games, originally of marble but now usually of glass or ceramic.
Marble
Statues made from marble.
The Elgin Marbles were originally part of the temple of the Parthenon.
Marble
(transitive) To cause (something to have) the streaked or swirled appearance of certain types of marble, for example by mixing viscous ingredients incompletely, or by applying paint or other colorants unevenly.
Marble
(intransitive) To get or have the streaked or swirled appearance of certain types of marble, for example due to the incomplete mixing of viscous ingredients, or the uneven application of paint or other colorants.
Marble
(transitive) To cause meat, usually beef, pork, or lamb, to be interlaced with fat so that its appearance resembles that of marble.
Marble
To become interlaced with fat; (of fat) to interlace through meat.
Marble
To lace or be laced throughout.
Marble
Made of, or resembling, marble.
A marble mantel
Marble paper
Marble
(figurative) Cold; hard; unfeeling.
A marble heart
Marble
A massive, compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being polished and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The color varies from white to black, being sometimes yellow, red, and green, and frequently beautifully veined or clouded. The name is also given to other rocks of like use and appearance, as serpentine or verd antique marble, and less properly to polished porphyry, granite, etc.
Marble
A thing made of, or resembling, marble, as a work of art, or record, in marble; or, in the plural, a collection of such works; as, the Arundel or Arundelian marbles; the Elgin marbles.
Marble
A little ball of glass, marble, porcelain, or of some other hard substance, used as a plaything by children; or, in the plural, a child's game played with marbles.
Marble
Made of, or resembling, marble; as, a marble mantel; marble paper.
Marble
Cold; hard; unfeeling; as, a marble breast or heart.
Marble
To stain or vein like marble; to variegate in color; as, to marble the edges of a book, or the surface of paper.
Marble
A hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
Marble
A small ball of glass that is used in various games
Marble
A sculpture carved from marble
Marble
Paint or stain like marble;
Marble paper
Marble
A metamorphic rock known for its luxurious veining.
The lobby featured a stunning marble floor with intricate patterns.
Marble
Softer and more porous than granite.
Although beautiful, the marble countertops are prone to stains.
Marble
Often used for its aesthetic appeal.
The sculptor chose marble for its fine quality and smooth texture.
Marble
Requires careful maintenance to prevent etching.
They used coasters on the marble table to avoid any marks from acidic drinks.
Common Curiosities
Which material is better for kitchen countertops?
Granite is generally preferred for kitchen countertops due to its durability and resistance to scratches.
What is the main difference in composition between marble and granite?
Marble is a metamorphic rock derived from limestone, while granite is an igneous rock.
Can marble be used in high-traffic areas?
Marble is not recommended for high-traffic areas due to its softer nature and susceptibility to wear.
Which is easier to maintain, marble or granite?
Granite is easier to maintain compared to marble.
Is granite more durable than marble?
Yes, granite is harder and more durable than marble.
Where is marble most commonly used?
Marble is commonly used in bathroom vanities, fireplace surrounds, and in other decorative applications.
Which is more expensive, marble or granite?
Marble typically tends to be more expensive than granite.
What makes granite suitable for kitchen use?
Its hardness and resistance to scratching and staining make granite ideal for kitchens.
How often should marble and granite be sealed?
Marble requires more frequent sealing to prevent stains, while granite requires less frequent sealing due to its lower porosity.
Which has a more luxurious appearance, marble or granite?
Marble is often considered more luxurious due to its unique veining and aesthetic qualities.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
