What's the Tariff on Quartz Countertops?
Quartz surface products face new Section 201 safeguard tariffs starting August 2026, adding hundreds to kitchen renovation costs.
Current Tariff Rate
25%
Pre-2025 Rate
0%
Rate Increase
+25pp
Price Impact
+25%
+$700
Real-World Price Impact
Before Tariffs
$2,800
Kitchen countertop (40 sq ft)
After Tariffs
$3,500
Kitchen countertop (40 sq ft)
That's $700 more per unit — a 25% price increase paid by the American buyer.
Note: Price estimates assume full tariff pass-through to consumers. Actual retail prices may vary — manufacturers may absorb some costs, shift production, or adjust margins.
The Story Behind This Tariff
Quartz countertops are one of the most popular kitchen upgrade choices in America, and the new 25% Section 201 safeguard tariff hits right at the heart of the home renovation market. The tariff was imposed after the US International Trade Commission found that surging imports — primarily from China, India, and Turkey — were causing serious injury to domestic producers like Cambria. The 25% first-year rate declines gradually (23%, 21%, 19%) over four years, a classic safeguard structure designed to give domestic industry time to adjust. For homeowners, the impact is immediate: a typical 40 square-foot kitchen countertop installation using imported quartz jumps from around $2,800 to $3,500. Contractors report that some customers are switching to granite or butcher block as alternatives. Domestic producers like Cambria and a handful of smaller US fabricators stand to benefit, but they currently lack the capacity to replace all imports.
📦 Supply Chain
Primary Origin
China
Made in USA
30%
Import Volume
$1.8B
Alternatives
Granite, marble, butcher block, domestic Cambria
📅 Tariff Timeline
2023
ITC petition filed by Cambria citing import surge
0%2024
ITC finds serious injury from imports
0%Aug 15, 2026
Section 201 safeguard tariff takes effect
25%2027
Rate scheduled to decline to 23%
23%👥 Consumer Impact
Households Affected
4M
Annual Cost Per Household
$700
💡 Did You Know?
- •Quartz countertop imports surged 340% from 2016 to 2023, devastating domestic producers
- •Cambria, headquartered in Minnesota, is the only major US quartz manufacturer
- •The tariff rate decreases each year: 25% → 23% → 21% → 19% over four years
- •A typical kitchen renovation uses 30-50 square feet of quartz — the tariff adds $500-900 to the project
Tariff Details
- HTS Code
- 6810.99
- Current Rate
- 25%
- Pre-2025 Rate
- 0%
- Tariff Type
- Section 201
Legal Authority
Section 201
Effective: 2025
Tariff imposed under presidential trade authority
The tariff on Quartz Countertops is paid by the American importer at the port of entry and passed through to consumers as higher retail prices. The foreign manufacturer does not pay the tariff.
Who Actually Pays This Tariff?
Despite claims that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, the 25% tariff on Quartz Countertops is paid by American importers — US companies that purchase these goods from abroad. The cost is then passed to American consumers through higher retail prices.
- ✓ The foreign seller receives the same price as before
- ✓ The US importer pays 25% of the customs value to CBP
- ✓ The retailer marks up the higher landed cost
- ✓ You pay more at the register: $2,800 → $3,500
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