The average cost to install recycled glass countertops is $2,700
The cost to install recycled glass countertops ranges from $1,500 to $10,500, with an average price of $2,700.
Material costs range from $55 to $130 per square foot, while labor costs are $30 to $80 per hour.
Factors influencing cost include countertop size, glass type, brand, installation complexity, and additional features.
Installing recycled glass countertops adds durability, unique aesthetics, and eco-friendliness to your kitchen or bathroom.
Hiring a professional countertop installer ensures correct and seamless installation, providing high-quality, lasting results for your home.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Expect to spend between $1,500 and $10,500 for a recycled glass countertop, with most projects falling near $2,700 for a 30-square-foot kitchen. Your final price hinges on labor rates, the glass design you pick, slab thickness, edging, and any custom work. Because recycled glass is durable, eye-catching, and eco-friendly, it’s an easy way to give your kitchen or bath a fresh style. Set a realistic budget upfront and hire a vetted countertop professional so your new counter looks great and lasts for years to come.
Several factors influence the cost of recycled glass countertops, including labor, colors and patterns, thickness, edging and seams, and custom work. Understanding these factors helps you budget effectively for your project.
Local countertop installers charge $30 to $80 per hour (or $10 to $50 per square foot) for labor. You’ll pay more if your layout is complex, your home is hard to access, demand is high in your area, or the crew needs to fabricate the slab on-site.
Color and pattern have a significant impact on both the appearance and the price. Smaller glass pieces create a softer vibe, while large chips feel more contemporary. If you want a rare blue or green mix, expect to pay extra, as these hues are more challenging to source.
Countertop Color | Average Cost Range |
---|---|
Bright white with off-white glass | $40–$55 |
Off-white with colored glass | $40–$55 |
White with off-white glass | $50–$70 |
White with colored glass | $85–$165 |
Thicker slabs cost more because they require additional material and take longer to produce, but they’re also sturdier and appear more substantial, making them worth the investment if you want maximum durability.
Edging and seams can quickly increase the price. Curves, rounded corners, or decorative profiles require extra skill, so professionals charge between $10 and $35 per linear foot for anything beyond a standard square edge. The payoff is a fully custom look that also helps prevent chips.
Edging Type | Average Cost per Lin. Ft. |
---|---|
Half or Full Bullnose | $10–$12 |
Bevel | $10–$12 |
Ogee, Dupont, Mitre, or Quirk | $20–$25 |
French Cove | $30–$35 |
A recycled glass slab costs $75 per square foot and provides the sleek, seamless surface that most homeowners desire in a kitchen. Lighter glass tiles cost far less—at $3 per square foot—but you’ll see grout lines between each piece.
If you need sink cutouts, a matching backsplash, or under-counter LED lighting, custom touches like these add $30 to $80 per hour in labor, as they require extra time, materials, and precision.
Your total cost also depends on the glass you choose—crushed, sea, tempered, and more each come with their own price tag.
Countertop Type | Average Cost per Sq. Ft. |
---|---|
Crushed glass | $50–$100 |
Sea glass | $100 |
Tempered glass | $75–$115 |
At a cost of between $50 and $100 per square foot, crushed glass is a common and affordable type of recycled glass used in countertops. Different shades of reused glass mix with resin or concrete to create a unique slab.
You can add sea glass to your recycled glass countertop for $100 per square foot. The glass particles, combined with resin or concrete, create a slab with pops of blue and green. Since sea glass is a semi-rare material, these countertops are slightly more expensive.
Tempered glass counters cost $75 to $115 per square foot and resemble a single, 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 often include installation costs in the price because the material is heavy and difficult to handle during installation.
Recycled glass counters range from budget to luxury brands. While a few economy options are available at big-box stores, most premium slabs are sourced through specialty distributors.
Brand | Average Price per Sq. Ft. |
---|---|
Bio-Glass | $85–$115 |
Curava | $50–$70 |
ThinkGlass | $200 |
Vetrazzo | $85–$165 |
Vetrostone | $85–$165 |
Bio-Glass countertops cost between $95 and $150 per square foot, including labor and materials. These countertops are made by melting glass into a solid sheet and contain 100% recycled glass, making them 100% recyclable. This blended surface contains fragments of hollow glass, tableware, and factory shards, depending on the color and availability of the product.
Curava countertops, including installation, range in price from $60 to $100 per square foot. They comprise roughly 60% recycled glass, 30% natural quartz, and 10% resin binder. Curava offers a 15-year limited warranty on its products.
This thermoformed glass costs between $200 and $400 per square foot, including installation. While it’s 100% recyclable, this brand only uses 25% recycled materials in its manufacturing process. ThinkGlass is a high-end product that comes in solid, translucent slabs with the option to add LED lighting under the surface.
Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops cost $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.
Vetrazzo is a high-end brand that produces only 16 recycled glass countertop slabs per month. The brand employs eight skilled artisans to handcraft each slab, and the company that manufactures the brand, Polycor, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. These countertops come with a 10-year warranty.
Budget between $85 and $170 for Vetrostone countertops. This brand is unique because it combines the best of glass and quartz countertops into a single product: engineered quartz, featuring recycled glass, sea glass, and even seashells. The countertops come with a one-year limited warranty.
To keep your countertop installation within budget, consider the following tips:
Save 20 to 30% by choosing crushed glass over premium options like ThinkGlass, while still enjoying the eco-friendly appeal.
Opt for simpler edge profiles to avoid the $10 to $35 per linear foot upcharge for decorative edges.
Select neutral colors that complement your overall design for better resale value—overly bold patterns might limit buyer appeal.
Match your countertop quality to neighborhood standards—while recycled glass can boost home value by 5 to 10%, going too luxurious for your area might not pay off at resale.
While DIY countertop installation can help you save on labor fees, it’s not recommended. Recycled glass slabs are heavy and unforgiving, and one wrong move can crack the entire piece. A seasoned countertop installer possesses the necessary equipment, experience, and expertise to set and level the slab safely. To avoid costly mishaps, hire a local countertop installation professional for a smooth, stress-free installation.
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
With routine care, a recycled glass countertop should give you 10 to 20 years of service. The material resists heat and stains, so everyday cooking won’t wear it down. Keep the surface clean, wipe up spills promptly, and schedule prompt repairs for chips to ensure your counter stays bright, durable, and eco-friendly.
Recycled glass falls on the lower end of the quartz price spectrum. You’ll pay $65 to $140 per square foot for recycled glass and $50 to $200 per square foot for quartz (most quartz jobs land near $70 to $100). Final costs depend on material grade, local labor, and any custom features. However, if you want a distinctive, eco-minded surface, recycled glass often offers the best value.
Most recycled glass countertops are non-porous, so you can skip the sealant. The exception is any slab made with a cement binder—you’ll need an annual coat of concrete sealant and a food-safe wax to prevent stains. Either way, regular cleaning and gentle use go a long way toward protecting the surface you just invested in.