What is a "Honed" or "Leathered" Finish and Is It Right for Your Quartz Worktop?

By Tudor Granite, Worktop Specialist | Updated: October 2025

There's a whole world beyond the traditional shiny worktop. Textured finishes are a growing trend, as we noted in our guide to modern quartz styles. This post explains the two most popular non-polished finishes: honed and leathered.

Honed Finish (Matte)

A honed finish is completely matte, with no shine at all. The surface is smooth to the touch but has a soft, satin-like appearance. It's achieved by stopping the polishing process before the surface becomes glossy.

• Pros: It has a very contemporary, sophisticated look. It's excellent at hiding fingerprints and smudges, making it a great choice for dark colours.
• Cons: Because the surface is not as sealed by polishing, it can be slightly more susceptible to showing oily marks. These can be easily cleaned, but they may be more visible initially.

Leathered Finish (Textured)

A leathered finish has a subtle, soft texture that mimics the feel of fine leather. It has a slight sheen but is not glossy. It's created using diamond-tipped brushes that remove finer particles of the stone, creating delicate contours.

• Pros: The texture is fantastic for hiding fingerprints, smudges, and water spots, making it extremely practical for a busy kitchen. It adds a unique tactile quality and depth to the stone.
• Cons: The texture can make it slightly harder to write on directly, and cleaning might require a cloth rather than just a sponge to get into the subtle texture.

Conclusion

If you want a modern, shine-free look, a honed finish is a great choice. If you want a practical, textured surface that feels unique and is brilliant at hiding everyday mess, a leathered finish is an excellent, family-friendly option.