Granite Shipping

Freight calculations are for custom countertops only. Freight for standard tile is significantly less expensive.

One of the most frequent questions about custom countertops is "How much will shipping cost?" It is possible to calculate the exact cost for basic delivery using the method and chart below. Although the basic delivery fee is sufficient for most orders, there may be an additional fee for supplemental services (such as: impassible/narrow street, steep driveway, etc.).

Countertop Freight Concerns

Although your custom granite countertop is rugged and durable, it still requires some special handling in transit. Marblemaster has selected a service that exercises due care so that delivery will be reliable and worry-free.

Delivery Services

When comparing rates for countertop delivery, it is important to specify "lift gate service" and "residential delivery" to avoid the "last minute surprise" of delivery difficulties. Residential lift-gate service is included in the rates quoted below.

Shipping Point of Origin

All custom countertops are shipped FOB San Diego, California to all destinations in the continental United States. The freight fee charged is determined by the shipping company: Marblemaster does not "mark-up" shipping charges.

Estimating the Countertop Freight Fee

The process is pretty straightforward and quite accurate! Determine the area of your countertop in square feet, determine the weight, find the freight fee on the table (below), and perform the final calculation. Here's the method, step-by-step:

Determine Countertop Area

If your countertop is 3 feet wide and 10 feet long, it will have an area of (3 x 10 =) 30 square feet.

If your countertop is 36 inches wide and 120 inches long, it will have an area of ((36 x 120) / 144 =) 30 square feet. There are 144 square inches in one square foot.

You must know your area in square feet for this calculation to be accurate, which is why there is an extra step in the "inches" example.

Determine Countertop Weight

Custom granite countertops from Marblemaster weigh 12.5 pounds per square foot. Multiply the area by this weight to get the total weight: (30 x 12.5 =) 375 pounds.

Determine Shipping Weight

A "hundredweight" is 100 pounds or any portion of 100 pounds.

Trucking companies deal with extremely heavy shipments, so they measure by the "hundredweight". To determine the hundredweight value, divide the weight in pounds by 100 and round up to the next number: (375 / 100 =) 3.75 => 4 hundredweight.

If you combine several custom granite countertops into one shipment, all the weight is added together before determining the hundredweight value. For example, 3 countertops at 375 pounds each would be: ((3 x 375) / 100 =) 11.25 => 12 hundredweight.

Determine Freight Cost

The chart below can be somewhat misleading. The column titles ("1-999") are in pounds, but the cost shown is "per hundredweight". This is why it is necessary to know the weight of the shipment in pounds and in hundredweight.

If your custom granite countertop shipment should weigh 901 pounds, the shipping rate would be taken from the "1000-1999" column because 901 pounds "rounds up" to 10 hundredweight.

Freight for one countertop: (375 pounds, 4 hundredweight) to Nevada:

• Find the state abbreviation ("NV") in the chart below.
• Read across to the "1-999 lb." column.
• Multiply the rate shown ("$46.09") by the hundredweight of the shipment: (4 x $46.09 =) $184.36.
• If this amount is less than the "minimum rate" ("$251.25") then the amount charged will be the minimum freight charge of $251.25.

Freight for three countertops: (1125 pounds, 12 hundredweight) to Nevada:

• Find the state abbreviation ("NV") in the chart below
• Read across to the "1000-1999 lb." column.
• Multiply the rate shown ("$31.88") by the hundredweight of the shipment: (12 x $31.88 =) $382.56.
• This amount is more than the minimum of $251.25, so the charge will be $382.56, or ($382.56 / 3 =) $127.52 each.
• In this example, combining all countertops into one shipment saves money!

Shipments Exceeding 1999 Pounds

The complete rate chart covers shipments of custom granite countertops to 24,000 pounds and beyond. Marblemaster routinely handles larger shipments to major construction projects and will be glad to supply a rate quotation on request.

Table of Shipping Rates
For Custom Granite Countertops

Table 5, May 20, 2003

Rates shown are supplied by the shipping company and are subject to revision without notice due to competitive pressures within the trucking industry. Marblemaster makes every effort to keep this information updated and accurate, but rates shown cannot be guaranteed. Column headings are in pounds, rates are per hundredweight.