A smart consumer shops around. But finding the cheapest quote for stone countertops may only save you more initially and actually cost you more in the long run. There are certain things you don't want to skimp on, like the quality of materials and the level of craftsmanship. To be able to properly compare different quotes for stone countertops, it's important to understand how you arrive at the total cost. A stone countertop project can be broken down into four categories: materials, labor, installation and profit.