# Which marble is best for floors in Pakistan: types, durability and price per sq ft

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/which-marble-is-best-for-floor/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 18 Oct 2026

## Summary

For most Pakistani homes, Botticino Fancy, Tavera or Sunny White is the practical floor marble, at about Rs 85 to 210 per sq ft for material in two price lists we read in October 2026. Ziarat White, the premium white, costs Rs 320 to 385; Sunny Grey and Badal start at Rs 65. Marble is soft (calcite rates 3 on the Mohs scale) and acids can etch it; granite and porcelain resist better. Laid and polished in Lahore, local marble costs Rs 290 to 510 per sq ft.

## Key facts

- Budget marble (Sunny Grey, Badal): Rs 65-90 per sq ft
- Ziarat White: Rs 320-385 per sq ft
- Local marble laid and polished, Lahore: Rs 290-510 per sq ft
- Porcelain tile installed, Lahore: Rs 410-650 per sq ft

Which marble is best for flooring in Pakistan? For most houses, a mid-priced local stone such as **Botticino Fancy, Tavera or Sunny White**, at about **Rs 85 to 210 per sq ft** for floor grade in two price lists we read in October 2026, does the job. **Ziarat White** is the premium Pakistani white at Rs 320 to 385. **Sunny Grey and Badal** are the cheapest, from Rs 65. All marble scratches and dulls more easily than granite or porcelain tile, so choose by room, not only by colour.

**These are dealer prices, not an official rate:** No government body publishes marble prices. The rates here come from two price lists we read on 18 Oct 2026: **K2 Stones**, a dealer in Rawat supplying Islamabad and Rawalpindi (material only, undated page), and **Avenir Developments**, a Lahore and Islamabad design-build firm (Q4 2026 rate set, which it says is compiled from published sources, not its own supplier quotes). Neither is a recommendation. Get at least three quotes, and ask whether the rate includes cutting, polishing and transport.

## Which marble types are used for floors in Pakistan?

Floor-grade stone, material only, Rs per sq ft:

| Marble | Look | K2 Stones (Islamabad/Rawalpindi) | Avenir (Lahore retail) |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Sunny Grey** | Even grey | 70 to 85 | 65 to 75 |
| **Badal Grey** | Cloudy grey | 75 to 90 | 70 to 80 |
| **Tavera** | Cream beige | 90 to 110 | 85 to 100 |
| **Sunny White** | Light, near white | 110 to 130 | 105 to 120 |
| **Botticino Fancy** | Beige with fine veins | 170 to 200 | 190 to 210 |
| **Verona** | Warm beige | 200 to 250 | 150 to 300 |
| **Black and Gold** (Michael Angelo) | Black with gold veins | 275 to 450 | Not listed |
| **Ziarat White** | Premium white | 320 to 360 | 330 to 385 |

Avenir describes Badal Grey as "the usual budget stone for rooms and galleries" and Sunny Grey as hard wearing and common in kitchens and washrooms. It calls Botticino Fancy a common drawing-room stone and Ziarat White "the premium Pakistani white", where grade and block consistency drive the price. Ziarat White is quarried in Ziarat, Balochistan, and can show grey streaks (Zameen).

**Imported marble costs far more.** K2 Stones lists imported Italian Botticino Classico at Rs 500 to 800 per sq ft and Carrara White at Rs 1,200 to 2,500. So a "Botticino" quote far above the local Botticino Fancy rates above is probably for imported stone: ask where it comes from.

## Which marble is best for flooring in Pakistan, room by room?

- **Bedrooms and galleries on a budget:** Sunny Grey, Badal or Tavera. Avenir prices these laid and polished in Lahore at Rs 290 to 510 per sq ft.
- **Lounge and drawing room:** Botticino Fancy, Sunny White or Verona, the "standard" group in K2 Stones' list.
- **Entrance, formal rooms and a white look:** Ziarat White. Laid and polished, premium marble costs Rs 460 to 840 per sq ft in Lahore (Avenir).
- **Kitchens and washrooms:** Sunny Grey, which Avenir calls hard wearing and common there, with **granite** for the worktop (see below).
- **Car porch and heavy-use entrances:** granite, which Avenir lists for entrances, porches and lobbies.

## What do marble stairs cost?

Stairs use stair-grade stone: treads and risers cut to size, edged and matched, measured separately from the floor area. That costs more per sq ft:

| Marble | Floor grade | Stair grade | Kitchen or vanity top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Grey | 70 to 85 | 160 to 195 | 220 to 240 |
| Badal Grey | 75 to 90 | 250 to 285 | 350 to 385 |
| Tavera | 90 to 110 | 230 to 270 | 320 to 370 |
| Botticino Fancy | 170 to 200 | 240 to 265 | 350 to 390 |
| Ziarat White | 320 to 360 | 480 to 550 | 750 to 850 |

Rs per sq ft, material only, from K2 Stones' list (Islamabad/Rawalpindi), read 18 Oct 2026.

## Marble vs granite vs porcelain tiles: which is better?

| | Local marble | Granite | Porcelain tile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Calcite (Mohs 3) | One of the hardest dimension stones | Ceramic, ISO 13006 Group BIa |
| Water absorption | Low; below ASTM limits in tests on 22 northern Pakistani varieties | 0.05% to 0.40% | Under 0.5% (under 0.1% for polished homogeneous) |
| Acids (lemon, vinegar) | Can dull or etch the surface | Recommended for kitchen worktops by the Natural Stone Institute | Glazed porcelain rated class A for chemicals by STILE |
| Scratches | Grit and sand scratch it | Harder than kitchen utensils | Abrasion class III to V on STILE's datasheet |
| Installed, Lahore, Q4 2026 | Rs 290 to 510 (local); Rs 460 to 840 (Ziarat White, Botticino) | Rs 650 to 1,040 | Rs 410 to 650 (local 24x24) |

**Marble is the softest of the three.** Its main mineral, calcite, rates 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, and a steel knife blade is about 5 to 6.5. The Natural Stone Institute says the minerals in most granites are harder than kitchen utensils. The Natural Stone Institute warns that calcite is attacked by mild acids found in kitchens, and that products with lemon or vinegar can dull or etch it.

**Marble is cheaper to lay than granite.** In Lahore, local marble laid and polished costs Rs 290 to 510 per sq ft against Rs 650 to 1,040 for granite (Avenir, Q4 2026). The floor is ground and polished on site after laying, and Avenir's rates include that.

**Porcelain tile soaks up the least water.** STILE, a Pakistani tile maker, labels its porcelain ISO 13006 Group BIa and lists glazed porcelain at under 0.5% water absorption, against 14% to 16% for ordinary ceramic tile. For imported Chinese porcelain, Avenir advises checking the water absorption and PEI wear rating, not the photo.

**Granite is the hardest and most expensive to lay.** The Natural Stone Institute calls it ideal for kitchen worktops and heavily used floors. Avenir notes it is the slowest to cut, so labour costs more.

**Pakistani marble prices have risen since 2020:** Ziarat White: Rs 288 to Rs 320+ (Zameen's blog put the average at Rs 288 per sq ft in April 2020; dealer lists show Rs 320 to 385 in October 2026. Tavera went from Rs 58 to about Rs 85 to 110. Different sellers, so treat this as a rough guide.)

## How do I keep a marble floor looking new?

The Natural Stone Institute's care advice:

- **Dust-mop often** and put mats at entrances. Sand and grit scratch stone.
- **Blot spills straight away** with a paper towel; wiping spreads them.
- Clean with a **neutral stone cleaner** or mild dishwashing liquid in warm water. Never use vinegar, lemon or acid cleaners.
- **Sealing** makes stone more stain-resistant, not stain-proof.

Avenir also warns that travertine is naturally pitted and collects dirt unless it is filled and sealed.

## What else adds to the cost of a marble floor?

The stone is only part of the bill. Avenir's installed rates add wastage, the bed the stone sits on, grout, fixing labour, skirting and on-site polishing. They leave out levelling screed, waterproofing, stairs, wall tiling, contractor overheads and taxes, so ask whether a quote covers those. Natural stone costs 0% to 4% more in Islamabad than in Lahore, Avenir says.

To work out floor area from your plot size, use our [marla to square feet converter](/property/tools/marla-to-square-feet/). If you're financing the build, compare [home loans in Pakistan](/money/guides/home-loan-pakistan/) and the Punjab [Apni Chhat Apna Ghar](/money/guides/apni-chhat-apna-ghar/) scheme.

**More guides:** [Property](/property/) · [Marla to square feet](/property/tools/marla-to-square-feet/) · [Home loans](/money/guides/home-loan-pakistan/) · [Apni Chhat Apna Ghar](/money/guides/apni-chhat-apna-ghar/) · [Property tax in Punjab](/property/guides/property-tax-punjab/)

## Questions people ask

### Which white marble is best for flooring?

Ziarat White is the premium Pakistani white, at about Rs 320 to 385 per sq ft for floor grade in two price lists we read in October 2026. Sunny White is the cheaper white, at about Rs 105 to 130.

### Is marble or tiles better for floors in Pakistan?

Porcelain tile absorbs less than 0.5% water, and glazed porcelain resists kitchen chemicals. Marble is softer and can dull with lemon or vinegar. Installed in Lahore, local marble costs Rs 290 to 510 per sq ft and local porcelain Rs 410 to 650 (Q4 2026).

### What is the price of marble per square foot in Pakistan?

Floor-grade local marble runs from about Rs 65 (Sunny Grey) to Rs 385 (Ziarat White) per sq ft for the stone alone, in K2 Stones' and Avenir's price lists, read 18 Oct 2026. Cutting, polishing, transport and fixing are extra.

### Which marble is best for stairs?

Stairs use stair-grade stone, cut to size and edged, which costs more: in K2 Stones' and Avenir's lists, about Rs 150 to 195 per sq ft for Sunny Grey, Rs 240 to 280 for Botticino Fancy and Rs 480 to 550 for Ziarat White.

### Is granite better than marble for a kitchen?

Yes, for a worktop. The Natural Stone Institute calls granite ideal for kitchen counters because it resists scratches and absorbs only 0.05% to 0.40% water, while kitchen acids can etch marble.

## Sources

- [Marble Prices in Pakistan (dealer list, Islamabad/Rawalpindi)](https://k2stones.com/marble-prices/), K2 Stones (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Flooring Costs in Pakistan (2026 Price Guide), Q4 2026 rate set](https://avenirdevelopments.com/house-construction-cost/flooring-costs-in-pakistan/), Avenir Developments (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [What Is Marble, Onyx & Serpentine? Technical Data and Best Practices](https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/consumers/varieties/marble/), Natural Stone Institute (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Granite](https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/consumers/varieties/granite/), Natural Stone Institute (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Care and cleaning of natural stone](https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/consumers/care/), Natural Stone Institute (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Mohs Hardness Scale](https://geology.com/minerals/mohs-hardness-scale.shtml), Geology.com (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Technical Characteristics (porcelain and ceramic tiles)](https://www.stile.com.pk/technical-characteristics/), STILE (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Geo-mechanical properties of marble deposits from the Nikani Ghar and Nowshera formations, Northern Pakistan: a review (Himalayan Geology, 2016)](https://experts.boisestate.edu/en/publications/geo-mechanical-properties-of-marble-deposits-from-the-nikani-ghar/), Fahad et al., via Boise State University (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Types & Prices of Marble Flooring in Pakistan (prices as of April 2020)](https://www.zameen.com/blog/types-rates-marble-flooring-pakistan.html), Zameen.com (accessed 18 Oct 2026)