Which marble is best for floors in Pakistan: types, durability and price 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.

Which marble types are used for floors in Pakistan?

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

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:

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?

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.

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. If you’re financing the build, compare home loans in Pakistan and the Punjab Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme.

More guides: Property · Marla to square feet · Home loans · Apni Chhat Apna Ghar · Property tax in Punjab