Types of Granite Finishes

Granite isn’t just about color or pattern — its finish defines its character. Whether you’re designing a modern kitchen, exporting slabs for global clients, or choosing stone for outdoor flooring, the right granite finish transforms both look and performance. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular types of granite finishes — from polished and honed to flamed and tumbled — and explain where each one works best.

Polished Finish

A polished granite finish features a glossy, mirror-like surface that enhances the stone’s natural color and veining. The smooth, reflective surface gives a luxurious appearance, making it a top choice for kitchen countertops, wall cladding, and monuments.

Polished granite is also easy to clean and maintain, though it may become slippery when wet — so it’s best suited for interior spaces.

Honed Finish

A honed finish offers a smooth but matte texture, creating a soft, satin-like appearance. It has no shine but retains the elegance of granite. This finish is ideal for indoor flooring, bathrooms, and staircases, where you want a subtle look without glare.

It’s less prone to showing scratches or etching, making it practical for high-traffic areas.

Leathered (Brushed) Finish

The leathered finish, also known as a brushed finish, is a favorite among modern designers. It has a textured surface with a soft sheen, giving granite a natural yet refined look. This finish maintains the stone’s character while effectively hiding fingerprints and water spots.

It’s less prone to showing scratches or etching, making it practical for high-traffic areas.

Flamed Finish

A flamed finish is created by exposing granite to intense heat, causing the surface to burst and become rough. The result is a natural-looking, slip-resistant texture with slightly lighter tones than polished granite.
This makes it ideal for outdoor paving, pool decks, and exterior stairs — anywhere slip resistance is important.

Bush-Hammered Finish

A bush-hammered granite finish has a uniformly pitted, rugged texture created using a hammer-like tool. It’s a highly slip-resistant surface, perfect for exterior flooring, pathways, and public spaces.
This finish gives a sturdy, weathered appearance that pairs well with rustic and industrial designs

Sandblasted Finish

A sandblasted finish has a dull, slightly rough texture achieved by blasting the stone with sand or other abrasives. It produces a fine, uniform appearance that’s both elegant and understated.
Common applications include exterior walls, building facades, and memorials where subtle texture enhances visual appeal.

Antique Finish

An antique finish gives granite a soft, aged appearance with a gently uneven texture. It’s popular for interiors that aim for a traditional or vintage aesthetic, blending seamlessly into rustic kitchens, living areas, and heritage-style designs.

Sawn Finish

A sawn finish is flat but not smooth — it shows visible saw marks left from the cutting process. It’s usually used as a base finish for other treatments like polishing or honing. However, some industrial or minimalist designs use sawn granite for its raw, natural look.