Limestone vs Onyx: Which benchtop is best for your kitchen?

Short answer: Limestone and Onyx are both stunning natural stones, but limestone is more suited for kitchen use. Limestone is soft, warm, and earthy — beautiful but requires gentle care and develops patina. Onyx is a dramatic, translucent “feature stone” — brittle, porous, and best used decoratively, not as a prep surface.

Choose Limestone if you love natural warmth and are happy with gentle care.Choose Onyx for show-stopping accents and backlighting — not daily cooking.

Quick side-by-side

Factor	Limestone	Onyx
Look	Soft, warm, earthy tones; subtle movement	Crystalline, high-drama veining; translucent for backlighting
Hardness (scratch/chip)	Soft; Can scratch & chip with use	Brittle; can scratch, chip, and shatter
Stain resistance	Porous; needs sealing & fast cleanup	Very porous; stains quickly even when sealed
Etching (acids)	Etches from lemon, tomato, vinegar	Also etches — highly reactive
Fixability	Repairable, can re-hone; patina often stays visible	Repairs are difficult and often noticeable
Heat tolerance	Handles heat but avoid thermal shock	Heat + thermal shock risk; not for hot pots
Typical slab cost	~$1k–$2.5k per slab	~$4k–$5k per slab+ (colour rarity push price higher, can exceed this range)
Care level	High — seal regularly & avoid acids	Very high — protect, seal, treat gently
Best use cases	Low-use kitchens, bathrooms, feature areas	Bars, splashbacks, vanities, feature walls, lighting features

Which should you choose?

Choose Limestone if you:

✅ Want warm, natural texture

✅ Appreciate ageing & patina

✅ Will avoid acids & wipe spills fast

✅ Are using it thoughtfully (not a rough family kitchen)

Choose Onyx if you:

✅ Want a luxury, gemstone-like centrepiece

✅ Love the idea of backlit stone

✅ Are designing a bar, powder room, or feature splashback

✅ Understand it’s decorative, not practical

Kitchen reality check:Limestone = romantic, soft, European look — but needs care while Onyx = art piece, not really a worktop

Costing a standard Melbourne kitchen

For ~3 slabs (island + back bench + splashback):

• Limestone: ~$3k–$8k (slabs only)

• Onyx: ~$15k–$30k+ (slabs only)

Fabrication, mitres, installation & sealing are additional.

Ways to save & design smart

• Go Limestone on benchtops + Onyx on bar/dresser/feature

• Use one waterfall instead of two

• Choose simpler edges (reduces mitre work)

• Ask for in-stock batches

Designer combo idea: Limestone kitchen + Onyx backlit bar niche = luxury without stress.

Visit & select your slabs (Melbourne)

Viewing full slabs matters — tone & veining shift under lighting.

📍 9 Eileen Road, Clayton SouthWalk-ins welcome.Bring plans or sizes to estimate slab count.

FAQs

Is Limestone maintenance-free?

No — seal, clean gently, avoid lemon/tomato/acidic cleaners.

Does Onyx always stain and scratch?

If used like a bench, yes. Treated as a feature, it stays beautiful.

Can Onyx be backlit?

Yes — and that’s where it shines (literally).

Can I cut on either?

No. Limestone scratches; Onyx can chip/crack.

Hot pots?

Use trivets — especially on Onyx (thermal shock risk).