The most common Italian marble is Carrara, named after the region of its origin. Carrara marble has a gray field or background with a light gray vein. This stone may also tend to be blue-gray, and the pattern is usually soft and feathery.

Then there is Statuary marble, whose name reminds people that some of the world's greatest statues are carved from marble (for example, Michelangelo's David). It also comes from the Carrara region. The statuary also has a bright white vision, but the color change is not as good as Calacatta. The veins are usually dark gray, so in this stone, there is a lot of contrast between light and dark.

Among these three types of marbles, perhaps surprisingly, Carrara is the best-priced marble because more marbles are mined, but they are considered less high-end. You may have to pay anything from US$75 to US$100 per square foot (not installed). Because Calacatta marble is rare and coveted, the price per square foot can be as high as $250, and the price of Statuary marble is usually about the same. Please note that prices vary from supplier to supplier-exclusive suppliers may charge higher prices (and offer more unique marbles) than large retailers.