Why Do Natural Alabasters Have Such Different Prices?

Natural alabaster is widely used in chandeliers, wall lamps, table lamps and floor lamps because of its soft translucency, warm appearance and unique natural veining.

However, two products made from natural alabaster can have very different prices. In addition to material grade, veining and processing difficulty, the origin of the stone is also an important factor.

Natural alabaster used in the lighting industry commonly comes from Spain, Iran and China.

Based on our experience with international customers and market feedback, Spanish alabaster is generally the most popular, followed by Iranian alabaster and Chinese alabaster. Their typical prices usually follow the same order.

Spanish Alabaster

Spanish alabaster is widely appreciated for its soft translucency and natural cloud-like patterns.

Common selections include clear translucent material, snowflake-patterned material, brown-veined material and dark-veined material.

Carefully selected Spanish alabaster usually has a cleaner base color and a warmer, more even illuminated effect. It is therefore frequently used in lighting for hotels, villas, restaurants and premium commercial interiors.

Because of higher raw material costs, international transportation, strict selection and processing loss, Spanish alabaster is generally the most expensive of the three.

Iranian Alabaster

Iranian alabaster often has stronger color variations and more visible natural veining, including brown, yellow, grey and darker patterns.

When illuminated, it can create a richer and more dramatic natural stone appearance.

However, the color and translucency may vary more noticeably between different blocks and batches, so careful selection and matching are also required for bulk production.

Iranian alabaster is generally less expensive than Spanish alabaster but more expensive than Chinese alabaster. It is a suitable option for customers looking for a balance between natural character and project budget.

Chinese Alabaster

China also produces natural alabaster with naturally formed veining and translucent variations.

Compared with Spanish and Iranian alabaster, Chinese alabaster generally shows greater variation in base color, translucency and batch consistency.

Some pieces may appear greyer or more yellow, with more opaque areas or visible natural inclusions.

However, Chinese alabaster offers a clear price advantage and is suitable for projects with a controlled budget that still require genuine natural stone.

Why Are the Prices Different?

The price of natural alabaster is mainly influenced by:

• Origin and material grade
• Translucency and base color
• Distribution of natural veining
• Usable material yield
• Selection and matching for bulk orders
• Processing loss during cutting, polishing and drilling
• Transportation and import costs

Large lampshades require bigger and more complete sections of stone. Bulk orders also require materials with relatively similar colors, patterns and translucency, which increases selection costs and material loss.

Which Alabaster Is Suitable for Your Project?

For projects that prioritize soft translucency, premium appearance and strong international market recognition, Spanish alabaster is usually the preferred choice.

For projects requiring distinctive natural veining and a balance between appearance and cost, Iranian alabaster can be a suitable option.

For projects with a more limited budget that still require natural alabaster, Chinese alabaster offers a more economical solution.

The general market positioning can be summarized as follows:

Customer preference:
Spanish alabaster ＞ Iranian alabaster ＞ Chinese alabaster

Typical price positioning:
Spanish alabaster ＞ Iranian alabaster ＞ Chinese alabaster

Natural alabaster is not a standardized material. Even stones from the same origin can have different colors, patterns and illuminated effects.

At NHB Lighting, we mainly use carefully selected natural Spanish alabaster and choose suitable materials according to the size, shape and lighting requirements of each design, allowing every lamp to present its own natural beauty.