Wall Tile
- Wall tiles
- 3,198
- Price per sq ft
- $1.99 to $116.15
- Rectified edges
- 1,295
- Samples
- $4.99
Sizes compared
From our 3,198 wall tiles. Prices are per sq ft.
| Size (in) | Tiles | From | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12x24 | 420 | $2.05 | $9.45 |
| 24x48 | 366 | $1.99 | $10.45 |
| 24x24 | 141 | $3.55 | $9.45 |
| 12x12 | 118 | $3.79 | $12.62 |
| 2x2 | 113 | $8.29 | $20.25 |
| 48x48 | 93 | $5.95 | $11.75 |
| 6x24 | 76 | $6.15 | $11.39 |
| 18x18 | 69 | $4.55 | $14.79 |
How to choose wall tile
Four questions settle most wall tile choices.
Will it get wet? A shower wall or a bathtub with tile walls needs a waterproof membrane or waterproof backer behind the tile; the tile itself does not have to be porcelain. Glazed ceramic, glass and sealed stone all work. For the full wet-area picture, see shower tile.
How will light hit it? Glossy glazes bounce light and brighten a small room, but light raking across a glossy wall shows every high and low spot. Matte finishes hide an imperfect wall better. Window walls and under-cabinet lights are the hard cases. Wall tiles for living room feature walls stay dry, so the lighting plan matters more there than the material.
How big can the tile be? Large tiles need a flat wall: once any side reaches 15 inches, the tile is large format, and the wall behind it should deviate 1/8 in or less across 10 ft. Small formats such as 3x6 subway or mosaics are more forgiving of minor waves, though the wall should still be sound and reasonably flat before tiling. Compare the classic in subway tile.
How will the edges finish? Exposed edges at a tile wall, niche or window need bullnose pieces from the same series or a metal edge trim, so check what the series offers before you commit. Joint width follows the edge: rectified tile can close to 1/16 in, while pressed tile wants 1/8 in or wider.
Lighter weight matters too: thin ceramic is easier to hang on a tall wall than thick porcelain, and it cuts with a score-and-snap cutter. For the area behind a range or sink, see backsplash tile.
Questions
What is the best tile for walls?
Glazed ceramic suits most indoor walls because it is light, cuts with a simple score-and-snap cutter and takes glossy or handmade-look glazes. Glass works for accent bands and niches, set in white thinset if it is clear. Natural stone and stone-look porcelain suit feature walls and fireplaces. On a wet wall, the waterproofing behind the tile matters more than which of these you pick.
When is porcelain worth it on a wall?
When the wall is outdoors where it freezes and the tile is rated frost-resistant to ASTM C1026, when the tile has to match a porcelain floor, or when one tile must run across both. Porcelain absorbs 0.5% water or less, but indoors that advantage is small, since a waterproof membrane protects a shower wall anyway. Otherwise ceramic is lighter, cheaper and quicker to cut, and its higher absorption does not hurt a dry or waterproofed wall.
Can I use wall tile on a floor?
Only if the tile is rated for floors. A glazed wall tile with PEI under 3 will show wear quickly where people walk, and many glossy wall glazes are slippery when wet. Check the product for PEI 3 or higher for home floors and a DCOF rating for wet areas. If neither rating is listed, treat the tile as wall-only.
What wall tiles work in a living room?
Almost any wall tile works in a living room, because the wall stays dry and no one walks on it. Ceramic, glass, stone and stone-look porcelain all suit a feature wall. Around a fireplace, tile is non-combustible, but the fireplace maker's clearances still apply, local code governs the hearth extension, and the thinset must be rated for the heat. Plan the lighting early; a wall-washer light shows off texture and every flaw.
How much does wall tile cost?
Wall Tile at Sara Zoha runs from $1.99 to $116.15 per square foot, tile only; half of the 3198 styles fall between $9.05 and $19.99. Tile sold by the box covers about 13.56 sq ft per box, so the per-box price is roughly $168.82 for a mid-priced style. Every product page shows both prices and a calculator that rounds your room up to whole boxes.
What sizes does wall tile come in?
The most common sizes here are 12x24 (420), 24x48 (366), 24x24 (141), 12x12 (118), 2x2 (113) and 48x48 (93) inches. Thickness runs from 3 to 38.1 mm. Larger formats mean fewer grout lines but need a flatter floor; small formats and mosaics follow curves and shower slopes.
Which finishes are available in wall tile?
Matte (1180), Polished (751), Honed (468), Glossy (205) and Natural Cleft (196). Matte hides water spots and is the usual pick for floors; polished reflects light but is slippery when wet, so keep it to walls and dry floors; honed is smooth without shine and suits floors and showers; glossy brightens small spaces and wipes clean on walls.
What colours does wall tile come in?
white (1199), gray (722), beige (576), brown (211), black (182) and blue (80). Colour reads differently on every screen, so order a $4.99 sample of your shortlist and look at it in the room, morning and evening.