
What is the difference between floor tile and wall tile?
Answer: Floor tile is made thicker and harder to withstand foot traffic, appliances, furniture, etc. And most have added texture to reduce the risk of slips. Wall tile tends to be thinner, smoother and more delicate. It’s also much slicker when it’s wet, which is why wall tile is not recommended underfoot.
How thick are ceramic wall tiles?
Most floor tiles have a thickness of about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and can be manufactured in 4 by 4 inches up to 24 by 24 inches. When comparing the ceramic wall tile thickness vs. ceramic floor tile thickness, the ones made for floors are generally thicker than wall tiles.
How to choose the right floor tiles for your home?
The use of a power wet-saw is a good idea with these heavier tiles. The thinner, lighter nature of wall tiles makes them easier to cut and install. These are the best choice for wall installations, even though floor tiles can also be installed vertically on walls. But for floors, use only tiles rated for that use.
Which is easier to cut wall tiles or floor tiles?
1 Wall Tiles. Wall tiles, since they are thinner, tend to be easier to cut with simple score-and-snap cutters. 2 Floor Tiles. As thicker tiles, floor tiles are slightly more difficult to cut than wall tiles. ... 3 Best for Installation: Wall Tiles. The thinner, lighter nature of wall tiles makes them easier to cut and install. ...

What type of tile is the thinnest?
- Thin porcelain tile (TPT) AKA thin porcelain panels, are characterized by their minimal thickness of anywhere between 3 to 6 mm and a dimension of up to 5x10 feet in length and width. TPT is manufactured by using sinterization which is the high pressure, high temperature kilning process that creates the panels.
Are all tiles the same thickness?
There's no single standard thickness for wall and floor tiles - different types of tiles for different purposes are likely to be different thicknesses. That said, any tiles that are the same and from the same batch will be the same thickness. The exception is with some naturally quarried stone products.
What is the thickness of wall tiles?
How thick are wall tiles? A tile designed specifically for the wall is often thinner than floor tiles as less durability is required. Typically wall tiles range from 6mm to 10mm in thickness.
Should wall and floor tiles be same size?
Larger Tiles Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger It's important to note that wall tile should be complementary and must never be larger than the floor tile. Using wall tile that is larger than floor tile upsets the balance and proportional look of the room.
Are floor tiles thicker than wall tiles?
Answer: Floor tile is made thicker and harder to withstand foot traffic, appliances, furniture, etc. And most have added texture to reduce the risk of slips. Wall tile tends to be thinner, smoother and more delicate. It's also much slicker when it's wet, which is why wall tile is not recommended underfoot.
How thick is wall tile with thinset?
3/16th thickTile set by the thinset method is adhered to the substrate with a thin layer of "thinset" cement. The terms thinset cement, thinset mortar, dryset mortar, and drybond mortar are synonymous. This type of cement is designed to adhere well in a thin layer - typically not greater than 3/16th thick.
Are thicker wall tiles better?
Because they are stronger, tiles with a thicker thickness are less likely to break or crack than tiles with a thinner thickness. Because durability of porcelain floor tile is important in preventing cracks and damage, you may want to choose thicker porcelain tiles for flooring, especially in high-traffic areas.
Does Wall tile thickness matter?
Tile thickness really does matter to ensure the tiles are uniform and even across the surface. Make sure that you measure the space correctly as the incorrect tiles could lead to unwanted problems: Large gaps where the floor tiles and wall tiles meet.
How thick is standard floor tile?
As a rule, floor tile is typically 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick. Wall tile tends to be thinner and available in squares (3 inches to 6 inches). Mosaic tiles are usually the smallest tile, available in 2-inch squares. The most popular and readily available tile sizes are (in inches) 12 x 12, 16 x 16, 12 x 24 and 18 x 18.
Is it OK to use same tile on floor and wall?
Using the same types of tile on the wall and floor is most common in modern bathrooms as it creates a seamless finish and often makes a room feel bigger. However, it is all down to personal taste and style.
What size tile makes a room look bigger?
A 16″ or 18″ tile will generally give a room a larger feeling than a 12″ tile. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of grout lines. The less grout lines, the less busy your floor is and the more expansive it appears. This expansiveness naturally will make your room appear larger.
Can floor tiles be used as wall tiles?
Almost every floor rated tile can be used as a wall tile. Just keep in mind the size and weight of the tile in question. However please note that almost every wall tile is not suitable for a floor application.
What is standard tile thickness?
As a rule, floor tile is typically 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick. Wall tile tends to be thinner and available in squares (3 inches to 6 inches). Mosaic tiles are usually the smallest tile, available in 2-inch squares. The most popular and readily available tile sizes are (in inches) 12 x 12, 16 x 16, 12 x 24 and 18 x 18.
Why are some tiles thicker than others?
Bathroom tile thickness is determined by the choice of material and the tile finish that you choose for the area. The manufacturer is also a factor as each tile supplier has its own methods to create its signature tile styles.
What do you do with different tile thickness?
Spread thin set over a small area where the thinner tiles go, starting at the center of the room if possible. Install the tiles exactly as you did with the thick tiles, inserting spacers, checking with a level and using a rubber mallet to tap down high spots.
How thick is ceramic tile?
Tile Sizes Floor tile is usually 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick, manufactured in squares measuring 4 inches by 4 inches up to 24 inches by 24 inches. Other shapes are available, such as rectangular or subway tile, octagonal and hexagonal shapes.
Why do people use large format tile?
When one design is used on both surfaces, it has a way of dramatically increasing the impact of a space. Plus, because there are fewer grout lines in large-format tile installations, it creates a cleaner look that people are drawn to.
What is considered large format tile?
Answer: By industry terms, a tile is considered large-format when one side is longer than 15”. When using these oversized tiles on walls, they require different installation materials like specially formulated mortar to set properly. We recommend following the instructions carefully.
What is the PEI rating for tile?
As a rule, the less texture a tile has, the more slippery it is. Most manufacturers suggest a P.E.I rating of 3, 4, or 5 for residential floor tiles, and 4 or 5 for commercial zones. Most wall tiles have a PEI rating of 1 or 2.
What materials are used in tile?
There’s a wider range of materials (Metal, Glass, Stacked Stone, etc.) at play with wall tiles which helps to dial up the creativity. However, there have been many innovations and technological breakthroughs in the last few years that inspired unique floor tile designs – including porcelain and ceramic textile-inspired styles and wood looks.
Can you use floor tile on walls?
You start with the right kind of tile. Not every tile is fitting for every surface, so ensuring the ones you choose are made specifically for their purpose on either walls or floors is an important first step. While there is crossover—almost all floor tile can be used on walls— the reverse isn’t true.
Can porcelain tile be used on walls?
Answer: We just launched Livingstyle Porcelain, a new a seamless concept floor tile designed for the terrace and throughout your home. It can also be used on walls. It’s an ultra-durable large-format line—complete with lawn pavers—with a European limestone look. It’s ideal for softening the lines between your interior and exterior spaces.
Is floor tile better than wall tile?
Answer: Floor tile is made thicker and harder to withstand foot traffic, appliances, furniture, etc. And most have added texture to reduce the risk of slips. Wall tile tends to be thinner, smoother and more delicate. It’s also much slicker when it’s wet, which is why wall tile is not recommended underfoot.
What is thin set tile?
If you don’t know what that is, Thinset is an adhesive binding material that is used underneath tiles. This helps to glue them to the cement surface.
What are Accent Tiles Again?
But for those who don’t, here’s a quick recap. Accent tiles are a different colored or designed tile than the rest of your wall.
What is the best tile for a shower?
That’s because there’s no chance of staining it. It’s super water-resistant . Thus, perfect for bathrooms that can get humid. Moreover, they’re low maintenance and come in a variety of colors.
How thick is a floor tile?
Most floor tiles have a thickness of about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and can be manufactured in 4 by 4 inches up to 24 by 24 inches. When comparing the ceramic wall tile thickness vs. ceramic floor tile thickness, the ones made for floors are generally thicker than wall tiles.
What Is The Thickness Of Ceramic Floor Tile?
Most floor tiles have a thickness of about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and can be manufactured in 4 by 4 inches up to 24 by 24 inches. When comparing the ceramic wall tile thickness vs. ceramic floor tile thickness, the ones made for floors are generally thicker than wall tiles. A tile’s thickness usually depends on the material.
How thick should ceramic tile be?
The recommended thickness for ceramic tiles are 12 by 12 inches, but small tiles such as mosaic on mesh can be as thin as 1/8 inch and go up to 3/8 inch. Moreover, for the choice of tile thickness, the place of installation is different, and the thickness of ceramic tile used is also different.
Why is my ceramic tile black?
Too thick ceramic tile is difficult to sinter, easy to sinter, and easy to be black in the middle of the brick. Due to the low sintering degree and high water absorption, we all know that water absorption is an important factor affecting the quality of ceramic tiles. In addition, thicker ceramic tile will also cause the increase ...
How thick is thinset mortar?
This type of cement adheres well in a thin layer. Tile thickness with thinset varies. Typically, thinset isn't laid more than 3/16 of an inch thick.
How thick is 800x800 polished tile?
The general 800×800 polished tile is about 9mm-12mm, the precision jade is about 15-18mm, the porcelain tiles of 300×450 and 300×600 are generally about 7-10mm. The thickness difference between rustic tile and polished tile is not too much. The recommended thickness for ceramic tiles are 12 by 12 inches, but small tiles such as mosaic on mesh can ...
Does thicker ceramic tile increase transportation costs?
In addition, thicker ceramic tile will also cause the increase of transportation cost and raw material cost, which does not meet the environmental protection requirements of national energy conservation and emission reduction. Usually the thickness of the tiles is decided by the manufacturer. Manufacturers will refer to ...
What can be installed as an accent on field tile?
There are numerous really cool mosaics and liners which can be installed as an accent into your main field tile to add a unique touch to an otherwise standard tile installation. These are products such as glass and natural stone mosaics, individual painted tiles, or custom accents.
Can you cut field tile?
You can cut your main field tile with spaces large enough for your insert (don’t forget the measurement for the grout line around the mosaics). And tile away. When you’re finished you should have two different tiles, with different thicknesses, installed flush on the same plane. Like this here: Finished.
Can you use 1/4 inch backerboard for glass mosaic?
The biggest problem with these, however, is they are oftentimes not the same thickness as your main tile – they are usually thinner. This is especially true of most glass mosaics. I usually solve this problem with Schluter Ditra. Although I use ditra as my example in this post, you can also use regular 1/4″ backerboard if your inserts are significantly thinner.
Can you use 1/4" backerboard for field tile?
Photos 4 and 5 show how the ditra bumps it up to the same height as the field tile. If your insert is a LOT thinner, it may be better to use the 1/4″ backerboard, although you can double-up the di tra to make it thicker.
Can you use a ditra for tile?
This method works for backsplashes, shower walls, even tile floors. As long as you have good contact with the insert to the ditra, and good contact behind the ditra to the substrate, you should have a nice, flush tile installation which makes people go ‘ooooh, pretty’. Like these here:

Introduction
Tiles, What Are They?
- First of all, tiles are manufactured from a wide variety of materials including ceramic, stone, metal, glass, and a multitude of clay types which can impact their quality, strength, and functionalities. Raw materials used to manufacture tiles can essentially alter the characteristics and usage of the tiles.
What Is A Wall tile?
- When it comes to a wall tile, one has to first understand that ‘load bearing’ isn’t an aspect to be expected out of a wall tile. Therefore, tiles for walls are carefully selected to be thinner and lighter, ensuring the walls are not burdened with incompatible weights. To reduce unnecessary weightage, wall tiles minimise the usage of glazes since their primary attribute is to be placed w…
What Is A Floor tile?
- Contrary to wall tiles, floor tiles are supposed to bear a decent amount of foot traffic and weight, hence emphasising the quality of being a thicker, sturdier and relatively higher level of friction. Not much attention is given to detailed textures when it comes to floor tiles unlike its compatriot, wall tiles. Floor tiles can be installed in high...
How to Determine The Strength and Suitability of tiles?
- In order to identify the strength of the tiles and whether they go well with the floor or wall, the professionals do suggest a double rating system since installing the tiles can be trickier and also unsafe if certain standards are not properly taken into consideration
Installation Process
- The process of professional installation of either the floor or wall tiles is highly similar. Briefly, it begins with cement backer boards affixed against the flooring or ceiling joists. Unless you are replacing existing tiles, the floor or walls might be hacked first to remove the earlier ones. The flooring is plastered with a waterproof coating and allowed to dry. Wet or outside facilities, such …
Installation Cost
- Installation cost is an accumulation of different factors which includes the number of tiles, size of the installation area, type of tiles, location and labour. However, you may calculate the estimated cost using the following formula. Assuming you intend to install new tiles in your bathroom. Length and width must be multiplied, followed by dividing the total by the area of the tiles. Let’s …
Key Differences Between Wall & Floor Tiles
- While there may be numerous aspects that could possibly differentiate the wall and floor tiles, we are going to highlight essential differences between the two. This shall encompass look, resistance level, longevity and maintenance, cost, and lifespan.
How to Clean tiles?
- Ceramic Tiles and Porcelain Tiles
Any unclean ceramic floor tiles or wall tiles and porcelain wall tiles or floor tiles may be rapidly restored to new condition by simply wiping them down with your preferred household tile cleaner. The presence of mildew or mould could be eliminated with tile cleaners. - Natural Stone Tile
If they are real stones, marble or limestone with permeable surfaces that may leave stains on the tiles, you may need to resort to caustic cleaners such as vinegar or bleach although you are already aware of several stone cleaners in the market. In case you are persistent to try out a DIY …
Conclusion
- In a nutshell, there are a few key things you should know before installing either wall or floor tiles. It is crucial to understand the approximate size and layout of the areas where these tiles supposedly go as this will help with your budget. Types of flooring, flooring materials, water absorption rate, and types of floor tiles or wall tiles are among the factors that determine the de…