Bathroom Tiles

How to choose bathroom tiles

Which tiles work best in a bathroom?

Porcelain is the safest all-round choice: it absorbs less than 0.5% water, so it can go on floors, walls and in the shower. Glazed ceramic is lighter, easier to cut and often lower-cost, and suits walls and splashbacks, but check that a ceramic tile is floor-rated before using it underfoot. Most ranges in this collection are porcelain; the material is listed on each product page.

Should I use floor tiles or wall tiles?

Floor tiles must be harder and more slip-resistant than wall tiles, so use porcelain bathroom floor tiles underfoot. Walls carry no foot traffic, so glazed ceramic works well; browse bathroom wall tiles for gloss, matt and textured finishes. A floor-rated tile can also run up the walls for a seamless look, and a feature wall behind the vanity or bath is the easiest place to add pattern.

What slip rating do I need for a bathroom or shower floor?

Choose P3 or higher for a bathroom floor and P4 for extra grip in the shower. Slip resistance is tested to AS 4586 and rated from P0 to P5. There is no legal minimum in a private home, so P3 is the usual recommendation; 570 tiles in this range are rated P3 to P5. Use the P-Rating filter above, or shop matt anti-slip tiles. Walls do not need a slip rating.

Which tiles suit a shower?

• Shower floor: a matt or textured porcelain rated P3 or higher, or mosaic tiles, which follow the fall to the drain and add grip. Avoid polished tiles underfoot.
• Shower walls: any glazed porcelain or ceramic. Larger formats mean fewer grout lines to clean; an epoxy grout resists stains and moisture.
• Waterproofing: it goes under the tiles and must meet AS 3740; your waterproofer or tiler handles it.

Which look should I choose?

• Stone and marble looks: marble look and stone look porcelain give a natural finish without the sealing natural stone needs.
• Pattern: terrazzo and patterned tiles work on floors; keep the walls plain.
• Shape: subway, kit kat and hexagon tiles add texture to a shower wall or niche; allow about 15% extra for herringbone.

Which tile goes where

Bathroom tile FAQs