Here's How Much Space You Should Leave Between Tiles

When installing tile, you don't place them tight against each other — you leave a small space between each one because you need to add grout. To make your layout look as good as possible, you want to use consistent spacing for even grout lines. The size and design of the tiles are important factors when deciding how much space to leave between them — generally, anything from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch is workable. Some homeowners choose to go with something as narrow as 1/16 inch, which can help to create a more minimalist aesthetic.

As a general rule, smaller tiles have narrower grout lines, while larger ones typically have wider spaces. Moreover, wider grout lines are more common with flooring than with wall tiles. Following these rules provides a more visually pleasing final layout, as it looks proportional. In addition, choosing the right grout color for the tile plays a role in how the finished installation looks, too.

Some people believe wider grout lines are a sign of a poor-quality tiling job. However, installers may need to leave a greater gap between each tile when the subfloor isn't quite even, which makes it easier to hide inconsistencies. Or, if installers need to cut pieces at an odd angle to work around existing items in the room, a wider gap may help with laying the floor and making sure it looks cohesive.

You can use spacers to set a consistent gap between each tile. Spacers are usually made from plastic and are available in a range of thicknesses to ensure each tile is the same distance from the next. The most common sizes include 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, and 3/8 inch. If you are laying out smaller individual tiles that are anywhere from 2-by-2 inches to 12-by-12 inches, a narrower space between them is preferable, as it improves the aesthetics of the layout. With extremely small tiles, such as mosaic, professional installers will often opt for a grout line of 1/8 inch.

If you want a narrow gap, maintaining a consistent distance is extremely important. If the tiles end up too close to each other, they become more susceptible to chips at the edges. Tiles are known to expand and contract as the temperature and humidity change, and they could shift slightly if the home settles. Such movements only involve a tiny fraction of an inch, but they could cause some types of tiles to chip or crack when installed with extremely narrow gaps.

If you are installing larger tiles, such as 18-by-18 inches or 12-by-24 inches, using wider spaces between them delivers a proportional look for the layout. Another reason to use wider gaps is when you are using tiles with abnormal shapes. For example, with handmade tiles — which are rarely the exact same size due to the process of making them — wider grout lines help to provide the illusion of consistency. Terracotta or clay tiles, even those from professionals and large companies, will usually have slight variations, up to around 1/8 of an inch in dimensions and thickness.

You can opt for thin spaces between larger tiles, but this can be extremely challenging and is often best left to a professional. When trying to choose how much of a gap to put between tiles, start with any recommendations the manufacturer makes. It's possible that the manufacturer has found problems with breakage and chipping when using a really narrow gap, so they may recommend using a wider spacing in the layout.