How to Buy Tile Online with Confidence: A Complete Guide

Buying tile online gives you access to more colors, materials, sizes, and finishes than most local showrooms can display. You can compare porcelain, ceramic, marble, travertine, mosaics, and decorative tiles without visiting multiple stores.

However, tile should not be selected from appearance alone. The right choice depends on where the tile will be installed, how the surface performs, how it looks in your room, and how much material the project requires.

The best approach is simple: choose tile according to the application, order a physical sample, verify the specifications, and calculate the complete quantity before placing your final order.

Quick Answer: How Do You Buy Tile Online?

To buy tile online with confidence:

1. Determine where the tile will be installed.

2. Choose a material and finish suitable for that application.

3. Review the product specifications carefully.

4. Order a physical sample whenever possible.

5. Examine the sample in your room and lighting.

6. Measure the installation area.

7. Add extra tile for cuts, breakage, and future repairs.

8. Order the entire project quantity at one time.

9. Inspect all boxes before installation begins.

Following these steps can help you avoid color, quantity, performance, and installation problems.

1. Choose Tile According to the Installation Area

The most attractive tile is only the right tile if it is suitable for the intended surface.

Kitchen Backsplash

Kitchen backsplashes are vertical surfaces with relatively light mechanical wear. Ceramic subway tile, porcelain tile, glass mosaics, marble mosaics, and other decorative wall tiles can all be excellent choices.

Because backsplashes are installed near cooking and food preparation areas, consider how easily the tile and grout joints can be cleaned.

Glossy finishes reflect light and can make a kitchen feel brighter. Matte and textured finishes create a softer, more natural appearance.

Bathroom Wall

Bathroom walls offer considerable design freedom. Ceramic, porcelain, marble-look tile, natural stone, and decorative mosaics can all be used to create distinctive interiors.

Glossy ceramic tile can help brighten a compact bathroom, while matte porcelain or honed natural stone can produce a calm, understated appearance.

Always confirm that the selected product is suitable for the intended wet or dry wall application.

Bathroom and Shower Floor

Wet floors require greater attention to surface texture and slip resistance.

Do not assume that every floor tile is appropriate for a shower floor. Review the product’s recommended applications, finish, size, slip-resistance information, and installation requirements.

Small mosaics are frequently used on shower floors because their many grout joints can provide additional traction. Their smaller format also makes it easier to follow the required slope toward the drain.

High-Traffic Floors

For kitchens, hallways, entrances, and busy living spaces, prioritize durability and ease of maintenance.

Porcelain is often selected for high-traffic areas because it is dense, durable, and generally resistant to moisture and stains. However, performance varies between products, so always review the specifications of the individual tile.

Outdoor Areas

Outdoor tile must be specifically suitable for exterior use and the local climate.

Freeze-thaw exposure, water absorption, drainage, surface texture, substrate preparation, and the installation system can all affect performance. Before ordering, confirm exterior suitability and discuss the installation with a qualified professional.

2. Compare Tile Materials by Performance

Two tiles may look almost identical online but perform differently after installation.

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tile is commonly used for:

• Residential and commercial floors

• Bathroom walls and floors

• Kitchens and entryways

• High-traffic areas

• Selected exterior applications

Porcelain is dense and typically offers strong resistance to moisture and everyday wear. It is available in matte, polished, textured, stone-look, marble-look, wood-look, and decorative finishes.

Always check whether the specific porcelain tile is approved for floors, walls, wet areas, or exterior use.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is often chosen for:

• Kitchen backsplashes

• Bathroom walls

• Shower walls

• Decorative features

• Residential wall applications

Ceramic tile is available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and glossy or matte finishes. Some ceramic products are designed only for walls, so they should not automatically be used on floors.

Marble Tile

Marble provides natural veining and unique visual character. It is frequently used for:

• Bathroom walls and floors

• Kitchen backsplashes

• Entryways

• Fireplace surrounds

• Decorative mosaics

• Luxury interior features

Because marble is a natural material, variation in color, pattern, veining, and mineral markings should be expected. Marble may require sealing and should be cleaned with products suitable for natural stone.

Travertine Tile

Travertine offers warm colors, natural texture, and distinctive surface characteristics. It can work well in traditional, Mediterranean, rustic, and contemporary interiors.

Natural voids, markings, and color variation are part of travertine’s appearance. Maintenance and sealing requirements depend on the finish and application.

Glass Mosaic Tile

Glass mosaics are commonly used for:

• Kitchen backsplashes

• Shower walls

• Decorative borders

• Niches

• Accent walls

Glass reflects light and can add color and depth to a design. Confirm that the tile, adhesive, grout, and substrate are compatible with the intended application.

3. Order a Physical Tile Sample

A physical sample is one of the most valuable steps when purchasing tile online.

Product photography helps you narrow your options, but screens do not always display color accurately. The same tile may also appear different depending on the room’s lighting, wall color, cabinets, countertops, and nearby flooring.

A physical sample allows you to evaluate:

• Actual color and undertone

• Surface texture

• Gloss level

• Veining and pattern

• Tile thickness

• Edge treatment

• Scale and proportions

• Coordination with other materials

How to Test a Tile Sample

View the sample in the room where the tile will be installed.

Move it around the space and examine it during different times of day. Daylight, warm artificial lighting, and cool artificial lighting can change the way a tile appears.

Hold a backsplash or wall tile vertically. Place floor samples horizontally and view them from standing height.

Compare the sample directly with cabinets, countertops, paint colors, plumbing fixtures, and existing flooring. Do not evaluate it only on a desk or against a blank white background.

If you are comparing multiple products, label each sample and photograph it in the intended space. This can make the final decision much easier.

4. Understand Tile Shade and Pattern Variation

Variation is not necessarily a defect. In many ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone products, variation is an intentional part of the design.

Some tiles are manufactured to look highly uniform. Others are designed with noticeable differences in color, pattern, or texture from one piece to another.

Natural stone can vary in:

• Background color

• Veining

• Mineral markings

• Texture

• Fossil formations

• Surface movement

Before ordering, ask:

• Is the tile designed to look uniform or varied?

• Does the product page show multiple tile faces?

• Are installed-room photographs available?

• Will the variation complement the other materials in the room?

• Have I seen enough pieces to understand the overall appearance?

One sample may not represent the full range of a product with significant variation.

Before installation, open several boxes and dry-lay pieces from different cartons. Mixing tiles from multiple boxes helps distribute variation across the surface and prevents similar tiles from forming visible clusters.

5. Calculate How Much Tile You Need

For a rectangular surface, calculate the area using this formula:

Square footage = length in feet × width in feet

For example, a floor that measures 10 feet by 12 feet contains:

10 × 12 = 120 square feet

For irregular rooms, divide the area into smaller rectangles. Calculate each section separately and add the results together.

To calculate the number of boxes:

Number of boxes = required square footage ÷ square feet per box

Always round up to the next full box.

For example, if your project requires 132 square feet and each box covers 15.5 square feet:

132 ÷ 15.5 = 8.52 boxes

You would need to order at least nine full boxes.

6. How Much Extra Tile Should You Order?

Ordering only the exact measured square footage can leave you without enough material.

Extra tile may be needed for:

• Perimeter cuts

• Corners and transitions

• Broken or damaged pieces

• Pattern alignment

• Irregular room shapes

• Installation errors

• Future repairs

Many straightforward residential projects begin with approximately 10% extra tile as a planning allowance.

However, there is no universal percentage for every installation. Diagonal patterns, herringbone layouts, irregular rooms, large-format tiles, natural stone, or projects with many cuts may require more.

Your installer should review the layout and confirm the final quantity before you order.

Keep several unused tiles after installation. If a tile becomes damaged in the future, a matching replacement from the original order can be extremely valuable. The same product purchased years later may come from a different production lot or may no longer be available.

7. Plan the Tile Layout Before Ordering

The installation pattern affects both appearance and material usage.

Popular layouts include:

• Straight stack

• Running bond or brick pattern

• Vertical stack

• Herringbone

• Basketweave

• Diagonal layout

• Modular patterns

Complex patterns usually require additional cuts and may increase the amount of extra tile needed.

Large-format tile can create a clean, continuous surface with fewer grout joints. However, substrate flatness, alignment, and cut planning become especially important.

Ask your installer to prepare a layout that considers:

• Main focal points

• Doorways and transitions

• Plumbing fixtures

• Shower niches

• Outside corners

• Perimeter cuts

• Grout-joint placement

Good planning helps prevent narrow tile pieces from appearing at highly visible edges.

8. Read the Product Specifications Carefully

Do not choose tile based only on the title, color, and main photograph.

Review all available product details, including:

• Material

• Nominal and actual dimensions

• Finish

• Thickness

• Pieces per box

• Square feet per box

• Wall or floor suitability

• Wet-area suitability

• Indoor or outdoor suitability

• Edge type

• Shade variation

• Recommended care

• Sealing requirements

A polished porcelain wall tile, a textured porcelain floor tile, and a porcelain mosaic may all be made from porcelain, but they can have very different applications.

If an important specification is unclear, confirm it before placing your order.

9. Order the Entire Project at One Time

Once you approve the sample and confirm the required quantity, order the complete project at the same time whenever possible.

Separate orders may be supplied from different production lots. Tiles manufactured at different times can show slight variations in shade, pattern, or dimensions.

When the shipment arrives:

1. Check the product name and item number.

2. Confirm the size, color, and finish.

3. Compare shade, caliber, or lot information on the cartons when available.

4. Inspect the boxes for visible shipping damage.

5. Open several boxes and review the overall variation.

6. Dry-lay tiles from different cartons.

7. Report any problem before installation begins.

Do not install tile that appears damaged, incorrect, or inconsistent with the approved product. Installation is generally considered acceptance of the material.

10. Coordinate Tile, Grout, Trim, and Setting Materials

Tile is only one part of the completed installation.

Grout Color

A grout color close to the tile creates a softer and more continuous appearance. Contrasting grout emphasizes the tile shape and installation pattern.

For example, white subway tile with white grout appears clean and subtle. The same tile with dark grout creates a stronger graphic pattern.

Test the tile and grout combination before making the final decision.

Trim and Transitions

Plan exposed edges, outside corners, shower niches, curbs, baseboards, and transitions before installation begins.

Depending on the collection and design, you may need:

• Bullnose tile

• Pencil molding

• Natural stone trim

• Corner pieces

• Metal profiles

• Transition strips

Do not wait until the final stage of installation to decide how exposed edges will be finished.

Mortar, Adhesive, Grout, and Sealer

Installation materials must be compatible with the tile, substrate, environment, and manufacturer’s instructions.

Some light-colored natural stones may require white setting materials to reduce the risk of discoloration. Natural stone and certain grout products may also require sealing.

Consult a qualified installer and follow the setting-material manufacturer’s recommendations.

Common Mistakes When Buying Tile Online

Avoid these frequent ordering mistakes:

• Choosing tile by color alone

• Ignoring the recommended application

• Skipping the physical sample

• Assuming one sample represents all possible variation

• Ordering the exact measured area with no extra material

• Splitting one project into several orders

• Forgetting to check square feet per box

• Ignoring trim and transition pieces

• Selecting polished tile for a wet floor without verifying suitability

• Installing tile before inspecting the entire shipment

• Hiring an installer only after the quantity has already been finalized

The Best Way to Buy Tile Online

A successful online tile purchase follows a clear process:

Define the application → compare suitable materials → order samples → examine them in the room → verify product specifications → measure the project → plan the layout → add the appropriate extra quantity → order the full project → inspect everything before installation.

American Tile Depot offers porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, mosaics, subway tile, and finishing pieces for projects ranging from kitchen backsplashes to complete floor and wall installations.

Explore the available collections, compare products according to your application, and order a sample when available before committing to the full project quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Safe to Buy Tile Online?

Yes. Buying tile online can be reliable when you review the product specifications, order a physical sample, calculate the complete quantity, check shipping and return terms, and inspect the material before installation.

Should I Order a Tile Sample First?

Yes. A physical sample helps you evaluate the tile’s actual color, finish, texture, thickness, and scale in your room. If the tile has significant variation, one sample may not show its complete visual range.

How Much Extra Tile Should I Order?

Approximately 10% extra is a common starting estimate for straightforward residential layouts. Complex patterns, diagonal installations, irregular rooms, large-format cuts, or fragile materials may require more. Ask your installer to confirm the final amount.

Can Tile from Different Orders Look Different?

Yes. Tile from different production lots can vary slightly in shade, pattern, or dimensions. Order the complete project quantity at the same time and compare the carton information before installation.

How Do I Calculate Tile Square Footage?

Multiply the length of the surface by its width in feet. Add the areas of all sections, include the appropriate extra quantity, divide the total by the square-foot coverage per box, and round up.

Is Porcelain Always Better Than Ceramic Tile?

No. Porcelain is often preferred for demanding floors and moisture-prone areas, while ceramic can be an excellent and economical option for many walls and backsplashes. The best choice depends on the product specifications and intended application.

Can Wall Tile Be Installed on a Floor?

Only if the manufacturer identifies the product as suitable for floors. Wall-only tile may not be designed to withstand foot traffic or floor loading.

Can Floor Tile Be Used on a Wall?

In many cases, floor-rated tile can be installed on a wall, but the tile’s weight, substrate, setting material, and installation method must be suitable. Confirm the installation requirements with a qualified professional.

What Should I Do When My Tile Shipment Arrives?

Verify the product, size, color, finish, quantity, and carton information. Inspect the shipment for damage, open several boxes, and dry-lay pieces from multiple cartons before installation.

Why Should I Keep Leftover Tile?

Leftover tile provides a close match for future repairs. A replacement ordered later may come from a different production lot, have a slightly different appearance, or no longer be available.