Best Tile for a Shower: Walls, Floors, and Costs

The best tile for a shower is porcelain. We recommend it because it resists water, holds up for years, and works with almost any style.

Your ideal pick also depends on the surface. Large tiles suit walls, while small, textured tiles grip better on wet floors. Choosing the best tile for shower walls and floors comes down to water resistance, slip resistance, and upkeep.

Best Tile for a Shower at a Glance

Use this table to compare popular shower tiles side by side. Costs come from Angi's tile cost data and reflect materials only, before installation. Angi data shows shower tile spans a wide range, from $0.50 per square foot for basic ceramic to $300 for high-end marble.

For most showers, porcelain is the best all-around pick. Choose textured mosaics or pebbles for grip, ceramic for a lower budget, and natural stone if you accept regular sealing.

Best Tile for Shower Walls

Walls stay drier than floors and take less abuse, so you have more freedom here. We recommend large-format porcelain and ceramic subway tiles. Bigger tiles mean fewer grout lines, which means less scrubbing later.

Fewer grout lines also make it easier to keep shower grout clean over time. For a high-end look on a budget, marble-look porcelain copies the veining of real stone without the sealing. Save true marble and glass mosaics for accent strips or a feature wall.

Best Tile for Shower Floors

Shower floors need grip and drainage. Small tiles, such as 2-inch mosaics, hexagons, or penny rounds, add grout lines that channel water and boost traction. A matte or textured finish beats a polished one on any wet floor.

For more surface options, see our guide to the best tile for a bathroom floor.

Non-Slip Shower Floor Tile

Slip resistance has a rating called DCOF, or dynamic coefficient of friction. The ANSI A137.1 standard calls for a DCOF of 0.42 or higher on wet floors. Check this number on the tile's spec sheet before you buy.

Textured slate, tumbled travertine, and small mosaics clear this bar with ease. Polished marble and large glossy tiles fall short on floors, so keep them on the walls.

Best Shower Tile by Budget, Grip, and Style

If you are weighing one factor above the rest, let's start here.

Best for Low Maintenance

Porcelain wins for low upkeep. It absorbs almost no water, resists stains, and needs no sealing. Pair it with larger tiles to cut down on grout cleaning.

Best for Slip Resistance

We recommend textured mosaics, pebbles, or tumbled stone for the most grip underfoot. Their many grout lines and rough surfaces hold traction even when the floor is wet.

Best for a Lower Budget

Ceramic runs $0.50 to $15 per square foot, the widest budget range of any option, per Angi's cost data. It cleans easily and suits walls well, though the glaze chips more than porcelain.

Best for a High-End Look

Marble and quartz deliver a luxury finish. Marble runs $7 to $300 per square foot and needs sealing every six months. For the look with less work, choose marble-look porcelain instead.

Shower Tile Materials and Costs

Here is how the main shower tile materials compare on cost and care. Prices reflect Angi cost data for materials only.

• Porcelain: Water absorption under 1% with strong durability, at $3 to $10 per square foot.

• Ceramic: Easy to clean and affordable, at $0.50 to $15 per square foot, though less durable than porcelain.

• Travertine: A natural limestone that grips when tumbled, at $3 to $15 per square foot; seal it often.

• Granite: A hard natural stone best for walls, at $5 to $15 per square foot; seal it yearly.

• Slate: Naturally textured and non-slip, at $5 to $15 per square foot; limited to gray tones.

• Pebble: Spa-like and slip-resistant, at $30 to $40 per square foot, with more grout to clean.

• Glass: Stain-resistant mosaic that cleans easily, at $5 to $15 per square foot; use smaller pieces on floors.

• Marble: A luxury stone with rich veining, at $7 to $300 per square foot; seal it every six months.

• Quartz: Engineered, non-porous stone, at $45 to $75 per square foot for tiles.

How to Choose Shower Tile

The right tile balances your budget, your bathroom size, and how much cleaning you want to take on. Weigh these three design factors before you buy.

Tile Size and Format

Match tile size to your bathroom and your cleaning tolerance. Large-format tiles, such as 12x24 inches, suit bigger showers and cut grout lines to scrub. Small mosaics fit tight spaces and shower floors that need grip.

For compact spaces, see our picks for the best tile for a small bathroom.

Layout Patterns

The pattern shapes the whole look. Popular options include staggered offset, herringbone, vertical stack, and one-third (1/3) offset. Vertical layouts make a shower feel taller, while herringbone adds movement.

Color and Style

Neutral tones stay timeless and hide soap film. White and gray subway tiles suit almost any bathroom. For warmth, choose sand or greige stone-look porcelain.

Water Absorption Ratings Explained

When you compare shower tile, check how much water it absorbs. This tells you how well it stands up to a wet shower. We use the ANSI A137.1 ratings below.

• Impervious: Absorbs under 0.5% of water and is the best fit for showers; porcelain sits here.

• Vitreous: Absorbs 0.5% to 3% of water and is a solid choice for shower walls.

• Semi-vitreous: Absorbs 3% to 7% of water and is better for drier spots than shower floors.

• Non-vitreous: Absorbs over 7% of water; skip it inside a shower.

When to Hire a Tile Pro

Your shower tile has to be waterproof to last, so the work behind the tile matters as much as the tile itself. We recommend hiring a pro to handle waterproofing, slope, layout, and sealing so your shower stays leak-free.

Consider hiring a local tile professional for the install. If you plan to tile a shower yourself, budget for fixes too. Angi cost data puts a professional bathroom tile repair at $280 to $340.