Best Grout for Kitchen Backsplashes: 5 Types to Consider

While tile often takes center stage, the impact of the best grout for kitchen backsplashes should never go unchecked. After all, when it doesn’t turn out as expected, it can stick out like a sore thumb. So, with all of the numerous grout options available, which is the best grout for your kitchen backsplash project? The answer depends on your priorities, personal preferences, and your kitchen backsplash design. Let’s review the different types of grout available for kitchen backsplashes.

1. Epoxy Grout

Epoxy grout is a highly durable and stain-resistant option for a kitchen tile backsplash. It consists of epoxy resins and a hardener, making it resistant to moisture, cleaning chemicals, and mold or mildew growth. It’s also available in various colors and doesn’t require additional sealing once installed. 

With its extreme durability, epoxy grout is ideal for kitchens with lots of heavy use, and it’s particularly suitable for a tile backsplash behind a stove. It also dries fast and has a short working time, making it difficult for a DIY install. Any error in installation can make removal particularly difficult. Consider hiring a local backsplash installer to ensure smooth, flawless results.

Best for: Behind stoves and other high-traffic kitchen areas, as well as bathrooms.

2. Acrylic Grout

Pre-mixed acrylic grout is a DIY-friendly option that combines acrylic resins with cement-based grout. It’s easy to work with, doesn’t require sealing, and is resistant to staining and cracking. There are specific additives in acrylic grout that make it very flexible, which is excellent when working with areas that might require a more forgiving material. 

Acrylic grout is also available in a wide variety of hues to match your tile and kitchen cabinet colors, plus it offers excellent color payoff, too. 

While acrylic grout is suitable for most backsplashes, it may not be as durable as epoxy or cement-based grouts. It can also be pricier than other grout options, which can drive up your backsplash installation cost, which runs between $15 to $40 per square foot.

Best for: Sensitive areas that aren’t high-traffic and require grouting finesse.

3. Unsanded Cement Grout

Unsanded grout is similar to sanded grout, but lacks sand as an aggregate material. Because of this, it can flow easily into narrow grout lines, making it an excellent choice for smaller-format tiles. Its smoothness and workability are also ideal for delicate tile surfaces such as natural stone, metal, glass, and ceramic. Additionally, it doesn’t require additional sealing after installation.

On the flip side, the absence of aggregate (sand) in unsanded grout makes it prone to discoloration, shrinkage, and cracking as water evaporates. Unless you’re working with a stainless steel or other metal tile, it’s not typically the best choice for a kitchen backsplash.

Best for: Working with smaller tiles that require precise lines in small spaces—especially metal tiles.

4. High-Performance Polymer Cement Grout

High-performance polymer cement grout is a cement grout that’s been modified with polymers, making it stronger and more resistant to damage. This grouting is highly moisture-resistant and holds up against many chemicals. This is an industrial-grade grout, and it’s seen in areas of extreme use and where safety is a concern. For most homes, it’s a bit much for backsplash.

The grout is heavy and requires mixing, but if installed correctly it results in a durable and resistant grout that’s one of the toughest to damage.

Best for: Floor tiles that get a ton of heavy foot traffic.

5. Single-Component Grout

Single-component grout is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a sanded grout that requires no mixing and is less expensive than other types of grout like epoxy. It’s a simple formula and is equally simple to work with, which is why it’s a great choice for more relaxed projects and areas that may not need a specific material.  

Single-component grout dries quickly and is non-porous, so it doesn’t need to be sealed and is resistant to stains and other damage. However, single-component grout isn’t as strong as other types. It will crack much easier than epoxy and doesn’t offer the same wear resistance as a high-performance polymer. 

Best for: Simple applications or those that don’t require super hard materials like epoxy. It’s also a solid choice for any repair work as it blends well into existing grout.

How to Choose a Grout Type for a Backsplash

Choosing grout can be confusing. The color of your tile, the purpose of the room, and even humidity levels can all impact the best grout choice for your space. Here are a few tips to help you make a confident choice in grout: 

• Lighter grout: Better with light-colored backsplashes.

• Dark grout: Offers striking contrast with light-colored tiles and dramatic flare with dark-colored tiles.

• Epoxy grout and other hard grouts: Better for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other high-moisture areas. 

• Unsanded grout: Good for areas that don’t see a lot of moisture or stress, like walls. 

If you’re still unable to decide which exact type to use, it’s better to discuss with a backsplash installation pro before moving forward. Removing grout is time-consuming and expensive, so you definitely want to do it right the first time.