What Is the Best Tile for Bathroom Floors?

Choosing the right floor tile is one of the most important parts of remodeling your bathroom. Popular tile choices include ceramic, porcelain, and stone, but you can also choose from glass, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, cork, and wood. Each of these materials will give your bathroom a unique look and feel.

Luckily, with a little know-how, picking the best tile for your bathroom floor can be easy and even fun. Let's explore the pros and cons of nine types of bathroom floor tiles.

1. Ceramic

Ceramic tile is one of the best types to use in a bathroom. It's durable, easy to clean, and comes in lots of available styles and colors that fit your home’s design. Plus, ceramic tiles can be easy to work with, too, so they’re a good option for DIYers who know how to cut tile.

There are so many advantages to using ceramic tiles on your flooring or for tiling your shower walls. First, they're very affordable, totaling as low as 49 cents per square foot. They come in tons of colors and patterns that will make any room look its best. You can find all sorts of shapes like rectangles, hexagons, and even flower squares for different designs.

These tiles are perfect for bathrooms because they resist moisture and won’t absorb odors or bacteria, which means less dirt buildup over time (which will come in handy when it's time to disinfect your bathroom). This type of tile is best for bathrooms because it's water-resistant, so there won't be any problems with humidity or moisture.

Pro Tip for Making Ceramic Tiles Last

If you use a high-grade glaze, ceramic tiles will resist wear and scratches. Ceramic tiles can also withstand wear and tear, say from children who might accidentally drop something on the floor while playing in the bathroom. Since ceramic is durable and easy to clean, it's perfect for any flooring you want to last.

2. Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are more resistant to stains, chipping, and other damage than ceramic tiles because they’re formed under higher pressure and in higher temperatures, making them harder than traditional ceramic.

Unlike ceramic tiles, the color on porcelain goes all the way through the tile, which means chips won’t be as obvious.

However, they can be slippery when wet, making for a potentially unsafe bathroom floor. Porcelain tiles are common options for walls and tub surrounds, but they’re suitable for bathroom floor tiles if you lay down a mat or rug near the toilet and shower to prevent slipping.

Use Tile Adhesive When Installing Porcelain Tiles

One concern with porcelain tiles is how best to use tile adhesive. Tiles are fragile and need a secure surface to stay intact. This type can be difficult to install when working with porous surfaces like concrete or plasterboard.

A way to solve this problem is by using a "silicone waterless" sealant on the back of each tile before laying them down. A sealant will help create a tight bond that won't let go no matter what.

3. Stone or Natural Stone

Stone or natural stone flooring is an excellent choice for people with allergies due to its non-porous texture, which won’t hold onto dust and particles like some other materials will.

Do you want an excellent alternative for hard-wearing, non-porous flooring that can withstand a high level of humidity? Natural stone tiles are a perfect choice.

Natural stones such as granite or marble look beautiful with any theme. They even offer a fantastic surface quality which makes them easy to clean without worrying about scratching. They also naturally have texture, which helps reduce the risk of slipping, making them a suitable option for bathroom floors.

If you do choose stone tile, just be sure it’s available in bullnose tiles if you plan on using it on walls or for a tub surround.

Also the Best Flooring for Minimal Maintenance

The best tile for those who want a quiet surface that's easy to clean without worrying about scratching is natural stone. Stone is highly durable and resistant to moisture, so it’s the least likely option to need cleaning and regular maintenance. You will need to reseal the stone every so often, though.

4. Vinyl 

If you're looking for a bathroom flooring material that's affordable and easy to install even for inexperienced DIYers, vinyl tile is the way to go. Vinyl tile relies on low-cost materials. They also deliver high degrees of practicality. In addition, its resilience to water and moisture and comfortable surface make vinyl tile an easy bathroom flooring choice for families.

Vinyl is a suitable option for floors, walls, ceilings, and tub surrounds, so it’s a great universal bathroom tile.

Vinyl also has excellent safety advantages like being less slip-prone and maintaining incredible durability.

5. Linoleum

Linoleum tiles offer an environmentally friendly option for bathroom floors. This is all thanks to recycled materials like linseed oil, cork powder, wood flour, ground limestone, and pigments.

This material also has many advantages that make it worth consideration for flooring in a bathroom. It is inexpensive, naturally inhibits the growth of microorganisms, and holds up well to dirt and staining.

Linoleum looks excellent in all types of settings, like newly renovated bathrooms or retro-style bathrooms, although it is more expensive than vinyl flooring.

6. Glass

The sleek look of glass tile flooring is appealing because it creates the illusion of depth and, if tinted, has a stained-glass effect. Glass is a unique bathroom flooring option that adds intrigue to your space.

These tiles are durable and can stand up to a lot if you install them correctly. Make sure you select a textured glass to prevent slips. Consider using small glass tiles with lots of grout joints to create a slip-resistant shower floor with these tips in mind.

7. Laminate

Plastic laminate tiles are an inexpensive and good choice for projects in small bathrooms. Laminate is durable and easy to keep clean, but it doesn't do well with moisture, so it’s best for a half bathroom, where there’s no shower to increase humidity.

When installing laminates, caulk all spaces around the toilet and tub base and gaps along walls to prevent moisture problems and water damage under your flooring.

8. Wood 

Many people choose the warm and cozy appearance of wood flooring. While a stylish choice, wood flooring requires regular upkeep like refinishing or sanding.

Wood isn't typically a viable flooring option for bathrooms, but engineered wood is. Engineered wood features a plywood base that holds up well against moisture and won’t expand and contract nearly as much as traditional wood flooring. If you want to include wood in your bathroom, this is the best type to use because it looks like natural hardwood and has the added benefit of being waterproof. You should still be careful to keep the floor dry and run an exhaust fan whenever you have the shower running to help keep moisture changes to a minimum.

9. Cork

Cork flooring is an excellent choice for those looking for style and comfort while walking barefoot. The tiles come in multiple colors and are easy to install. First, though, you'll need to seal them with polyurethane since they can absorb moisture and promote damage to the subfloor.

Using cork is a good idea when you are doing a half-bath because these rooms tend to accumulate less moisture due to the lack of a shower and tub. Otherwise, you might spend more time replacing this type of flooring than it's worth.

Generally, professionals will install cork tiles with a troweled-on adhesive. Click-in-place floating floor products are also available.

Tips to Choosing the Right Tile for Your Bathroom Floor

Choosing the right floor tile for your bathroom is crucial for avoiding injury, minimizing upkeep, and keeping your tile installation costs to a minimum while still keeping true to your personal style. There are a handful of things we recommend you consider when choosing the best tile for your bathroom floor.

Cost

One of the most important factors for a lot of homeowners will be the cost of the tile. Some flooring options like porcelain tile can easily be 2 to 3 times as expensive as vinyl flooring, which can quickly push you out of budget.

We recommend thinking about how much you want to spend on your new bathroom floor and then narrowing down your flooring options accordingly. You can then use the other factors below to find the best option within your budget.

Ease of Installation

If you plan on installing your bathroom floor yourself to save some money on labor costs, you should consider how easy each bathroom flooring option is to install. Something like vinyl flooring can be DIY-friendly, while porcelain tiles are hard to cut without specialized equipment.

You can always call in a tile installer near you for help if you decide that one of the more challenging options is best for you.

Maintenance

All flooring will require some kind of maintenance and upkeep, whether it’s resealing stone flooring or regrouting bathroom tiles made of ceramic. However, some flooring options like engineered wood require far more upkeep and periodic repair and replacement than a low-maintenance and highly durable option like porcelain.

Your bathroom will see a lot of foot traffic and likely water and moisture, so consider how much maintenance and cleaning you can afford to carry out when choosing the best type of flooring for you.

Appearance

Of course, every homeowner will care about the appearance of their bathroom flooring, so if you have a specific aesthetic in mind, this might be your primary consideration. We do recommend thinking about the durability of the flooring you choose to maintain control over the long-term appearance as well.

If you choose a flooring option that requires grout, consider that keeping up a nice appearance will require cleaning the bathroom floor grout regularly.

Durability

Bathroom floor tiles will see foot traffic, humidity, water, temperature fluctuations, sand, dirt, and more, so it’s a good idea to opt for a flooring option with a high durability. Porcelain and natural stone are super durable and will last for many years, and they can also stand up to dropped objects without a high risk of damage.

Slip Resistance

Bathroom floors see a lot of moisture and exposure to water, so they can easily become slippery if they have a slick surface. If you have children or elderly relatives in your home, you might want to choose a textured floor to improve traction. You can also place bath mats to help reduce the risk of slipping and falling.

Moisture Resistance

Humidity changes in your bathroom can cause certain types of flooring to expand and contract, which can damage them over time. Wood and cork, specifically, will expand in response to moisture and humidity. As such, these options are better suited for half baths where showers won’t contribute to splashes and humidity.

How Much Does it Cost to Install Bathroom Floor Tile?

The cost to install bathroom tile is around $7 to $25 per square foot for flooring, which works out to around $800 to $7,000 for the project total. The final cost of floor tile installation will depend on the type of tile, the size of the bathroom, and whether you choose to DIY or hire a pro to handle this project. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

If you already have the tools required for tile installation, like tile cutters, notched trowels, or even a wet saw, you can expect to spend around $1 to $15 per square foot for materials like the tiles, mortar, and grout. But if you opt for high-end tiles or need to purchase special tools for the job, you’ll spend more on this project. Keep in mind that the easiest tiles for DIYers to work with include vinyl and ceramic.

Hiring a pro will cost an additional $3 to $15 per square foot for tile installation in addition to the cost of materials, but pros will have all the equipment necessary for a seamless, quick tile installation. Hiring a local tile contractor is particularly helpful for sensitive or heavy tiling materials, like porcelain, glass, and stone.