How to Choose Good Quality Tiles: 7 Things to Look For Before You Buy

Choosing tiles is about more than finding a colour or finish you like. How a tile is made, where it can be used and how consistently it has been manufactured all affect how it will look and perform once installed.

At Tile Fusion, we spend a lot of time comparing tiles from different manufacturers. One thing we’ve learnt over the years is that price alone doesn’t tell you whether you’re getting a good tile.

So, how can you tell the difference? Here are seven practical things we look for when assessing tile quality.

 

1. Start With the Right Type of Tile

Before comparing quality, make sure you’re looking at tiles designed for the same purpose.

Ceramic and porcelain are both excellent materials, but they aren't interchangeable in every situation.

Porcelain is generally denser and has very low water absorption, making it a versatile choice for floors, bathrooms and many outdoor applications. Ceramic tends to be more porous and is commonly used on internal walls, although some ceramic products are specifically manufactured for floors.

Neither is automatically better. A good ceramic wall tile can be perfect for a bathroom wall but completely wrong for a busy floor.

What we look for: whether the tile is manufactured and rated for where you're planning to use it.

2. Check the Water Absorption

Water absorption simply tells you how much water the body of a tile can absorb.

It's particularly useful when comparing porcelain. Under recognised tile standards, porcelain has a water absorption rate of 0.5% or less, which is one reason it's widely used for flooring and more demanding applications.

That doesn't mean you need porcelain on every bathroom surface. Ceramic can still be perfectly suitable for an internal bathroom wall.

It's also important not to confuse water absorption with slip resistance. A tile can absorb very little water and still have a smooth surface. If you're choosing tiles for wet floors, slip resistance needs to be considered separately.

What we look for: a clear water absorption classification and confirmation that the tile suits its intended application.

3. Look at the Edges, Size and Consistency

Good manufacturing often shows up in the smaller details.

Compare several tiles from the same range. The dimensions should be consistent, the edges should be well finished and the tiles should sit as expected for that particular product.

This becomes particularly important with large-format tiles, where dimensional differences can be more noticeable during installation.

You may also see tiles described as rectified. This means the edges have been mechanically finished after firing to create more precise dimensions. Rectified tiles can allow for narrower, more consistent grout joints when installation conditions permit.

Rectified doesn't automatically mean better quality, though. Some excellent non-rectified tiles deliberately have softer edges to create a more handmade appearance.

What we look for: consistent dimensions, well-finished edges and a format suited to the installation.

4. Make Sure the Surface Suits the Space

A good-quality tile can still be the wrong tile if its surface isn't suitable for where you're using it.

For bathroom, laundry, entry and outdoor floors, slip resistance is an important consideration. The appropriate rating will depend on the application and conditions.

Wear resistance can matter too, particularly in higher-traffic areas. On glazed tiles, you may see a PEI rating, which indicates how resistant the glazed surface is to abrasion.

Higher isn't automatically better. A residential bathroom doesn't need the same performance as a busy commercial floor.

Think about everyday maintenance as well. A highly polished surface and a textured matt finish can look very different and require different levels of care.

What we look for: a finish and performance rating that makes sense for the space rather than choosing on appearance alone.

5. Understand Shade Variation

Not every good-quality tile is supposed to look identical.

Stone-look, terrazzo-look, concrete-look and timber-look tiles often have deliberate changes in pattern and tone to make the finished surface appear more natural.

You may see this described using a V1 to V4 shade variation rating, ranging from relatively uniform to substantial variation.

That's why we recommend looking at several pieces together. One sample tile can't show you how a floor or wall will look across several square metres.

Production batches matter as well. Different batches can have slight variations in shade or calibre, so it's a good idea to order enough tiles for the whole project at the same time, including an allowance for cuts, breakages and future repairs.

What we look for: controlled variation and consistent shade and calibre information across the order.

6. Don't Judge Quality by Thickness or Weight

“Heavier means better” is one of those old rules that isn't particularly useful when choosing modern tiles.

The thickest tile isn't automatically the strongest either.

Tile performance depends on the material, manufacturing process, technical specifications and intended application. Modern porcelain manufacturing can produce strong, durable tiles without simply making them thicker or heavier.

The same applies to tapping a tile and judging it by the sound. It might help identify something obvious like a crack, but it isn't a substitute for proper product specifications.

If you're comparing two tiles, ask what they're designed to do rather than judging them by weight alone.

What we look for: technical information, manufacturing consistency and suitability for the application.

7. Ask Questions About the Tile

One of the easiest ways to understand tile quality is to ask a few questions.

Who manufactured it? Where was it made? What is it rated for? Is technical information available? Can the supplier explain its water absorption, slip resistance or wear rating where relevant?

You don't need to become a tile technician before renovating your bathroom. But there should be reliable information behind the product, particularly for floors, wet areas, outdoor spaces and commercial projects.

A good supplier should be able to explain more than the colour and price.

At Tile Fusion, knowing the products we sell means we can explain where we'd use a tile, where we wouldn't and why. Sometimes that's much more useful than looking through another hundred samples.

Quick Checklist Before You Buy Tiles

Before committing to a tile, check:

• Is it suitable for the wall, floor, wet area or outdoor area you're tiling?

• Is it ceramic, porcelain, natural stone or another material?

• What is its water absorption classification where relevant?

• Does it have an appropriate slip or wear rating?

• Are the dimensions, edges and finish consistent?

• Is variation between pieces intentional?

• Are the boxes from the same shade and calibre batch?

• Is proper technical information available?

• Have you allowed extra tiles for cuts, wastage and future repairs?

Good Quality Means Choosing the Right Tile for the Job

There isn't one tile that's “best quality” for every project.

A handmade-look ceramic wall tile, hard-wearing porcelain floor tile and textured outdoor tile can all be good-quality products. They're simply designed to do different things.

The key is knowing what you're buying.

Look beyond colour and price. Consider the tile type, intended application, water absorption, surface performance, dimensions and shade variation. If something on the specification doesn't make sense, ask.

That's a big part of what we do at Tile Fusion. We compare finishes, specifications and applications so we can help customers find tiles that make sense for their projects.

If you're not sure what to choose, bring your plans, samples or a few photos into the showroom. We can help you narrow down the options and explain what we'd look for before buying.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tile Quality

How can you tell if a tile is good quality?

Look for consistent dimensions and finishes, appropriate technical specifications and confirmation that the tile is suitable for its intended application. Water absorption, slip resistance, wear rating, edge finish and shade variation may all be relevant. Price and thickness alone aren't reliable indicators.

What should I check before buying tiles?

Start with where the tile will be used. Then check the tile type, finish, dimensions, water absorption and relevant slip or wear ratings. Also check shade and calibre information and order enough from the same batch to complete the project.

Are porcelain tiles better quality than ceramic tiles?

Not necessarily. Porcelain is denser and has lower water absorption, making it useful for many floors, wet areas and outdoor applications. Ceramic can be an excellent choice for internal walls and other suitable areas. The better tile is the one that's right for the job.

Does a thicker tile mean better quality?

No. Thickness is only one part of a tile's specification. Strength and performance also depend on the material, manufacturing process and intended application. A well-made porcelain tile doesn't need to be the thickest or heaviest option to perform well.

How much extra tile should I order?

Always allow extra for cuts, breakages and future repairs. The amount depends on tile size, layout, pattern and the complexity of the space. Ordering the full quantity at once also helps minimise differences between production batches. Tile Fusion can help you work out a sensible allowance for your project.