Best Floor Tile for DIYers
Tile is the most durable, water-resistant floor for kitchens, baths, and entries. Porcelain is the harder, less porous choice for floors; the PEI wear rating tells you whether a tile can handle foot traffic.
What to look for
- ·Use porcelain rated PEI 3 or higher for floors; it is harder and less porous than ceramic. Save softer ceramic for walls.
- ·Check the slip rating (COF) for wet areas like baths and entries. Textured or matte tile is safer underfoot.
- ·Buy 10 to 15% extra for cuts, waste, and future repairs, and confirm the lot number matches across boxes.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daltile Porcelain Tile | Editor's pick | $3 to $8 per sq ft | Quality and selection |
| Marazzi Porcelain Tile | Editor's pick | $3 to $9 per sq ft | Stylish durable porcelain |
| MSI Porcelain Tile | Editor's pick | $3 to $8 per sq ft | Trend-forward large-format |
| American Olean Tile | Best value | $2 to $5 per sq ft | Trusted everyday value |
| Florida Tile | Best value | $2 to $6 per sq ft | Value design options |
| Arizona Tile Porcelain | Best value | $3 to $7 per sq ft | Regional value quality |
| TrafficMaster Ceramic (Home Depot) | Budget pick | $1 to $3 per sq ft | Budget floors and rentals |
| Style Selections Tile (Lowe's) | Budget pick | $1 to $3 per sq ft | Lowe's budget value |
| Store-Brand Ceramic Tile | Budget pick | $0.75 to $2 per sq ft | Lowest-cost simple floors |
Editor's pick
Daltile Porcelain Tile
$3 to $8 per sq ft
A leading US tile maker with broad porcelain lines, realistic wood- and stone-looks, and consistent quality. The pick for a durable, great-looking floor with wide selection.
Best for: Quality and selection
Typically available at Home Depot, Tile suppliers.
Marazzi Porcelain Tile
$3 to $9 per sq ft
A respected brand with stylish, durable porcelain in wood-look planks and stone-looks. A strong premium choice for floors that need to perform and impress.
Best for: Stylish durable porcelain
Typically available at Home Depot, Tile suppliers.
MSI Porcelain Tile
$3 to $8 per sq ft
A major supplier with extensive porcelain collections, including large-format and wood-look, at competitive quality. A go-to for trend-forward, durable floors.
Best for: Trend-forward large-format
Typically available at Floor & Decor, Tile suppliers.
Best value
American Olean Tile
$2 to $5 per sq ft
A long-trusted brand with dependable ceramic and porcelain at fair prices. A solid value for everyday floors with reliable quality.
Best for: Trusted everyday value
Typically available at Home Depot, Tile suppliers.
Florida Tile
$2 to $6 per sq ft
Quality porcelain and ceramic with good design at mid-range prices. A dependable value choice with attractive wood- and stone-look options.
Best for: Value design options
Typically available at Tile suppliers.
Arizona Tile Porcelain
$3 to $7 per sq ft
A regional supplier with stylish porcelain and stone-look lines at reasonable prices. A good value where available for a quality floor.
Best for: Regional value quality
Typically available at Tile suppliers.
Budget pick
TrafficMaster Ceramic (Home Depot)
$1 to $3 per sq ft
Home Depot's budget tile line for basic floors and walls at the lowest cost. Fine for rentals and budget remodels where price leads.
Best for: Budget floors and rentals
Typically available at Home Depot.
Style Selections Tile (Lowe's)
$1 to $3 per sq ft
Lowe's value tile brand with serviceable ceramic and porcelain at low prices. A budget pick that covers common floor and wall needs.
Best for: Lowe's budget value
Typically available at Lowe's.
Store-Brand Ceramic Tile
$0.75 to $2 per sq ft
The cheapest ceramic for simple, low-traffic floors and budget projects. Basic and softer, but the lowest cost to tile a small space.
Best for: Lowest-cost simple floors
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Frequently asked
Porcelain or ceramic floor tile?+
Porcelain is denser, harder, and less porous, so it handles floor traffic and moisture better, including outdoors and wet areas. Ceramic is softer and cheaper, fine for walls and lighter-use floors. For most floors, porcelain rated PEI 3+ is the safer pick.
What is a PEI rating?+
PEI measures surface wear resistance from 1 to 5. For residential floors, choose PEI 3 or higher; PEI 4 to 5 suits heavy traffic and entries. PEI 1 to 2 tiles are meant for walls and light use only.
How much tile should I buy?+
Buy 10 to 15% more than your square footage to cover cuts, waste, and breakage, and a few extra for future repairs. Diagonal and patterned layouts need more. Confirm all boxes share the same lot number for consistent color.
Is large-format tile harder to install?+
Large tiles show subfloor flatness flaws and need a well-leveled, mortar-bedded base and often a leveling system to avoid lippage. They go faster over big areas with fewer grout lines, but the prep has to be right.
Can I install floor tile myself?+
Yes, with patience: a flat, prepped substrate, the right thinset and trowel, spacers, a tile saw or cutter, and careful layout. It is labor-intensive and unforgiving of a poor base, but a very doable DIY for a determined homeowner.
Planning a bigger job? See the full Flooring Installation project guide: cost, DIY vs. hire, and the whole plan.
Open the Flooring Installation guide →