Best Tile Grout for DIYers
Grout fills the joints between tiles and decides how much your tile work resists stains, mildew, and cracking. Epoxy is the waterproof, no-seal premium; polymer-modified cement is the everyday standard.
What to look for
- ·Epoxy grout is waterproof, stain-proof, and never needs sealing, ideal for showers and wet areas, but costs more and sets fast.
- ·Polymer-modified cement grout is the everyday standard: strong and affordable, but it needs periodic sealing.
- ·Use sanded grout for joints wider than 1/8 inch, unsanded for narrow joints and polished tile that sand would scratch.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laticrete Spectralock Pro Epoxy | Editor's pick | $60 to $90 per unit | The best shower and wet-area grout |
| Mapei Flexcolor CQ | Editor's pick | $40 to $60 per gallon | Premium ready-to-use grout |
| Custom Fusion Pro Single Component | Editor's pick | $35 to $55 per unit | Convenient premium at home centers |
| Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA | Best value | $20 to $35 per bag | Pro-grade cement value |
| Laticrete Permacolor | Best value | $20 to $35 per bag | Strong cement grout value |
| Custom Polyblend Plus | Best value | $18 to $30 per bag | Everyday tile value |
| Custom Polyblend Sanded Grout | Budget pick | $15 to $25 per bag | Standard budget floors |
| Custom Polyblend Unsanded Grout | Budget pick | $15 to $25 per bag | Budget narrow joints |
| Store-Brand Sanded Grout | Budget pick | $12 to $20 per bag | Lowest-cost simple jobs |
Editor's pick
Laticrete Spectralock Pro Epoxy
$60 to $90 per unit
A top professional epoxy grout: waterproof, stain-proof, color-consistent, and never needs sealing. The gold standard for showers and high-use floors, made in the USA.
Best for: The best shower and wet-area grout
Typically available at Tile suppliers, Floor & Decor.
Mapei Flexcolor CQ
$40 to $60 per gallon
A premium ready-to-use grout with built-in stain protection and no sealing required. Convenient and high-performing for walls and floors, with consistent color.
Best for: Premium ready-to-use grout
Typically available at Home Depot, Tile suppliers.
Custom Fusion Pro Single Component
$35 to $55 per unit
A widely available pre-mixed grout with stain resistance and no sealing needed. A strong, convenient premium option stocked at home centers.
Best for: Convenient premium at home centers
Typically available at Home Depot.
Best value
Mapei Ultracolor Plus FA
$20 to $35 per bag
A fast-setting, polymer-modified cement grout with efflorescence-free color and good stain resistance. A pro favorite that balances performance and price.
Best for: Pro-grade cement value
Typically available at Home Depot, Tile suppliers.
Laticrete Permacolor
$20 to $35 per bag
A high-strength polymer-modified cement grout with consistent color and good crack resistance. A reliable mid-value choice from a top brand.
Best for: Strong cement grout value
Typically available at Tile suppliers, Floor & Decor.
Custom Polyblend Plus
$18 to $30 per bag
An improved polymer-modified cement grout with better color and stain resistance than basic grout, widely stocked. A solid everyday value for most tile jobs.
Best for: Everyday tile value
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Budget pick
Custom Polyblend Sanded Grout
$15 to $25 per bag
The standard sanded cement grout for joints over 1/8 inch at a low price. Needs sealing, but a dependable budget choice for floors and backsplashes.
Best for: Standard budget floors
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Custom Polyblend Unsanded Grout
$15 to $25 per bag
Standard unsanded cement grout for narrow joints and polished tile. An affordable, reliable option where sand would scratch the surface.
Best for: Budget narrow joints
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Store-Brand Sanded Grout
$12 to $20 per bag
The lowest-cost cement grout for simple, budget tile work. Basic and needs sealing, but it fills joints reliably for a small project on a tight budget.
Best for: Lowest-cost simple jobs
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's.
Frequently asked
Epoxy or cement grout?+
Epoxy grout is non-porous, waterproof, stain-resistant, and never needs sealing, which makes it the gold standard for showers and floors, though it costs more and is harder to work with. Polymer-modified cement grout is cheaper and easier but needs periodic sealing to resist stains and mildew.
Sanded or unsanded grout?+
Use sanded grout for joints wider than about 1/8 inch, where the sand adds strength and resists cracking. Use unsanded grout for narrow joints and on polished stone or glass tile that sand could scratch.
Do I need to seal grout?+
Cement-based grout should be sealed after it cures and periodically after, to resist stains and moisture. Epoxy grout and pre-mixed grouts with built-in stain protection do not need sealing, which is part of what you pay for.
Which grout brand is best?+
Laticrete (Spectralock epoxy, Permacolor) and Mapei (Flexcolor CQ, Ultracolor Plus) are the top professional brands, with Custom Building Products widely available at home centers. All make excellent grout; the choice is usually epoxy versus cement and color.
Can I regrout over old grout?+
You can grout over old grout only if you first remove enough of the existing material for the new grout to bond, usually at least 2mm deep. Otherwise, fully remove the old grout. For a quick refresh, cleaning and resealing is often enough.
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