2 June 2026

Which tiles do you choose? A guide for floor, wall and patio

Ceramic or natural stone, standard or XL, smooth or anti-slip: the choices you make with your tiler — and what they mean for price and maintenance.

The first choice is the material. Ceramic is the standard: hard, colour-fast, low-maintenance and available in every style — from concrete look to wood look. Natural stone and marble look richer, but need their own adhesive, cutting and sealing work plus periodic maintenance. That difference shows in the labour: laying floor tiles costs € 25 to € 45 per m² for straight ceramic work, and format or natural-stone work sits towards the top of the € 25-60 band.

The second choice is the size. Large-format and XL give calm and few grout lines, but need an extra-level surface, special tools and often two people — more labour per m². Patterns such as herringbone and mosaic are the mirror image: small tiles, many joints, much labour time. Rule of thumb: the further from 'standard size, straight bond', the higher the labour cost.

Third: the location sets the requirements. In wet rooms anti-slip and waterproof preparation count; over underfloor heating the tiler uses flexible adhesive and expansion joints. Outdoors you choose frost-proof patio tiles — ceramic outdoor tiles cost € 50 to € 100 per m² including tiles and installation, and many series come in indoor and outdoor versions for one continuous floor.

So choose your tiles not just on looks, but on material, size and location — and discuss the combination with your tiler before ordering. What it costs is shown per service in the price index; if you buy yourself, allow about 10% extra for cutting and breakage loss.