Kitchen tiles take splashes of oil, tomato, wine and boiling water, and a floor that has to survive dropped pots and a busy household. That makes a kitchen a good place to spend a little more on the right material and the right grout. Send one request with the wall and floor areas, the look you want and whether you need laying, and tile suppliers and tilers in your area quote you directly. You can ask for a splashback only, a full floor, or both. It is free and there is no obligation.
Splashbacks that are easy to live with
A splashback needs to be glazed, dense and easy to wipe. Glossy ceramic and porcelain both work. The small metro tile (75 x 150 or 100 x 200) remains the favourite, and the handmade look of uneven, zellige-style tiles adds depth if you accept that the glaze varies from tile to tile. Large format panels with only a few joints give the least grout to clean.
The usual height is 450 to 600 mm above the countertop, but behind the hob and sink many people tile to the ceiling or to the underside of the extractor hood. Behind a gas hob, check that the tiles and the adhesive are heat tolerant and keep to the clearance the hob maker specifies.
Grout that does not stain
In a kitchen, the grout line is where the grime collects. Standard cement grout is porous and darkens with oil and turmeric, even when sealed. Epoxy grout is a two-part product that does not absorb stains, which makes it popular behind the hob and on countertop edges, though it sets fast and is harder for the tiler to work. A mid-grey or beige grout hides marks better than white.
Use a flexible silicone, not grout, where the tiles meet the countertop and in the internal corners. These joints move with temperature and the countertop settling, and rigid grout cracks there first.
Planning around plugs and cupboards
Splashback work goes wrong when it is done in the wrong order. Settle these before the tiler starts:
- The plug points and switches: the electrician moves them forward so they sit flush with the new tile surface, and the tiler cuts neat square holes.
- Whether the countertop goes in before or after the tiling. A tiled splashback usually goes on after the countertop is fixed.
- Starting the pattern from the centre of the hob, so cuts are even on both sides.
For floors, floor tiles in matt porcelain with an R10 rating and a PEI 4 rating cope with spills and traffic. Skip high-gloss floor tiles, which show every footprint and are slippery when greasy.
What kitchen quotes should include
Small wall areas mean the labour rate per square metre is higher. Check that the quote covers cutting around plugs, the extractor and window, trims along exposed edges, epoxy grout if you want it, and clean-up. Prices are a rough 2026 guide: R120 to R650 per m² for kitchen tiles, plus R180 to R400 per m² to lay them. The tilers page explains how labour is quoted.
What to include in your request
- Splashback length and height, and floor size
- Tile look: metro, herringbone or large panel
- Epoxy grout for stain resistance or standard
- Plug points, hob and extractor positions
- Your suburb and when the countertops go in
Kitchen Tiles for different projects
- Homeowners renovating: a new splashback behind the hob and sink, or a floor to match a kitchen update
- New builds and extensions: kitchen walls and floors quoted with the rest of the house from the plans
- Landlords and body corporates: a plain, wipe-clean splashback and tough floor that a landlord can match later
- Guesthouses, hotels and restaurants: stain-resistant wall tiles and non-slip floors for guesthouse and restaurant kitchens
- Shops, offices and showrooms: easy-clean tiled walls and floors for coffee shops, delis and staff kitchens
- Schools, clinics and public buildings: washable wall tiles and slip-resistant floors for school and clinic kitchens
- Workshops, warehouses and gyms: heavy-duty floors and wall tiling for canteens and food preparation rooms
- Patios, stoeps and pool areas: tiled splashbacks and worktop surrounds for a built-in braai and outdoor kitchen
Frequently asked questions
How high should a kitchen splashback be?
Can I tile over paint or old kitchen tiles?
How much should I order for a splashback?
Are large floor tiles good in a kitchen?
Kitchen Tiles by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg