Outdoor tiles face heat, rain, frost, mud and wet feet, so they have to be tougher and grippier than anything used indoors. A patio, stoep, balcony or braai area done properly lasts decades, and one done badly shows cracks, green slime and lifted tiles within a few seasons. Send one request with the area, how it will be used and whether you want laying, and tile suppliers and tilers near you quote directly. It is free, with no obligation.
Slip rating and frost resistance
Outdoor tiles must be chosen for grip. A smooth tile that feels fine on a dry day turns dangerous after rain. Look for R11 as a working minimum for patios and stoeps, and R12 or R13 for ramps, steps and pool surrounds. A textured or grip-finished surface helps, but deep texture holds dirt, so ask for a tile you can sweep and scrub.
On the Highveld, nights drop below freezing. A tile that absorbs water will crack when that water freezes. Choose porcelain with water absorption under 0.5% and the manufacturer's frost-resistance claim. Most ceramic tiles are not suitable outside in frost areas.
20 mm pavers and how they are laid
Standard outdoor tiles are 9 to 12 mm thick and are stuck to a concrete slab. A 20 mm outdoor porcelain paver is a thicker, stronger product that can be laid in other ways:
- On adjustable pedestals over a roof, a balcony or a drain-down slab, which gives a flat surface with water running under it.
- On sand or gravel, or directly on grass, like a stepping path.
- Stuck to a slab like any other tile, for a heavy-use driveway-side patio.
Pavers on pedestals are quick to lift for access to pipes. The slab beneath needs its own falls, so water drains rather than pools.
Falls, joints and sun
An outdoor slab should fall about 1:80 away from the house wall, which is roughly 12 mm per metre, so rain runs off and not toward your doors. Tiles themselves are laid flat, so the fall is built into the screed or slab.
Heat makes tiles expand. Leave movement joints at walls, steps and about every 3 to 4 m, filled with flexible sealant, not grout. Use a flexible C2 adhesive and cover the whole back of the tile, because water getting under a hollow tile is what causes lifting and white salt stains (efflorescence). Wet cuts and a dust mask keep silica dust down.
What to ask for in a quote
Outdoor jobs depend on preparation. Check that quotes include screed or slab repairs, falls, a waterproof layer on balconies and roofs, edging and steps, and the number of movement joints. A rough 2026 guide is R180 to R650 per m² for outdoor tiles, plus R180 to R400 per m² to lay them. See floor tile prices for a worked 30 m² patio.
What to include in your request
- Area in m² and where it is: patio, balcony or path
- Slab or screed, and its condition
- Frost, coastal or full sun conditions
- Tiles stuck down or pavers on pedestals
- Your suburb and when you want it done
Outdoor Tiles for different projects
- Homeowners renovating: a new patio or stoep, a path to the braai, or a balcony floor that no longer drains
- New builds and extensions: patios, entrances and driveways-side paving quoted with the house from the plans
- Landlords and body corporates: tough non-slip tiles for communal stoeps and walkways that tenants cannot damage
- Guesthouses, hotels and restaurants: non-slip terraces, deck areas and pool paths at guesthouses and lodges
- Shops, offices and showrooms: entrance paving and outdoor seating areas at shops and coffee shops
- Schools, clinics and public buildings: slip-resistant ramps, walkways and covered areas at schools and clinics
- Workshops, warehouses and gyms: hard-wearing outdoor paving for yards, entrances and garden areas at workplaces
- Patios, stoeps and pool areas: braai areas, pool surrounds, balconies and covered stoeps with R11 or R12 tiles
Frequently asked questions
Which outdoor tiles are not slippery?
Can I use indoor tiles outside?
Why are my outdoor tiles lifting or turning white?
How long can I wait before walking on new outdoor tiles?
Outdoor 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