When it comes to commercial tile specification, an element often overlooked yet essential to project success is tile thickness. While surface aesthetics and slip resistance typically take center stage, understanding how tile thickness affects installation requirements, performance, and long-term durability is equally critical.
For commercial interior designers, contractors, and national brand account managers, selecting the wrong tile thickness can result in increased costs, schedule delays, or even safety issues. At Creative Materials, our mission is to help our clients design and build better communities by simplifying the selection and supply of surface materials. This includes helping you select the right tile thickness for each commercial design scenario.
In this blog, we’ll explore various tile thicknesses, their impact on performance, and the best project applications for each, all while providing you with tools to avoid costly missteps.
Performance Requirements Vary by Application
Thinner tiles may be adequate in vertical applications, but floors in high-traffic commercial environments, such as airports, restaurants, or big-box retail, require thicker tiles. Choosing the correct thickness ensures:
Substrates & Transitions Depend on Thickness
The thicker the tile, the more it can affect:
When tile thickness isn’t accounted for during design development, your contractors may face job-site conflicts or, worse, the need for rework.
Schedule & Budget Impacts
Selecting an inappropriate thickness can create downstream issues in procurement and installation. By understanding how thickness plays into material logistics, you can protect project timelines and budgets.
Let’s explore the most common thicknesses and where they shine:
Transform your vision into a breathtaking reality. Gauged Porcelain Panels deliver sleek, uninterrupted surfaces that evoke elegance, sophistication, and modernity. With expansive formats and minimal grout lines, they create a refined, monolithic aesthetic, the kind of seamless finish that turns everyday spaces into architectural statements.
Best For: Large-scale wall applications, column wraps, elevator lobbies, and decorative feature walls where first impressions matter most.
Why Designers, Contractors and Brands Love It:
Installation Note: Requires flat substrates, specialized handling, and certified installers—but the end result is worth every detail.
“Picture a space where walls flow uninterrupted, wrapping guests in a sculptural, immersive experience. With Gauged Porcelain Panels, you’re not just finishing a surface, you’re crafting a masterpiece that exceeds expectations.”
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When your goal is to create enduring beauty that performs under pressure, standard tile thickness delivers. These porcelain tiles, ranging from 8mm to 11mm, are the trusted workhorses of commercial design, offering a perfect blend of strength, style, and simplicity.
Standard thickness helps you confidently achieve both vision and value. It supports seamless design continuity across projects while keeping installation straightforward and budgets in check.
Best For: Every day, in high-traffic environments where design integrity and long-term durability matter, such as corridors, retail floors, restrooms, and back-of-house areas. Whether your project is a bustling workplace, an inviting retail destination, or a fast-paced restaurant, standard thickness tile can handle it all.
Why Designers, Contractors and Brands Love It:
Smart Considerations: Be mindful of transitions to thicker tiles, especially when mixing materials from different collections or formats. Early coordination ensures clean lines, smooth surfaces, and uninterrupted design flow across every zone of the space.
This is more than just a specification; it’s a dependable solution that supports beautiful, functional, and future-proof commercial spaces.
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When your project moves outdoors—or into high-impact zones—strength isn’t optional; it’s essential. Enter 20mm pavers: the ultimate solution for commercial environments where performance meets possibility.
From rooftop retreats and outdoor dining spaces to drive-up entryways and luxe lobbies, paver tiles are designed to thrive where others fail. With collections offering coordinating thicknesses, you can blur the line between indoors and outdoors, creating a seamless flow throughout the property.
Best For:
Why It Works: Pavers are extremely durable, able to hold heavy loads and withstand high foot traffic. Additionally, they are frost-resistant and can be installed using a variety of methods.
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Every detail of your commercial design tells a story, including the thickness of the tile. By making thoughtful, strategic choices here, you have the opportunity to protect your project’s integrity, elevate the user experience, and deliver spaces that look stunning and perform beautifully for years to come.
Start with Purpose: Match Thickness to the Use Case
Every space serves a purpose, and your tile should be chosen to match it. Go beyond surface beauty and think about what your space needs to endure. When you specify tile, think about more than just the visual. Consider weight loads, cleaning demands, and foot traffic. This proactive approach protects not only your design but also your budget, timeline, and client satisfaction.
Thick Holistically: Layers Matter
Tile doesn’t live in isolation; it’s part of a larger flooring system. Every layer, from the substrate to adhesives to transitions, must work in harmony. Seamless transitions aren’t just an aesthetic choice; they can significantly impact safety, accessibility, and the overall flow of both interior and exterior spaces.
Failing to consider these layers can result in costly fixes later. By embracing a layered mindset, you protect your vision and create spaces that feel cohesive and welcoming for every occupant. The Creative Materials team is ready to elevate your project by expertly guiding you in incorporating these essential layers into your specifications.
Schluter Profiles | Protective and finishing tile edge trim for floor and wall installations.
Mapei | System solutions from underlayments to grout and waterproofing.
Laticrete | Tile and stone installation systems and building finishing solutions.
Tile thickness isn’t just a number on a spec sheet; it’s a decision that can shape the entire success of your project. Overlooking this critical detail can trigger a ripple effect of challenges that jeopardize your schedule, budget, and reputation.
Behind every beautiful, high-performing commercial space is a team that knows how to bridge vision and reality. That’s exactly what we offer. At Creative Materials, we don’t just supply tile; we surround your project with specialized expertise designed to remove uncertainty and deliver results.
Our Design Services team partners with you to develop thoughtful pattern layouts, ensuring that tile thickness, module sizing, and installation methods all align seamlessly with your design intent. From the start, we focus on clarity and precision, so you avoid costly missteps later.
But we don’t stop there.
Our Product Team, which includes LEED Green Associates and seasoned technical experts, brings credible knowledge of sustainability, product performance, and evolving industry standards. Whether you’re navigating green building certifications, technical specs, or material compatibility, they’re available to help you make informed, forward-thinking decisions every time.
And when it comes to execution, our dedicated Consultants are with you every step of the way. Their collaborative approach ensures that you feel supported throughout the entire process, from selection to supply to successful installation. Their goal? To empower you to create with confidence, knowing that every detail has been thoughtfully considered
Expertly executed projects that exceed expectations—on time, on budget, and true to your vision.
We don’t expect designers or contractors to be tile thickness experts; that’s our job. And we take that job seriously.
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