This is a question I get asked from time to time. The short answer is no, you should not. Although grout does not add to the stability of the tile installation (unless it is epoxy grout), you still need to grout it.

Why you need grout

A lot of natural stones, namely granites and marbles, are manufactured to be consistently sized. For the most part all the tiles are identical.  This makes a lot of people want to install them without grout lines. Although in some people’s opinion butting the tiles against one another looks better than having even the smallest grout lines, it is not a recommended installation procedure.

Even if all the tiles look like they are the same size I can nearly guarantee they are not. Unless they are “rectified” they will differ, even if only a tiny amount, from tile to tile. Attempting to butt the tiles will result in a “jog” of the lines between them. The larger the area, the more those lines will run off. By leaving even 1/32 of an inch grout line you will be able to compensate for the difference in tile widths.

You also need grout to ensure that nothing can get between your tiles. Look at it this way: would you rather have a very small grout line filled with grout or a very, very small grout line filled with spaghetti sauce? No matter how tightly you attempt to butt the tiles, there will still be the tiniest space between them. Not grouting them leaves open the possibility of all types of unruly things filling them. Then you have to clean them out risking the possibility of damaging one of the tiles.

The final reason I’ll throw out there is that no matter what substrate you are using there will always be movement. Always. Placing the tiles against each other will eventually damage them. If you continuously rub the edges of two tiles together one or both will eventually chip (and you need to get out of the house more, or at least find another hobby). The expansion and contraction of wood or concrete will do the same thing. Although you can minimize this using different underlayment materials, it will still move.

I hate grout, I really do. If it were up to me I would install most tile and all granite and marble with no grout lines at all. I can’t do it. Even though it will look better initially, eventually it will ruin the tile. The best thing to do is use the smallest grout line your particular tile will allow and get a grout that closely matches the tile. For most granite and marble tile I install I use either 1/32 or 1/16 inch grout lines. In most other tile I will use 1/16 or 1/8 inch lines. I try to use the smallest grout lines the tile will allow.

To figure out how small you can go, place nine tiles in a 3 X 3 foot square butted against each other. Measure corner to corner diagonally both ways and see how close they are. If they are within 1/16 inch that is the size grout line you can use safely.

Please resist the temptation to install your tile without grout. Grout sucks, believe me, I know. By choosing a matching grout, though, you’ll be happier in the end and your tile will last significantly longer.

Update: The photos below were sent in by a reader asking why his tiles were cracking. They are travertine tiles and the cracking is a direct result of having the tiles butted against each other with no grout lines. This is what can happen.

photo-1 photo-2 photo-3 photo-4
{ 549 comments… add one }

Leave a Comment

  • gene

    Roger, can I install what looks like a groutless mosaic trim piece in my shower half way up the wall WITHOUT grouting? I dont see how grout can get in between. worried about water getting behind the tile. It’s just a feature strip the rest is 12 X 24 tile. :whistle:

    • Roger

      Hi Gene,

      You can, but you should probably think about the cleanliness of that mosaic. If it’s a stacked stone then it shouldn’t be used in a shower. Water will ALWAYS get behind your tile.

  • Celia

    Hello Roger,

    I’m doing a heart floor protector for under my wood stove. I’m on a budget, but would still like something durable. Because of the model, as per the manual I only need a non-combustible material (like tiles) on the floor. The whole area will be 40” x 39” tiles (actually it’s 5 tiles 8” * 39”) that look a bit like wood, and I will put a layer of plywood underneath. Since no one will be walking on the tiles, I wasn’t planning on using grout between the tiles. But after reading your post, I’m not sure anymore. Seeing as it’s for such a small space, what do you think? P.S. Great site!

    • Roger

      Hi Celia,

      You should still have grout in it.

  • Nicole

    I am starting my first tiling project ever and I’m doing a 3″×12″ polished marble tile counter on a kitchen island cart I’m building. I bought a tile and grout earlier for stone tiles. If I use that do I still need to use grout? I know this is probably redundant but I’m curious about my specific situation. Thanks!!!! Your information is really helpful!
    -Nicole

    • Nicole

      I’m sorry that’s supposed to say sealer… oops.

      • Roger

        Oh, rather than grout? You don’t have to seal it, but it would be better and easier to clean and keep clean. Unless that’s not what you meant, in which case I’m really confused now. :D

    • Roger

      Hi Nicole,

      Yes, you still need to use grout. Unless you’re not attaching the tile to the cart.

  • Tania

    Hi,

    We are installing wood like tiling in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and in the laundry room. I would love to keep it looking like wood. What are your suggestions for grouting, size, color, to grout or not grout, etc.

    Thanks so much!

    • Roger

      Hi Tania,

      All the information is located on this site for you by utilizing the search feature at the top of the page. Grout line size is here, you NEED grout (that is plainly stated in the article above where you wrote this). Find a color that matches as closely as possible to the base color of the tile.

  • gary

    hi … im going to tile over a small bar/ kitchen island 4ft x 2 1/2.

    Im going to use =small 2×2 tiles i want to butt them together would you suggest using non sanded grout as well ?

    • Roger

      Hi Gary,

      I would suggest not butting them together. But if you do (you will anyway) use unsanded grout.

      • gary

        Ill take your suggestion will a 7/16th spacer be fine ?

        • Roger

          Well, that escalated quickly. 7/16″???

          • gary

            sorry typo … I mean a 1/16th or what would u recommend ?

            • Roger

              1/16″ is fine provided the tile is uniform enough to achieve that. You’ll want to use unsanded grout for that.

  • Brandon

    I bought a palate of 6″x24″ rectified faux wood tiles for my condo and was hoping that I could but them against one another with no spacing. Can I still do this if I just put unsanded grout in the joints after installation? If not, how small of a space do I need to put in between (1/32)?

    Lastly, I plan on pulling up the existing parquet flooring, which was glued to my concrete subfloor. After pulling up the parquet, what type of preparation do I need to do? If it is level, can I just thinset or do I need to do something with the glue? What would I do with the glue? Also, if it is not level, should i thinset the divots or should I use a self-leveler?

    Any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

    • Roger

      Hi Brandon,

      The size of your needed grout lines would depend on the tile. The glue will need to be scraped off of the concrete. You can go directly to the concrete, yes, you can fill any small divots with thinset.

  • Paul Cholak

    What model of mixer do you use?

    • Roger

      Hi Paul,

      Mixer for what? For thinset I use a dewalt drill, for deck mud I use the same with a mortar mixer. For grout I use a margin trowel and a guy named Luke. :D

  • Lynne

    Also – can you use epoxy grout when you have a soapstone counter? Would you use epoxy in the joint connecting the soapstone and the backsplash tile? Or something else?

    • Roger

      I would use silicone at the transition, but yes, you can use it when you have soapstone counters.

      • Lynne

        Thank you for both answers!!

  • Lynne

    My tile guy is telling me that if I want epoxy grout I have to have larger grout lines. He said if I want really small grout lines I HAVE to go with regular grout. Is this true? This guy used to work at a high end kitchen installation company so I know he knows what he’s doing (that kitchen company ONLY used epoxy grout) but sometimes I think he tries to change my mind on things based on what is easier for him. What is the smallest grout line I can have with epoxy grout? Thank you so much in advance for your feedback!

    • Roger

      Hi Lynne,

      I have used it on 1/16″ grout lines.

  • Susan

    Hi I’m going to used 12×12 salt and pepper granite tiles on my kitchen counter top. Think I can used a 1/16 grout joint? And sanded or unsanded grout?

    • Roger

      Hi Susan,

      Yes, you should be able to with no problem. I would use sanded grout, but you can use either with that size grout line.

  • Steve

    Its me again Margaret! I also wanted to know if you have tried these products from Home Depot that u place under the tile as you set it to make it level? I am sticking out a little on my walls around my membrane and thought about using them to control my lip page

    • Roger

      Hi Steve,

      If you’re referring to the LASH system, yes I’ve used it. It works well, but you need A LOT of thinset beneath your tiles. But they do work quite well.

      And don’t call me margaret. :D

  • Steve

    Hey roger I have been reading looking for a solution to my problem on your site. I am installing mosaics on my shower floor. In the book I bought from you on trad. Floor it says to stick the tile to the top mud bed using thinset. I was centering my tiles around the drain and ran into a problem cutting the mosaics. I used a wet saw but the little bastards all fell off the sheet after I got my cut made. What should I do to get my tiles cut? And this looks like a real S.O.B to clean all them grout lines. Yikes. I also read your tile too tips and them grout saw blades don’t last long. Or am I using them incorrectly?

    • Roger

      Hi Steve,

      You can place transparent shelf paper over the mosaics (sticky side down) to hold the mosaics together when you cut. Leave it on there until the thinset is cured and peel it off. If you have too much thinset in the lines use a smaller trowel.

  • Adrien Small

    Hi Roger

    I’m about to attempt to lay a marble look ceramic tile on a concrete floor in our basement. The floor is not even its slopped and also has been trenched for bathroom plumbing. How should I prepare the floor???

    • Roger

      Hi Adrien,

      Self-leveling cement would be your best option.

  • Amanda C

    My landlord installed 12″ x 12″ tiles as a kitchen countertop surface WITHOUT grout and without any sealer of ANY kind… (trust me, I was not thrilled about this when we decided to move in – we were over a barrel and needed something FAST) Anyway – – -the tiles are glued down to the plywood substrate and butted together as tightly as possible, however – sh*t still gets in (as you can imagine)…
    Is there ANYTHING I can do to seal the grout lines retro-actively? We are the first renters in this house since he remodeled it and we haven’t even been in the house a year yet. We are starting to see ants now that summer has started, and I’d like to nip this in the bud!!

    Thanks!!

    • Roger

      Hi Amanda,

      Grout it with unsanded grout.

  • Wasif

    Hi, i m getting porcelain tiles done all over my condo. Installer wants to do it without grout. He is using mortor to i guess level the floor. Should he be using grout?

    • Roger

      Hi Wasif,

      There should be grout, as I’ve stated in the article above.

  • Larry

    Hi Roger,
    I read that I need to grout. I am putting a 7.5 inch by 48 inch floor tile that looks like greying wooden planks on a wall as an accent. It looks so much better when they are touching as it looks more like real wood that if I had to grout. I am using 1/2 cement backer board. Do I really need to grout since they are in a dry location and no one will be walking on them?

    • Roger

      Hi Larry,

      No, you do not.

    • daniel

      I butted my wood tiles together and used black non sanded grout it looks like a real wood floor.

      • Roger

        Hi Daniel,

        It won’t in two years. :D

  • Cathryn

    Hi Roger, thanks for all the good info here. Starting a kitchen tile floor (stone peak limestone porcelain 12″x24″ walnut) about 500 sq ft. We are on a crawl and have cleared out old linoleum down to plywood and leveled floor (took down wall to make two rooms into 1) with new plywood sheets. Is concrete board sufficient for backer, screwed to plywood? Or does it need to be glued or thinset? I now am resigned to 1/8 ” grout line. What grout would you recommend?
    I actually got enough tile to do foyer too, but 1/4″ board plus 1/4 tile is a problem for threshold of front door. Front door is steel. What is recommended fix for this issue?

    Many many thanks in advance.

    • Roger

      Hi Cathryn,

      1/4″ backer thinsetted and screwed down is just fine. I would use sanded grout for that.

      The door, if it’s steel, will need to be either cut or rehung higher. There is no easy way to deal with steel doors if you don’t have the clearance.

  • kathrine

    This is my backsplash in my kitchen. My installer suggested using no grout. He told me the shape of the tiles would not be as prominent if they were grouted. The tile is golden basket weave 3D bought at Arizona Tile. So…what should I do? They are coming back tomorrow at 8…. Thanks for any replies! Kathrine

    • Roger

      Hi Kathrine,

      There are some tile that is not meant to be grouted – that is one of them. I would seal it, though, that will keep all the nasty stuff out of the nooks and crannies.

  • Mohamed

    The guy who will install the tile for me said u can use something called ( sealing ) instead of the grout can I do that??

    • Roger

      Hi Mohamed,

      I have no idea what that is. If he is speaking of simply using sealer rather than grout then no, you can not do that.

  • glo

    Lowes cuts tiles for you, if you’re buying them from them. At least ours doed. I doubt our home Depot does.

    • Roger

      Hi glo,

      Some do, some don’t. Depends on the particular store. (Home Depot as well)

  • Jamie

    Hi Elf, thanks so much for the great site and manuals.
    I love your spectralock grout and had great results with it in my shower 2 years ago. I’m about to do my Mud room and a new bathroom/shower and the tile shop is reccomending “Mapei Flexcolor CQ” straight from the pail grout. It sounds so easy to use and their installers love it, but I figured I’d ask you for any thoughts and opinions on it. Have you tried it, and is it too good to be true?
    Thanks as always,
    Jamie

    • Roger

      Hi Jamie,

      It is a very good grout. Be ABSOLUTELY sure to follow the required curing times before water exposure.

  • Themus

    Roger,

    I was sealing my grout tonight in my second bathroom from a tile job someone did for me and noticed on the floor, the 12 x 12 tiles were often not really even with one another. I compared that to my 6 x 6 tiles in the bathroom which were even.

    Is this normal? I just assumed all tile floors had each tile lined up evenly with each other, but in my case in the second bathroom, there is a definite difference in several spots.

    • Roger

      Hi Themus,

      It depends on the installation. When properly installed yes, they will be flush. If they aren’t it’s simply poor workmanship.

    • daniel

      I have installed many tiles that have been bought from home depot. usually the cheapest ones at the time. Usually I do a full apartment about 500sqft. I have about 40 tiles that go to waste because they are odd sized from 1/32″ – 1/8″ difference. large grout line sorta hide it, but I’m a perfectionist that has to work with an inferior product.

      I do tile for a section 8 housing.

  • Nell

    I also hate grout. Reading your piece that says one must use it, makes me so sad. I want to install glass tile over my bathroom counter which is 48″x 21″ along with a copper bowl. I don’t want the traditional grout. It would ruin the whole effect. Can I use clear a clear epoxy instead?

    • Roger

      Hi Nell,

      Don’t be sad. :D There is actually a manufacturer that listened to us knucklehead tile guys and came out with a clear grout. Let me find it and I’ll let you know what it is. Give me a few minutes.

      • Roger

        Google Laticrete translucent plasma grout. :D

        • Nell

          Thank you for you quick reply and extra effort.
          Nell

  • Lisa

    I work at Home Depot and we haven’t cut tile for customers for about 10+years or at at least the three I’ve worked.

    • Roger

      Hi Lisa,

      I thought they all did. The two here in town still do. Thanks for the info!

  • duane

    can I use a silicon sealant (or some thing like it) between back splash tile. 1/16 spacing and one row of 3 1/5 inch tile. Small area

    • Roger

      Hi Duane,

      Yes you can.