What size tile is best for a small bathroom?

Larger tiles than you might expect often work best in small bathrooms. 12x24 inch or even 24x24 inch tiles can actually make a small bathroom feel more spacious by reducing the number of grout lines, which creates a cleaner, less busy visual field.

The "small tiles for small spaces" rule is outdated. While 4x4 ceramic tiles were the standard for decades, modern design favors larger format tiles even in compact bathrooms. Fewer grout lines mean the eye travels across the floor or wall uninterrupted, making the space feel larger. That said, very large tiles (24x48 or bigger) can feel overwhelming in a truly tiny bathroom and may require more cutting, which increases waste and labour costs.

Rectangular tiles used strategically can also elongate a space. A 12x24 tile laid in a horizontal brick pattern on the floor will visually widen a narrow bathroom. The same tile installed vertically on walls draws the eye upward, making ceilings feel higher. This is one of the most cost-effective design tricks available, since you're simply changing the layout pattern rather than the material.

For Ottawa bathrooms specifically, porcelain tile is the most popular choice given our freeze-thaw climate — it's denser and less porous than ceramic, which matters for basement bathrooms or any space with temperature fluctuations. Installed costs in Ottawa typically run $8–$25 per square foot for floors and $10–$30 per square foot for walls, depending on tile size, material, and layout complexity. Larger tiles and diagonal or herringbone patterns cost more to install due to additional cutting and labour.

Practically speaking, also consider tile finish. A matte or textured finish on floors provides better slip resistance, while a polished or semi-polished tile on walls reflects light and brightens a small space. Keeping floor and wall tiles in the same colour family with different finishes is a clean, modern approach that works very well in compact Ottawa bathrooms.

If you're planning a tile refresh or full bathroom renovation, Ottawa Bathrooms offers free consultations to help you choose the right tile size, layout, and material for your specific space.