Where to Buy Tiles in the UK: Online, Showrooms and Budget Options

Buying tiles in the United Kingdom requires selecting the correct retail channel, verifying measurable technical specifications, confirming transparent price per square metre, and ensuring batch consistency before purchasing ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, or natural stone tiles. Tile purchasing decisions affect durability, slip safety, colour stability, and total project cost across bathroom floors, kitchen walls, hallway areas, and outdoor paving measured in square metres.

Online tile retailers provide broad SKU depth and clear product data including water absorption below 0.5% for porcelain tiles, PEI abrasion ratings between 3 and 5 for residential floors, and slip resistance ratings from R9 to R13 for wet areas. Physical tile showrooms allow direct inspection of surface texture, shade grading from V1 uniform tone to V4 high variation, and large-format proportions such as 600×600mm, 900×900mm, or 1200×600mm. DIY superstores support immediate collection for smaller installations, while specialist tile retailers strengthen stock continuity and batch control across larger areas exceeding 20m² or 30m².

Reliable tile retailers publish full specifications, display clear pack coverage in square metres, state VAT inclusion, confirm real-time stock availability, manage matching batch numbers, and provide palletised delivery across England, Scotland, and Wales. Ordering tile samples before full purchase improves colour accuracy and surface evaluation under domestic lighting conditions.

Tile Mountain supports tile purchasing in the United Kingdom through a 4.7 Trustpilot rating from over 39,000 positive reviews, 14 physical UK showrooms including Swindon, Basildon, Birmingham, Cardiff, Cheltenham and other cities, offering free cut tile samples, high stock availability, transparent price per square metre, and fast free delivery over £299, reinforcing measurable reliability across ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and natural stone tile projects.

Table of Contents

What are the Main Places to Buy Tiles in the UK?

The main places to buy tiles in the United Kingdom are online tile shops, tile showrooms, DIY stores, and specialist tile retailers selling ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, and natural stone tiles for homes and buildings. Buying tiles in the United Kingdom supports bathroom walls, kitchen floors, hallway flooring, garden paving, and trade building work measured in square metres per room.

Buying tiles in the United Kingdom happens through four clear places explained below.

Online Tile Shops

Online tile shops provide the largest number of tile choices when buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Online tile websites often list 5,000 to 10,000 tile designs including porcelain floor tiles, ceramic wall tiles, marble-effect tiles, stone-effect tiles, wood effect tiles, terrazzo effect tiles, mosaic sheets, and outdoor paving slabs, with common sizes such as 300×300mm, 300×600mm, 600×600mm, 800×800mm, and 1200×600mm.

Online tile shops usually show clear product details when buying tiles in the United Kingdom:

Show water absorption below 0.5% for porcelain tiles
Show slip resistance ratings from R9 to R13 for wet floors
Show PEI strength ratings from 3 to 5 for floor durability
Show price per square metre in pounds sterling

According to Office for National Statistics Retail Sales data 2024, 26.9% of retail sales in Great Britain happen online, confirming online shopping as a major way of buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

Tile Showrooms

Tile showrooms allow buyers to see and touch tiles before buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Tile showrooms display tiles on walls and floors so buyers check colour shade, surface feel, tile thickness, and grout spacing in real space, with shade levels from V1 even colour to V4 high colour variation and large sizes such as 900×900mm or 1200×600mm shown in full size.

Tile showrooms support buying tiles in the United Kingdom by helping buyers:

Compare matt and gloss finishes under lighting
Check anti-slip texture for bathrooms
Match tile shade across multiple boxes
Measure room layout with large-format tiles

Tile showrooms increase confidence during ceramic tile and porcelain tile selection for kitchens and bathrooms.

DIY Stores

DIY stores sell tiles together with tools and building materials when buying tiles in the United Kingdom. DIY stores usually stock fewer than 500 tile designs per branch and focus on white ceramic wall tiles and grey porcelain floor tiles in 300×600mm or 600×600mm sizes, with prices often between £15 and £40 per square metre depending on tile type and finish.

DIY stores support buying tiles in the United Kingdom through:

Provide same-day collection
Provide smaller pack sizes
Provide grout and adhesive in one visit
Provide basic colour options

DIY stores suit small rooms under 20 square metres where quick purchase matters more than wide design choice.

Specialist Tile Retailers

Specialist tile retailers focus only on tiles and manage supply, stock control, and technical testing when buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Specialist tile retailers control import, storage, batch matching, and product information, and technical sheets show frost resistance for outdoor porcelain, PEI strength grading for busy floors, and water absorption below 0.5% confirming vitrified porcelain tiles.

Specialist tile retailers support buying tiles in the United Kingdom by:

Offer exclusive tile collections
Offer detailed technical data
Offer batch consistency tracking
Offer nationwide delivery coverage

Tile Mountain operates as a United Kingdom specialist tile retailer combining online ordering with showroom access and national distribution logistics.

Is It Better to Buy Tiles Online or In-Store?

Buying tiles online gives more choice and easier price comparison, while buying tiles in-store gives better checking of colour, texture, and size before purchase in the United Kingdom. The better option depends on whether wide selection or physical inspection matters more during buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

Online Tile Buying

Online tile buying provides more tile designs and clearer product details when buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

Online tile buying includes the following features:

Show 5,000 to 10,000 tile designs including porcelain floor tiles, ceramic wall tiles, marble-effect tiles, and outdoor paving slabs
Show tile sizes such as 300×600mm, 600×600mm, 800×800mm, and 1200×600mm
Show water absorption below 0.5% for porcelain tiles
Show slip resistance ratings from R9 to R13 for wet areas
Show PEI strength ratings from 3 to 5 for floor durability
Show price per square metre in pounds sterling

Online tile buying increases design choice and improves price comparison for ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles across England, Scotland, and Wales.

In-Store Tile Buying

In-store tile buying allows direct checking of tile surface, shade variation, and real size before buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

In-store tile buying includes the following features:

Allow touching tile texture and anti-slip finish
Allow checking shade variation from V1 even colour to V4 high colour change
Allow viewing large tiles such as 900×900mm in full size
Allow comparing matt and gloss finishes under lighting
Allow same-day collection for small rooms under 20 square metres

In-store tile buying improves confidence when choosing ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.

What Should You Look for in a Reputable Tile Retailer?

A reputable tile retailer in the United Kingdom demonstrates technical specification accuracy, transparent price per square metre, controlled batch consistency, verified stock availability, protected delivery systems, secure payment processing, and structured customer support when supplying ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, and natural stone tiles.

Technical Specification Accuracy

Measured tile performance data confirms material suitability for installation. Product listings must display water absorption below 0.5% confirming porcelain vitrification, PEI abrasion rating between 3 and 5 confirming residential floor durability, DIN 51130 slip resistance classification between R9 and R13 confirming wet-area compliance, frost resistance classification for external porcelain paving, tile thickness such as 8mm or 10mm, and calibrated dimensions such as 600×600mm or 1200×600mm supporting layout precision.

Transparent Price Per Square Metre

Clear price per square metre in pounds sterling protects cost control. Pricing structure must display pack coverage measured in square metres, pack quantity per box, total pack cost, VAT inclusion status, delivery charge before payment, and minimum order threshold supporting project calculations exceeding 10m², 20m², or 30m².

Batch and Shade Consistency

Matching batch numbers and shade grading prevent tonal variation across installed surfaces. Shade codes from V1 uniform tone to V4 high tonal movement must remain consistent within one order, and batch allocation must support continuity across multi-room installations exceeding 20m².

Verified Stock Availability

Real-time inventory confirmation reduces supply interruption during renovation scheduling. Confirmed stock levels prevent partial dispatch and maintain workflow continuity across residential and trade projects.

Protected Delivery Logistics

Palletised transport with reinforced packaging reduces breakage during nationwide distribution. Structured logistics systems protect ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles across England, Scotland, and Wales, reducing replacement delay.

Sample Provision

Sample dispatch improves pre-installation evaluation accuracy. Tile samples enable inspection of surface texture, gloss level, colour tone under natural light, and grout compatibility before committing to full square metre quantity.

Structured Return Policy

Defined return period and damage reporting procedure reduce transactional risk. Clear policy must state time frame in days and replacement processing sequence to support secure tile purchasing.

Secure Payment Processing

Encrypted payment systems protect financial data during online tile transactions. Verified payment gateways strengthen transactional security during buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

Trade and Volume Support

Bulk pricing tiers and VAT documentation support professional installers. Volume thresholds above 30m² strengthen commercial project planning and batch continuity control.

Installation Guidance Availability

Structured installation guidance reduces fitting error. Guidance covering adhesive selection, grout spacing, and substrate preparation improves installation performance for ceramic and porcelain tiles.

Where Can You Buy Tiles for Different Rooms?

Tiles for different rooms in the United Kingdom are bought from online tile retailers, tile showrooms, DIY superstores, and specialist tile retailers, with the best place to buy tiles depending on room conditions such as water exposure, slip risk, foot traffic, and cleaning chemicals.

Bathroom Tiles

bathroom tiles

Bathroom tiles are best bought from tile retailers that publish slip resistance ratings and wet-area specifications for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Bathroom floor tile selection requires slip resistance data such as R10 to R13 and porcelain water absorption below 0.5% for low water uptake, while bathroom wall tile selection prioritises easy-clean glazed ceramic tiles in sizes such as 300×600mm and 300×900mm.

Kitchen Tiles

Kitchen tiles are best bought from tile retailers that publish stain resistance suitability and durable floor performance data for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Kitchen floor tiles commonly use porcelain tiles with PEI 3 to 5 for abrasion resistance, while kitchen wall tiles and splashback tiles commonly use ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles with wipe-clean finishes in sizes such as 300×600mm, 600×600mm, and 600×1200mm.

Hallway Tiles

Hallway tiles are best bought from tile retailers that publish heavy-footfall durability ratings and batch consistency controls for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Hallway porcelain tiles typically require PEI 4 to 5 for abrasion resistance and consistent batch numbers to protect colour uniformity across continuous areas above 15m² and 20m².

Living Room Tiles

Living room tiles are best bought from tile retailers that provide large-format options and verified shade consistency for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Living room flooring frequently uses large-format porcelain tiles such as 900×900mm and 1200×600mm and wood-effect plank tiles such as 200×1200mm, with batch control supporting open-plan spaces above 30m².

Utility Room Tiles

Utility room tiles are best bought from tile retailers that publish slip resistance and cleaning suitability for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Utility room floor tiles often use textured porcelain tiles with R10 or higher slip resistance and PEI 4 to 5 durability because frequent cleaning and water splashes increase surface wear.

Outdoor Tiles

Outdoor tiles are best bought from tile retailers that publish frost resistance and outdoor slip resistance data for buying tiles in the United Kingdom. Outdoor porcelain paving requires frost resistance classification and low water absorption below 0.5%, while outdoor slip resistance targets higher grip surfaces such as R11 to R13 for wet weather and algae exposure.

Where Can You Buy Tiles on a Budget?

Budget tiles in the United Kingdom are bought from online tile retailers, clearance sections, DIY superstores, and specialist tile retailers such as Tile Mountain offering low price per square metre ceramic tiles and entry-level porcelain tiles.

Online Tile Retailers

Online tile retailers provide the widest low-cost tile range when buying tiles on a budget in the United Kingdom. Budget collections commonly include ceramic wall tiles below £15 per square metre and basic porcelain floor tiles between £15 and £30 per square metre in sizes such as 300×600mm and 600×600mm, while product pages display water absorption below 0.5% for porcelain classification and PEI ratings between 3 and 4 for residential durability.

Tile Mountain Budget Range

Tile Mountain provides a dedicated budget friendly tile section with discounted ceramic and porcelain tiles priced from approximately £6 per square metre. Budget tiles at Tile Mountain include wall tiles, floor tiles, and end-of-line stock with published technical specifications such as slip resistance rating and pack coverage in square metres, supporting cost control during buying tiles in the United Kingdom.

DIY Superstores

DIY superstores supply entry-price tiles with immediate collection for smaller projects. Budget options often include plain ceramic wall tiles and neutral porcelain floor tiles priced between £10 and £35 per square metre, with combined purchase of grout, adhesive, and trims reducing overall project expenditure.

Clearance and End-of-Line Sections

Clearance sections offer reduced price tiles due to surplus stock or discontinued ranges. End-of-line porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles often appear at discounted price per square metre while maintaining measurable specifications such as tile size accuracy and abrasion rating.

Where Can You Order Tile Samples Before Buying?

Tile samples in the United Kingdom can be ordered from online tile retailers, and tile showrooms before buying full square metre quantities of ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, and natural stone tiles. Ordering tile samples improves colour accuracy, texture inspection, and finish confirmation before installation.

Online Tile Retailers

Online tile retailers like Tile Mountain provide sample delivery across England, Scotland, and Wales. Sample tiles show exact design, size such as 300×600mm or 600×600mm, water absorption below 0.5% for porcelain tiles, slip resistance rating, and PEI durability rating before full purchase.