The No-Nonsense DIY Guide: How To Tile A Kitchen
How To Tile A Kitchen: The Complete DIY Wall, Splashback & Floor Guide
Everything you need before you pick up a trowel, cost, tools, surface prep, and a full step-by-step method for tiling kitchen walls, splashbacks and floors, plus the metro, porcelain and wood-effect tiles from our range best suited to a DIY kitchen project.
Retiling a kitchen is one of the most cost-effective changes you can make to the busiest room in the house. A new splashback or floor can transform a tired kitchen without the expense of replacing cabinetry, and unlike a bathroom, most of the surfaces involved are flat, dry, and free of pipework, which makes it a genuinely approachable DIY job for a confident first-timer.
This guide from Tiles Deluxe covers whether DIY is right for your kitchen, what it typically costs, the full tool list, and a complete step-by-step method for tiling both kitchen walls and floors, along with the tiles from our range that hold up best to daily cooking, spills and foot traffic.
Should You DIY Your Kitchen Tiling?
White Gloss 300×75 Subway Tile
Splashback tiling is genuinely one of the friendliest tiling jobs going, since you’re usually working on a single flat wall behind a worktop, in a confined area that’s easy to measure and easy to protect. A kitchen floor is a bigger commitment more square metres, more cutting around cabinets and appliances but still well within reach of a careful first-timer.
Where kitchens do differ from bathrooms is grease and heat. Splashback tiles sit close to hobs and sinks, so surface prep and grout choice matter more here than in most rooms; a good extraction fan and a grease-resistant sealed grout will save you a lot of cleaning down the line. If you’re comfortable working methodically through setting-out and happy to dry-lay a row before committing to adhesive, a kitchen retile is a very achievable weekend project.
How Much Does It Cost to Tile a Kitchen?
Gloss Blue Metro Subway Wall Tile
A kitchen splashback alone is one of the cheapest tiling jobs in the house a few square metres of tile, adhesive and grout will usually come in well under a hundred pounds in materials. A full kitchen floor is a bigger spend, and can range from a couple of hundred pounds for a small galley kitchen in ceramic, up to several hundred for a larger open-plan kitchen-diner finished in porcelain or a wood-effect plank tile.
Three things tend to move the price most:
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tile type | Ceramic metro tiles are the cheapest splashback option; porcelain and wood-effect porcelain cost more but resist scratches and heat better underfoot. |
| Layout complexity | A herringbone or brick-bond metro layout takes longer to lay than a simple grid, adding to time even without a labour bill. |
| Cuts around fittings | Sockets, extractor housings, cabinet returns and appliance gaps all add cutting time and slightly increase wastage. |
As with any room, always buy at least 10% more tile than your measured area to allow for cuts and breakages, and check with your supplier that your grout is rated for kitchen use a grease-resistant, sealed grout is worth the small extra cost around hobs and sinks.
For a deeper look at tiling costs in UK homes, see independent guides like MyJobQuote’s bathroom tiling cost breakdown, which gives a useful reference for labour and material rates.
Tools & Materials Checklist
Running out of tile or realising halfway through that you don’t have the right trowel is the fastest way to lose momentum. Gather everything below before you start:
- Kitchen wall and/or floor tiles (plus 10% extra)
- Tile adhesive suited to your substrate
- Grease-resistant, sealed tile grout
- Notched tiling trowel
- Rubber grout float
- Manual or electric tile cutter
- Angle grinder with diamond blade for socket and edge cuts
- Tile spacers and levelling wedges
- Spirit level
- Measuring tape and pencil
- Wooden batten for a level starting line
- Water-resistant backer board (for floors)
- Self-levelling compound for uneven floors
- Mixing bucket and paddle mixer attachment
- Sponges and clean cloths
- Silicone sealant and applicator gun
Working near sockets or an existing hob? Always isolate the electrics at the consumer unit before cutting or drilling near a switch or socket — see the HSE’s electrical safety guidance if you’re at all unsure.[web:125]
Best Tiles for a DIY Kitchen
Gloss Green Metro Wall Tile, 300x75mm
For a splashback, metro tiles remain the classic choice, and for good reason: the small format is forgiving to cut around sockets, and a simple grid or brick-bond layout is one of the easiest patterns for a first-timer to keep level. Our gloss metro range is easy to wipe down, which matters directly behind a hob.
For the floor, full-body porcelain in a mid-to-large format is the most practical option — it’s harder-wearing than ceramic, resists staining from oil and food, and copes far better with dropped pans than a natural stone alternative.
If you are drawn to terrazzo instead of metro, explore our full terrazzo tile range alongside the kitchen options above.[web:129]
White 15×15 Bumpy Gloss Wall Tile
If you’d rather move away from a narrow metro format, a square 15×15 gloss tile gives a clean, contemporary feel that still works perfectly around sockets and under cabinets. It is also a simple layout to set out and keep level on a first DIY splashback.
Preparing Your Kitchen for Tiling
Strip back any loose paint, grease or old adhesive, then make sure your walls and floors are sound, flat and dry before tiling. For uneven or damaged floors, a self-levelling compound is essential before laying large-format porcelain or terrazzo tiles.
If you are considering a terrazzo-effect kitchen floor rather than metro or wood-effect, have a look at our terrazzo project guides like Ivory terrazzo tiles dining room flooring guide and beige terrazzo tiles London design guide for layout and styling ideas that translate well into open-plan kitchen-diners.[web:129]
Step by Step: Tiling a Kitchen Splashback
- Mark a level datum line above your worktop using a spirit level and pencil, then fix a straight timber batten as a temporary support.
- Dry-lay a row of tiles along the worktop to check how cuts will fall around sockets and at the ends of the run, adjusting the starting point to balance any small cuts.
- Spread adhesive on the wall in small sections and press each tile firmly into place with spacers, checking level as you go.
- Cut tiles carefully around sockets and switches, always isolating the power before removing faceplates and making any cuts near cables.
- Once the adhesive has cured, remove spacers, grout the joints and silicone along the worktop edge for a flexible seal.
For more ideas on splashback layouts and finishes, explore external inspiration pieces such as Checkatrade’s tiled kitchen splashback ideas and House Beautiful’s kitchen splashback gallery, which pair well with our metro and terrazzo ranges.[web:95][web:100]
Step by Step: Tiling a Kitchen Floor
- Check your substrate is solid and suitable for tiling, using backer boards over timber or decoupling membranes where required.
- Plan your layout from the centre of the room or a main sight line, dry-laying a few rows to avoid narrow cuts at doorways and plinths.
- Spread adhesive with a suitable notched trowel and bed tiles in firmly, using levelling clips where needed to minimise lippage.
- Cut tiles neatly around door linings, islands and plinths, leaving appropriate movement gaps at the perimeter.
- Allow the floor to fully cure before grouting and replacing skirting boards or plinths.
For more on kitchen floor porcelain performance and layout, see our Kitchen Floor Tiles Leicester porcelain flooring guide, and our wider floor tile collection if you’re comparing kitchen to hallway or dining areas.[web:94]
Grouting, Sealing & Finishing
Choose a grout colour that works with both your tile and kitchen cabinetry, then apply it in small sections, cleaning down frequently to avoid haze. In high-grease zones around a hob, a stain-resistant grout and regular sealing will make day-to-day cleaning far easier.
To help with product choice, browse our tile adhesive range and surface preparation products, then compare with manufacturer recommendations from your underfloor heating or worktop supplier where relevant.
FAQs
Can I tile straight over my existing kitchen tiles?
In some cases yes, provided the existing tiles are sound, flat and well-bonded, but in most kitchens it is better to strip back where possible so you can improve surface flatness and waterproofing before you start.
What is the easiest kitchen tile for a first DIY project?
Simple 300×75 metro tiles in a grid or brick-bond pattern are forgiving to cut and easy to keep level, while mid-size porcelain like 60x60cm works well on floors without too many cuts.
Are terrazzo tiles suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, terrazzo-effect porcelain is an excellent choice for open-plan kitchen-diners, and our guides on white terrazzo tiles and light terrazzo porcelain show how to continue the same floor through hallways and living spaces for a cohesive look.[web:129]
Where can I learn more about terrazzo tile design?
For more detail, see our articles on how to choose 60×120 terrazzo tiles, grey terrazzo tiles 60×60, terrazzo aggregate size and terrazzo tile colours, plus our styling pieces like how to style terrazzo tiles with furniture.[web:129]
Shop Tiles By Category
Tiles Deluxe stocks porcelain and ceramic tiles for every room, style and budget, at up to 70% below local tile shop prices, with free next-day UK delivery on samples.
Further Reading On Tiles & Design
A Comprehensive Guide to Terrazzo Tiles
Everything you need to know about terrazzo porcelain, from colours to maintenance.[web:129]
How To Style Terrazzo Tiles With Furniture
Room-by-room ideas for integrating terrazzo into living and dining spaces.
Buy Terrazzo Tiles London: Furniture Styling Guide
Styling tips for London homes using terrazzo across kitchens and hallways.
How To Style Terrazzo Tiles With Furniture (Part 2)
More layouts, colours and aggregate combinations to consider.
How To Choose 60×120 Terrazzo Tiles
Guidance on large-format terrazzo for open-plan spaces.
How To Choose Terrazzo Tile Colours
Choosing between white, light, grey and dark terrazzo for your scheme.
