Why Do You Put Spacers Between Tiles?

⏱ Estimated reading time: 2 minutes · ✍️ By Dipak Patel

What Tile Spacers Do

Tile spacers are small plastic guides that create consistent gaps between tiles. They make your grout lines straight and even, improve performance, and make the final finish look professional.

Why They’re Essential

• Consistency: Identical joint widths across the surface look cleaner.
• Alignment: Keeps rows and columns running true.
• Performance: Grout needs space to bond; tight‑butted tiles can chip or “tent”.

Which Spacer Size?

• Walls: 2–3mm is common for ceramics; 1.5–2mm for rectified porcelain.
• Floors: 3–5mm helps manage movement and load.
• Rustic or handmade looks: Wider joints (4–6mm) suit the style.

Types of Spacers

• Cross spacers: Great for grid layouts.
• T‑spacers: Useful at edges and staggered patterns.
• Wedges: Fine‑tune joint width on uneven surfaces.

Pro Tips

• Insert spacers vertically so they’re easy to remove before grouting.
• Check joint width periodically—adjust if your substrate varies.
• Use wedges on wavy walls to maintain a straight sightline.

Bottom Line

Spacers are tiny but transformative. They keep everything uniform, protect tile edges, and make grouting faster and cleaner.