Metro vs Large-Format Tiles: Which Is Right for Your Room?
Metro tiles and large-format tiles can give a room completely different looks, but choosing between them isn’t just about style. The size of your room, the surface you’re tiling, how much maintenance you want and even who will be fitting them can all make a difference.
Here’s a simple guide to the pros and cons of metro and large-format tiles, where each works best and what to think about before you order.
Metro Tiles at a Glance
Metro tiles, also known as subway tiles, are rectangular tiles that have long been popular in kitchens and bathrooms. There’s much more choice than the classic white gloss metro too, with different colours, finishes, edges and sizes available.
They can also be laid in lots of different ways, including traditional brick bond, stacked, vertical and herringbone patterns.
Browse our Metro Tiles collection to compare colours and styles.
Metro tiles work particularly well if you want:
- A classic, characterful or traditional look.
- Plenty of choice when it comes to colours and laying patterns.
- An eye-catching kitchen splashback or bathroom feature wall.
- To use contrasting grout as part of the design.
Large-Format Tiles at a Glance
Large-format tiles cover more surface area with fewer individual tiles and grout joints. They’re particularly popular for modern bathrooms, open-plan floors and large wall areas.
Sizes vary considerably, so check the individual product details before ordering, especially if you’re planning the layout around doors, furniture or bathroom fittings.
Large-format tiles are a great option if you want:
- A clean, modern look.
- Fewer grout lines.
- A more continuous finish across larger walls and floors.
- Stone, concrete or marble effects where you want the pattern or veining to take centre stage.
See our current Large Format Tiles, or browse the wider Wall and Floor Tiles collection.
Metro vs Large Format Tiles: A Quick Comparison
| Consideration | Metro tiles | Large-format tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Overall look | Decorative, classic and full of character | Clean, spacious and contemporary |
| Grout lines | More grout lines, which can become part of the design | Fewer grout lines for a more continuous finish |
| Popular uses | Splashbacks, shower walls and feature walls | Open-plan floors, bathroom walls and larger areas |
| Design options | Lots of laying patterns, colours and grout combinations | Impact comes from the tile size, finish, pattern and veining |
| Installation | More individual tiles and joints to line up | Fewer tiles, but they can be heavier and need a very well-prepared surface |
| Cleaning | More grout lines to clean | Less grout to maintain |
Which Tiles Work Best in Each Room?
Kitchen Splashbacks
Metro tiles are a classic choice for kitchen splashbacks, and it’s easy to see why. White metros create a clean, timeless look, while coloured, textured or bevelled designs can turn the splashback into more of a feature.
You can also change the whole feel simply by switching the laying pattern or grout colour.
Large-format tiles give you a very different look, with fewer joints and a more streamlined finish. They can work particularly well behind a hob or across a full run of kitchen units. Just make sure the tile is suitable for wall use and think about how cuts will fall around sockets and cupboards.
Bathroom Walls
Metro tiles are ideal if you want to add detail, colour or pattern to your bathroom. Use them across the whole room or just on a shower wall, splashback or feature area.
Large-format tiles suit bathrooms where you want a cleaner, more contemporary feel. Fewer grout joints can make a room look less busy and allow stone or marble-effect designs to really stand out.
Whichever size you choose, good surface preparation is important. Large tiles in particular need a flat, stable surface and the correct adhesive and fixing method.
Bathroom Floors and Wet Rooms
When you’re choosing bathroom floor tiles, looks are only part of the decision. Always check that the individual tile is suitable for floor use and has an appropriate slip rating for the area where you’re planning to use it.
Large-format floor tiles can create a smart, streamlined bathroom, while smaller tiles can sometimes be easier to work with where a floor needs to slope towards a drain.
If you’re not sure what the different ratings mean, read our anti-slip tile ratings guide.
And remember, not every wall tile can be used on a floor, and not every large-format tile will be suitable for a wet room. Always check the individual product specification.
Living Rooms and Open-Plan Floors
Large-format porcelain tiles are a popular choice for open-plan living areas because they create a clean, continuous floor with fewer grout lines. Stone, concrete and marble-effect designs can be especially effective across larger spaces.
Metro tiles are much less common as a main living-room floor covering, but they can still work brilliantly on fireplace surrounds, alcoves and feature walls where the tile is suitable for the application.
Hallways and Entrances
Hallways have to cope with plenty of foot traffic, along with dirt, grit and wet shoes coming in from outside, so practicality matters.
A large-format floor tile can make a strong first impression and works particularly well in wider hallways. Just make sure the tile is designed for floors and check its slip resistance.
Metro tiles are generally better suited to hallway walls or smaller decorative areas rather than as the main floor covering.
Installation: What Should You Plan For?
Both metro and large-format tiles need careful planning, but they present slightly different challenges.
- Setting out: Think about where cuts will fall around corners, sockets, niches, doors and bathroom fittings before you start tiling.
- Surface preparation: Your surface needs to be sound, stable and properly prepared. Large-format tiles usually need a particularly flat surface.
- Adhesive: Use an adhesive suitable for the tile, surface and location, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Grout: Consider both the colour and practical side. Metro tiles usually mean more grout joints, while larger tiles need fewer.
- Handling: Large tiles can be heavy and awkward to move and cut, so specialist equipment or an experienced tiler may be worthwhile.
- Wastage: Allow extra for cuts and breakages. More complex metro patterns such as herringbone can also increase the amount of cutting required.
Browse our Tiling Accessories for adhesives, grout, trims, tools and other products you may need for your project.
How to Choose Between Metro and Large-Format Tiles
- Think about the finished look. Do you want lots of detail and pattern, or a cleaner surface with fewer joints?
- Check that the tile is suitable for the area you’re tiling, whether that’s a wall, floor, bathroom, wet area or outdoor space.
- Look at the tile size, thickness, finish and shade variation, rather than choosing on colour alone.
- For floor tiles, check the slip rating and whether the tile is suitable for the amount of foot traffic it will receive.
- Order samples if you can. Colours, textures and finishes often look different in your own lighting than they do on a screen.
- Plan your adhesive, grout and trims at the same time rather than treating them as an afterthought.
So, Which Should You Choose?
Go for metro tiles if you love colour, pattern and the chance to put your own stamp on a room. They’re particularly good for kitchen splashbacks, bathroom walls and feature areas.
Choose large-format tiles if you prefer a cleaner, more contemporary look with fewer grout lines, particularly across bigger walls and floors.
Neither is automatically better than the other. The best choice is the tile that gives you the look you want while still being right for the surface and room you’re tiling.