The best shower tile is decided by where it goes, not by how it looks in a photograph. Glossy ceramic belongs on walls, matte porcelain and honed stone work on floors, and patterns need more layout planning than plain fields.
We researched seven tiles from MSI and Ackland, verifying size, finish, material, and coverage per box against each listing. There are no lab tests and no prices here, only the practical differences that decide which tile survives a wet room.
Quick Verdict
Best Overall: Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile 3 x 12 Pearl White — cheap, clean, easy to cut around fittings
Best Stone Look: MSI Honed Marble Hexagon Carrara — marble appearance with a honed, less slippery face
Best Patterned: MSI Porcelain Indigo Encaustic 8 x 8 — matte pattern that hides water spots
Quick Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Key Spec / Feature | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile 3 x 12 Pearl White | Subway, glossy | 3 x 12 in ceramic subway, glossy, 22 pieces, 5.5 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 Ackland Porcelain Fluted Slat Wall Tile Cashmere | Fluted, glossy | 5 x 10 in porcelain fluted slat, glossy, 26 pieces, 8.71 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 MSI Honed Marble Hexagon Carrara | Marble, honed | 12 x 11.75 in honed marble hexagon, 10 pieces, 9.8 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 MSI Porcelain Indigo Encaustic 8 x 8 | Encaustic look, matte | 8 x 8 in porcelain, matte finish, 12 pieces, 5.16 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 MSI Porcelain Subway Matte Calacatta Gold | Matte, marble look | 4 x 12 in porcelain, matte, 15 pieces, 5 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile Caspian Blue | Blue subway accent | 3 x 12 in ceramic subway, glossy, 22 pieces, 5.5 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
 MSI Marble Slat Honed Arabescato | Large format, honed | 4 x 12 in marble slat, honed, 15 pieces, 4.95 sq ft per box | Check Price on Amazon |
Wet-Area Grip and Grout Lines — What This List Actually Checked
This list is for anyone choosing tile for a shower rather than a dry wall.
- Finish, since glossy tile is unsafe underfoot in a wet area
- Material, as porcelain and ceramic differ in density and sealing needs
- Coverage per box, because layout waste is real on a small wall
- Grout line count, since joints discolour before tile does
Read the comparison table and each pick’s Best for and Skip if line, then open full reviews only for the surface you are covering.
These are researched picks from current listings rather than lab-tested claims, and every size, finish, and coverage figure was verified on the product page.
1. Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile 3 x 12 Pearl White — Best Overall Shower Tile
Best for: Shower walls where a classic subway layout is wanted. | Skip if: You need a non-slip floor tile.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 3 x 12 in |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Finish | Glossy |
| Coverage | 5.5 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Cheap way to cover a wall
- Easy to cut around fittings
- Familiar, timeless look
Reasons to Avoid
- Glossy finish is slippery underfoot
- Needs a level substrate
Subway tile is the default shower wall because it covers area, wipes clean, and is easy to cut around valves. Its glossy face is the reason it belongs on walls rather than the floor. In practice, cheap way to cover a wall.
2. Ackland Porcelain Fluted Slat Wall Tile Cashmere — Best Textured Wall
Best for: Feature walls that need shadow lines rather than pattern. | Skip if: You want a flat wipe-clean surface.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 5 x 10 in |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Finish | Glossy fluted |
| Coverage | 8.71 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Texture hides wall imperfections
- Porcelain is dense
- Large format covers fast
Reasons to Avoid
- Ridges collect soap
- Needs a brush to clean properly
Fluted tile adds shadow and hides a slightly uneven wall, which matters in older bathrooms. The ridges do trap soap film, so it is a wall behind the shower rather than inside it. It also helps that texture hides wall imperfections.
3. MSI Honed Marble Hexagon Carrara — Best Stone Look
Best for: Shower walls that want a marble look with grip. | Skip if: You want zero maintenance.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 x 11.75 in sheet |
| Material | Marble |
| Finish | Honed |
| Coverage | 9.8 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Honed face is less slippery than polished
- Hexagon pattern hides layout
- Stone look without slabs
Reasons to Avoid
- Needs sealing
- Acid cleaners etch it
Honed marble gives the stone look without a polished slip risk, which is why it works on shower walls and a low-traffic floor. It must be sealed, and acid cleaners are off the table. Worth noting: honed face is less slippery than polished.
4. MSI Porcelain Indigo Encaustic 8 x 8 — Best Patterned Tile
Best for: Anyone who wants pattern without a mosaic budget. | Skip if: You want a plain, calm surface.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 8 x 8 in |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Finish | Matte |
| Coverage | 5.16 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Pattern hides water spots
- Matte finish has grip
- Porcelain resists staining
Reasons to Avoid
- Busy in a small shower
- Pattern must line up
A matte porcelain with a printed pattern hides water marks better than plain white, and the matte face is safer underfoot. Layout takes more planning than a plain field tile. The useful part is that pattern hides water spots. In practice, matte finish has grip.
5. MSI Porcelain Subway Matte Calacatta Gold — Best Matte Wall Tile
Best for: Showers where a marble look must not be slippery. | Skip if: You want a high-gloss finish.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 4 x 12 in |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Finish | Matte |
| Coverage | 5 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Marble look without sealing
- Matte face adds grip
- Porcelain is easy to maintain
Reasons to Avoid
- Matte shows soap film
- Grout lines must be straight
Porcelain printed to look like marble avoids the sealing that real stone needs, and the matte face is safer in a wet room. Soap film shows more on matte than on gloss, so it needs wiping. In practice, marble look without sealing.
6. Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile Caspian Blue — Best Colour Accent
Best for: A single accent wall inside a mostly white shower. | Skip if: You want a neutral throughout.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 3 x 12 in |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Finish | Glossy |
| Coverage | 5.5 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Colour accent without full commitment
- Same layout as white subway
- Easy to cut
Reasons to Avoid
- Glossy, so wall only
- Colour can date
One coloured wall gives a shower personality without committing the whole room, and it uses the same layout and cuts as the white field tile. Keep it off the floor. It also helps that colour accent without full commitment. Worth noting: same layout as white subway.
7. MSI Marble Slat Honed Arabescato — Best Large Format Stone
Best for: A calm, vertical stone look with fewer grout lines. | Skip if: You want minimal sealing work.
Check On The Amazon.comDisclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | 4 x 12 in |
| Material | Marble |
| Finish | Honed |
| Coverage | 4.95 sq ft/box |
Reasons to Buy
- Fewer grout lines than mosaic
- Honed grip
- Natural variation
Reasons to Avoid
- Requires sealing
- Acid-sensitive
Larger stone pieces mean fewer joints to keep clean, which matters in a shower where grout is the first thing to discolour. Honing keeps grip without polishing the surface. Worth noting: fewer grout lines than mosaic. The useful part is that honed grip.
Quick Decision
The picks below are based only on product features — every bullet comes from that pick’s own spec table or its own Reasons to Buy.
Best overall: Ackland Ceramic Subway Tile 3 x 12 Pearl White
- Subway layout
- Glossy walls
- 5.5 sq ft/box
Best stone look: MSI Honed Marble Hexagon Carrara
- Honed grip
- Marble look
- Seal required
Best pattern: MSI Porcelain Indigo Encaustic 8 x 8
- Matte
- Hides spots
- Porcelain
Matching Tile to a Wet Room
Gloss on Walls, Matte on Floors
A polished face has almost no grip when wet. Glossy tile is a wall product, and matte or honed is the floor product.
Porcelain Beats Ceramic in Wet Areas
Porcelain is denser and absorbs less water, which matters where tile is permanently damp.
Fewer Joints, Less Maintenance
Grout discolours before tile does. Large format reduces the number of lines you have to keep clean.
What was left out and why: mosaic sheets under two inches were excluded because they multiply grout lines in a wet area, and polished marble was left out as a slip risk on shower floors. No slip ratings are claimed.
FAQ: Shower Tiles
What tile is best for a shower floor?
Matte porcelain or honed stone with adequate grip. Glossy ceramic belongs on walls only.
Do I need to seal shower tile?
Porcelain and ceramic do not need sealing. Natural stone and cement grout do.
Is subway tile good in a shower?
Yes on walls. It is cheap, easy to cut, and wipes clean, but it is too slippery for the floor.
How much tile should I buy?
Add ten to fifteen percent for cuts and breakage. More for a diagonal or herringbone layout.
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Conclusion
For shower walls the ceramic subway is the pick, because it covers area cheaply and cuts easily around valves. Choose honed marble for a stone look and matte porcelain where pattern or grip matters.
Next, split the room into wall and floor surfaces, since glossy tile should never go underfoot. If you are ordering, the tile calculator tool below works out box counts.
