Choosing Grout? These 3 Types of Grout for Tile Will Make or Break Your Design
A no-fluff guide to choosing grout that works for your space (and your sanity)
Grout doesn’t get enough credit. Most people treat it like the boring, messy cousin in the tile family, something that gets picked last or left up to the contractor. But the truth is, understanding the types of grout for tile can completely change how your space looks and how well it holds up over time.
Whether you’re planning a bathroom, kitchen, or full-on DIY tile moment, this post will walk you through the pros and cons of the three most common grout options: cement, epoxy, and pre-mixed. Grout does more than fill the space between tiles. It protects your surfaces, adds durability, and can even bring in a subtle design moment when you choose the right type.
Cement Grout: The Standard Go-To
Let’s start with the one you’ll see most often: cement grout. This is the classic pick, usually Mapei Ultracolor or Custom Polyblend. It comes in sanded or unsanded versions depending on your joint size. And it’s probably what your tile installer will default to (unless you request something else, of course).
Cement grout works best for:
Standard tile floors and walls
Dry areas like entryways, laundry rooms, or powder baths
Budget-conscious projects
This is your basic workhorse. It's affordable, easy to find, and has been used successfully in homes for decades. But it does require sealing after install, and that sealant needs to be reapplied over time if you want to keep stains out and moisture away.
If you're doing a kitchen renovation on a budget or tiling a space that doesn’t see a ton of water or mess, this might be the grout for you. Just be sure to seal it, and know that wear and staining can happen faster than with other options.
Epoxy Grout: The Upgrade for Wet or High-Use Areas
Now let’s talk about epoxy grout, which is kind of like cement grout’s smarter, older sister. This stuff is a little more advanced in both performance and price, but for certain spaces, it’s absolutely worth it.
Epoxy grout is waterproof, stain-resistant, and extremely durable. It doesn’t require sealing, and it holds up beautifully in areas that deal with moisture, heat, or food spills. Brands like Laticrete are known for their epoxy formulations, and while it’s trickier to work with, the payoff is real.
Epoxy grout is ideal for:
Showers (especially the floor)
Kitchen backsplashes
Mudrooms
Any area where you want stain resistance and easy cleanup
It’s more expensive and often needs a more experienced installer. If you're going the DIY tile route, I would only recommend epoxy grout if you're already comfortable with tiling or if you happen to enjoy reading instruction manuals before dinner.
Pre-Mixed Grout: The DIY-Friendly Option
If you're planning a small project, like a powder room backsplash or tiled laundry niche, and you don’t want to mess with mixing and sealing, pre-mixed grout might be the best choice. This is the option you’ll find in buckets at places like Lowe’s or Home Depot, often from brands like Mapei (my go-to is Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ.)
It’s convenient, beginner-friendly, and doesn’t need sealing. You literally scoop it out of the container and get to work.
Pre-mixed grout works well for:
Small-scale DIY tile jobs
Low-moisture areas
Quick installs where convenience matters more than long-term durability
That said, it’s not as durable or stain-resistant as epoxy, and I wouldn’t use it in high-traffic or wet zones. But if you just need something quick and easy that won’t take over your Saturday, it’s a solid pick.
How to Choose the Best Grout Options for Tile
Before you hit “add to cart,” here are a few questions to ask that will point you to the right grout for your project:
1. What’s the function of the space?
If it's a shower or backsplash, epoxy is usually your best bet. For a dry floor or wall, cement can be just fine.
2. Are you hiring a pro or doing it yourself?
Cement grout is straightforward. Pre-mixed is even easier. Epoxy requires some skill and patience, so factor that into your decision.
3. What’s your tolerance for maintenance?
Sealing cement grout isn’t hard, but you do need to keep up with it. Epoxy and pre-mixed are more set-it-and-forget-it.
4. Are you on a tight budget?
For a kitchen renovation on a budget, cement grout is the most affordable and widely available. Just be mindful of where it’s going and what kind of traffic or mess it will face.
Real-Life Scenarios and What I’d Choose
Let’s make it even more specific. Here’s what I’d recommend in these common tile situations:
Primary bathroom shower: Epoxy grout. You’ll thank yourself later when the tile still looks good years down the road.
Powder room backsplash: Pre-mixed grout. It’s quick, easy, and you won’t be scrubbing mascara splatters off of it daily.
Kitchen floor: Cement grout (sanded), but sealed really well. This keeps it budget-friendly while giving it a little more staying power.
Laundry room walls: Either cement or pre-mixed, depending on how much use that space really gets.
The point is, grout options for tile aren’t one-size-fits-all. You can mix and match based on location, budget, and your tolerance for future maintenance.
Choosing the right types of grout for tile doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just requires a little bit of planning based on how your space will actually be used.
Grout might not be the exciting part of tile design, but it’s what keeps your pretty backsplash from staining, your bathroom floor from mildewing, and your weekend DIY from turning into a redo six months later.
But grout isn’t the only detail that sneaks up on homeowners…
Bonus Resource: Don’t Let Cabinet Decisions Undo Your Good Work
If you’re in the middle of planning your kitchen renovation, make sure your cabinet choices don’t turn into one of those “we should have known” moments.
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