Glass vs. Ceramic Backsplash Tile: Which Is Best For Your Kitchen?

When designing your dream kitchen, you may find yourself spending countless hours deliberating over various countertop slabs, flooring tile, and appliance options. The kitchen backsplash often falls to the wayside, but it shouldn’t! Your kitchen backsplash tile is the backdrop to your kitchen and is ideal for adding your personality to the space. But what material is best for the kitchen: glass or ceramic tile?

We’ve outlined the pros and cons of both glass tiles and ceramic tiles so you can feel confident in your decision. Follow along to learn which tile is best for your kitchen.

Glass Tiles

Pros

Although glass tiles aren’t the most inexpensive option on the market, they provide unmatched beauty and durability that is hard to find in another backsplash tile. Here are a few of the advantages of opting for glass tiles.

• Appearance – While both options are beautiful in their own way, glass tiles are translucent and reflective, which can easily elevate a room. With a variety of color palettes to choose from, you’ll be able to find glass tiles that seamlessly integrate into your space. Plus, the reflective nature of the tiles helps make your kitchen appear brighter and larger!
• Maintenance – Backsplashes were designed to line your kitchen walls and keep them clean from the mess that is often created from cooking, baking, and a myriad of other activities. Because your backsplash is likely to attract grime over time, you can have peace of mind knowing glass tiles are easy to clean and only require a bit of warm water and a little soap to remove dirt.
• Moisture-Resistant – When selecting materials for your kitchen, it’s important to incorporate non-porous and moisture-resistant options to ensure they remain looking their best for many years to come. Glass tile has an absorbency rate of 0%, meaning it is impervious to water and won’t because it misshapen, buckled, or warped from excessive moisture in your kitchen.
• Eco-Friendly – If you’re looking for a greener option when designing your kitchen, look no further than glass backsplash tiles. Often made from recycled materials, you can feel good about this eco-friendly option. They also take about half the amount of energy to make compared to ceramic tiles, reducing your carbon footprint even more!

Cons

Although there are quite a few advantages to installing glass kitchen wall tiles, there are a few cons to consider.

• Cost – The remarkable beauty of glass tiles can come with a hefty price tag. Due to their beauty, durability, and overall popularity, the cost of glass tiles is often greater than ceramic tiles, which means they might not fit within your home renovation budget.
• Installation – Are you considering installing your backsplash yourself to cut costs on your home remodel? If so, glass tile might not be the best option. Due to the translucent nature of the tile, the adhesive can be seen through the tile. This means that the glass tiles need to be installed correctly to ensure they look their best. A professional is best suited for the job as it can be a difficult do-it-yourself project.

Ceramic Tiles

Pros

If you’re torn between glass and ceramic tiles for your kitchen remodel, pay attention to these advantages of installing ceramic tiles as your backsplash.

• Maintenance – You already have enough to worry about on a day-to-day basis; why add your kitchen backsplash to the list? Ceramic tiles make a great backsplash tile because they require minimal maintenance to retain their beauty over the years. Cleaning them is a breeze with a simple kitchen cleaner or soap and water. If you do notice a crack or chip in your ceramic tile, it’s extremely easy to repair or replace the damaged tile and return your backsplash to its full glory.
• Affordability – The cost of a kitchen renovation can quickly add up. You may find that you need to cut the budget in a few areas, but you don’t want to reduce the quality or appearance. That’s where ceramic kitchen wall tiles really shine! Ceramic tiles are a cost-effective option, especially in comparison to glass tiles.
• Variety – You are the designer of your kitchen, which means you get to incorporate your personality into the space! Ceramic tiles come in a wide variety of shapes, textures, and patterns that allow you to customize your kitchen backsplash to your exact specifications.
• Eco-friendly – In most cases, your ceramic tile will be made from recycled materials or clay, sand, and glass, helping to reduce your carbon footprint with an environmentally friendly option.
• Moisture-Resistant – Like glass tile, you can rest easy knowing your ceramic backsplash tile is resistant to moisture. Due to its proximity to water and steam, you don’t have to worry about damaged or warped tiles.

Cons

To ensure you have a well-rounded perspective on ceramic tile, it’s important to review this option’s cons.

• Color Options – Although ceramic tiles are available in various textures, shapes, and patterns, you may have a more difficult time finding ceramic tiles in vibrant color palettes. These tiles are often available in natural colors such as black, white, earth tones.
• Lot Variance  – If you purchase ceramic tile for your backsplash and later realize you need additional tiles, you may have difficulty matching the new tile to the old tile. The size and color of ceramic tiles can vary from lot to lot, which means it is incredibly important that you measure correctly when making your initial purchase.

The Verdict: Are Glass or Ceramic Tiles Best for the Kitchen?

Questioning whether glass or ceramic tiles are right for your kitchen? It might help to take a look at some backsplash ideas and see if any of them can work for your project. Ultimately, the decision comes down to the look you are trying to achieve. If there are no budget constraints, you may choose glass tile for its beautiful color combinations and remarkable beauty. But if you’re looking for something more neutral and earthy, ceramic tile and its durability might be the best option for your kitchen whether you use it as floor tile or kitchen backsplash. Whichever option you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my tile backsplash be lighter or darker than my cabinets?

While no specific design rules say you can’t mix and match specific colors of backsplash tile with certain cabinets, some recommendations can improve the look and feel of your kitchen. When using dark cabinets in your kitchen, you may want to use a light and bright tile to balance out the space. A dark and moody backsplash tile can create a dramatic focal point if you’re installing white kitchen cabinets.

How do I choose a tile backsplash size?

The size of your backsplash tile should be proportional to the size of the kitchen. If you are designing a smaller kitchen, you may opt for a more intricate pattern with smaller glass or ceramic tiles. If the kitchen is an open floor plan that opens into a large living room, your kitchen will look great with large backsplash tiles.

Do you need to have a backsplash in your kitchen?

Technically you do not need to install a backsplash in your kitchen; however, it plays an important role other than enhancing the appearance of the space. A tile backsplash protects your wall from being coated with water, grease, sauce, and other elements that can damage or stain your walls.

Can tile be installed over painted drywall?

Whether you are installing glass or ceramic tiles, you can apply a kitchen tile backsplash to various materials ? painted or unpainted drywall, plaster, textured walls, or existing tile. However, if your walls are covered in wallpaper or have a glossy surface, you will want to remove this before applying the tile for the best results.