Kitchen floor tiles need stricter criteria than any other room: the kitchen sees heavy foot traffic and constant splashes of water and grease, so the tile must look good, wear well, resist slipping and clean easily. This guide gathers the practical experience of choosing kitchen floor tiles — from tile type and size to surface finish and colour.

Common kitchen floor tile types

Depending on needs, budget and style, homeowners can consider these lines:

  • Granite tiles: up to 70% stone powder and clay, with a dense body; strong under load and heat, very hard, bright and easy to wipe clean — the choice for projects that prioritise premium materials.
  • Ceramic tiles: a body of clay, quartz and kaolin; decent water resistance (slightly behind granite) at a reasonable price — the most popular choice for Vietnamese family kitchens.
  • Encaustic cement tiles: eye-catching decorative patterns on a hard, durable body — a fresh look, used for both flooring and accent wall cladding.
  • Wood-look tiles: a wood-grain surface with a glazed finish, now engineered to suit kitchen conditions — as warm as timber but more durable and water-resistant.

Kitchen floor tiled for durability, cleanliness and warmth

Why tile the kitchen floor?

Tiles are favoured for reasons that match exactly what a kitchen demands:

  • Durable and resistant to water, moisture and heat — right for a cooking environment.
  • A smooth surface that cleans easily, especially near the hob where grease collects.
  • Many lines add anti-slip performance, keeping the floor safe for households with elderly members and small children.
  • Better aesthetics, giving the cooking space a clean, refined look.

Size the tile to the kitchen’s floor area

Measure the room carefully before choosing, so the tile sits in proportion with the whole. The rule: tile size scales with room size — avoid oversized tiles in a small kitchen or undersized tiles in a large one, or the space loses visual balance. The two most used kitchen floor sizes today are 50x50 cm and 60x60 cm.

Prioritise an anti-slip surface

Kitchens splash water onto the floor, so the tile surface is a genuine safety factor. Choose tiles with a dry, matt glaze — high friction, no condensation build-up, slip-resistant and hard-wearing. This is one criterion never worth trading away for glossy looks. For glaze classifications and slip-resistance ratings in detail, see how to classify and choose floor tiles properly.

Matt-surface kitchen floor tiles, safely slip-resistant

Match the colour to the kitchen’s style

Tile colour must sit within the overall style — otherwise even an expensive tile will break the room’s look. Define the style before picking the colour:

  • Traditional, East Asian kitchens: deep warm tones for an air of refinement and stature.
  • Modern kitchens: light tones for a sense of subtlety and space.
  • Neoclassical, European kitchens: warm neutral palettes with stone-look or wood-look grain.

Modern kitchen with light-toned floor tiles in harmony with the whole

The right material still needs the right workmanship

Even a good tile can lift, debond or pool water if laid badly: uneven grout lines, poor drainage falls, substandard adhesive. When both material and workmanship sit under one general contractor’s quality control, homeowners avoid the expensive fixes later.

AIC works to a single-point design-build model, with over 10 years in the trade (since 2016 under the predecessor Nhan Viet; AIC was founded in 2019), two in-house factories (1,200 m² and 600 m²) and more than 695+ completed projects. From a floor plan, AIC can produce a BOQ estimate within roughly 4 working hours so homeowners can size the budget; projects are handed over with a warranty of up to 24 months. See our apartment interior design and build service.

Frequently asked questions

Which tile type is best for a kitchen floor?

Granite is the most durable and premium — strong under load and heat and easy to clean; ceramic is the popular value choice; encaustic and wood-look tiles excel as decorative accents. Whatever the type, the non-negotiable for a kitchen is an anti-slip surface.

What size should kitchen floor tiles be?

Size should scale with the kitchen’s floor area. The two most common formats are 50x50 cm and 60x60 cm. Avoid oversized tiles in a small kitchen and undersized tiles in a large one, so the space stays balanced and harmonious.

Should kitchen tiles be glossy or matt?

Prioritise a matt (dry-glaze) surface: high friction, no condensation build-up and slip-resistant — essential for a splash-prone area like the kitchen. Glossy tiles look attractive but turn slippery when wet, which is unsafe for households with elderly members and small children.