What size tiles are common in Australian bathrooms?
The most common sizes are 600 × 600 and 300 × 600 for floors and walls, 100 × 300 subway for walls, and 600 × 1200 for a large-format look with fewer grout lines. Shower bases are often done in 300 × 300 or mosaic so the tiles can follow the fall to the waste.
Common sizes at a glance
| Size (mm) | Tiles per m² | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 × 150 / 100 × 300 subway | 88.9 / 33.3 | Shower and feature walls | Lots of grout lines; more labour |
| 300 × 300 | 11.1 | Floors, shower bases | Can look busy in a large room |
| 300 × 600 | 5.6 | Walls and floors, the all-rounder | Offset pattern needs care to avoid lipping |
| 600 × 600 | 2.8 | Floors, especially open bathrooms | Hard to follow the fall in a small shower |
| 600 × 1200 | 1.4 | Large-format floors and walls | Needs a flat substrate and two people to lay |
| Mosaic sheets (300 × 300) | 11.1 sheets | Shower floors, niches | Grout maintenance |
How to choose
- Small bathroom: bigger tiles with fewer grout lines make the room look larger, but keep the shower floor in smaller tiles or mosaic so it can be graded to the waste.
- Older Melbourne homes: walls are rarely flat. 300 × 600 is more forgiving than 600 × 1200 unless the walls are re-sheeted.
- Slip resistance: for shower floors many tilers look for a P3 rating or higher (AS 4586). Ask the tile shop for the rating on the label.
- Grout width: 2–3 mm is typical for rectified tiles, 3–5 mm for pressed edges.
See the size before you buy
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Open the bathroom tile visualiserQuestions people ask
What is the most common bathroom tile size in Australia?
600 × 600 and 300 × 600 are the most common sizes for bathroom floors and walls, with 100 × 300 subway tiles popular for walls.
What size tile is best for a small bathroom?
Larger tiles such as 300 × 600 or 600 × 600 make a small bathroom look bigger because there are fewer grout lines. Use smaller tiles or mosaic on the shower floor so it can fall to the waste.
Can I use 600×1200 tiles in a shower?
On the walls, yes. On the shower floor it only works with a linear (strip) drain and a single-direction fall, because a large tile cannot bend toward a centre waste.
How many 300×600 tiles per square metre?
5.56 tiles. Each 300 × 600 tile covers 0.18 m².
What slip rating should bathroom floor tiles have?
For shower floors many tilers look for P3 or higher under AS 4586. For the rest of the bathroom floor, P2 to P3 is common. Check the rating on the box.
Related guides
Sources
These are guide prices for planning, not a quote. Quantities and costs depend on the room, the products you choose and what is found once work starts. Confirm waterproofing, falls and permits against the National Construction Code, Australian Standards and your council with a licensed tradesperson or building practitioner before you buy or build.