Tiles

Metro tiles 7,5 × 30, 10 × 20 and 7,5 × 15 cm: bond, grout joint and combinations

Metro tile is a rectangular tile inspired by the New York subway from 1904 – originally 3 × 6 inches, which is about 7.5 × 15 cm. Today, it is most commonly sold in sizes of 7.5 × 15, 10 × 20 and 7.5 × 30 cm. There are 44 to 89 pieces and 15 to 20 metres of grout joints per m², making it suitable for smaller areas: the wall behind the sink, shower, kitchen splashback. Traditionally, it is laid in a half bond, but modern styles also include vertical and herringbone patterns.

Prepared by: the TGB Kúpeľne team, bathroom showroom in Senec since 1991updated 10. 11. 20269 min read

In the photo: Marazzi Bliss

Metro tile – in English subway tile – got its name from the New York subway. When it opened in 1904, architects George C. Heins and Christopher Grant La Farge covered the stations with white glazed rectangles measuring 3 × 6 inches, or about 7.5 × 15 cm. The glossy white glaze was easy to clean and reflected light underground. Since then, metro tiles have been produced in many colours and sizes, most commonly with an aspect ratio of 1:2 or elongated 1:4. Other unconventional shapes – hexagon, rhombus and zellige – are described in the article Unconventional tile shapes.

Metro tile dimensions in numbers

The counts are geometric, without grout joints and cutting. They show the main characteristic of metro tiles: many pieces and many grout joints on a small area.

The length of grout joints per m² is calculated as 100 divided by the width plus 100 divided by the length of the tile in centimetres. Therefore, metro tile has three to four times more grout joints than a tile of 30 × 60 cm – and that is exactly the look for which it is chosen. The thickness of metro tiles is usually 6 to 9 mm, for example, Equipe Evolution 7.5 × 15 cm has a thickness of 8.8 mm and weighs 14.96 kg per m² according to the Czech distributor Sapho.

Where metro tile belongs

• Wall behind the sink – a strip up to the height of the mirror or the entire wall. The glossy glaze stands out around the faucet and mirror.
• Shower – back wall of the shower or entire walls in a walk-in. Choose a durable grout, as there are many grout joints.
• Kitchen splashback – between the countertop and cabinets, this is a classic, more in the article Kitchen tiles.
• Retro and country bathroom – white metro tile with white or grey grout and black-and-white floor tiles, ideas in the article Retro bathroom and patchwork floor tiles.
• Not for the floor – most metro tiles are wall tiles for interiors. For example, Equipe Metro is listed on vkupelni.sk as a wall tile and is not frost-resistant.
• Not for the entire bathroom – metro on all walls of a large bathroom means many grout joints to clean and a restless impression. It works best with one striking wall next to a calm large format.

How to lay metro tile

• Half bond – classic “like bricks”. For short tiles, this is fine: the American standard ANSI A108.02 limits the shift to 33% only for tiles whose shifted side is 38 cm or more. Metro 7.5 × 15, 10 × 20 and 7.5 × 30 cm are shorter.
• Vertical, grout joint to grout joint – rectangles stacked on top of each other without shift. It appears modern and visually increases the wall, but requires precise alignment and a vertical first row.
• Herringbone – rectangles placed at right angles create a zigzag line. The elongated size 7.5 × 30 cm stands out the most in this pattern. There are many angled cuts at the walls, reserve 15 to 20%.
• Horizontal without shift – horizontal rectangles in one grid, a calm and contemporary version.

You can find patterns and their alignment from the wall axis in the article Tile and floor tile laying patterns. For any pattern, plan the wall so that narrow cuts do not remain at the corners and ceiling – with small tiles, narrow strips are even more noticeable.

Grout joint: colour determines the appearance

With metro tiles, grout joints make up a large part of the surface. A white grout with white tiles looks clean and subtle, while grey or anthracite highlights the grid and graphically outlines the bond – but it will also reveal any inaccuracies in the installation. Metro tiles are produced with a straight edge and with a bevelled edge (facet), which creates a plastic effect. The grout width is specified by the manufacturer – for example, with metro tile 10 × 20 cm with a bevelled edge, the Dutch seller Maxaro specifies a grout joint of at least 3 mm.

• Type of grout: in the shower, cement-based with reduced water absorption (CG2 WA according to STN EN 13888) or epoxy, which is non-absorbent and easy to clean.
• Consumption: according to the Mapei formula at a thickness of 8 mm and a grout joint of 2 mm approximately 0.43 kg per m² for 7.5 × 30 cm and 0.51 kg for 7.5 × 15 cm; for 10 × 20 cm with a 3 mm grout joint about 0.58 kg per m². This is four to six times more than for tiles of 60 × 60 cm. The calculation for your area can be done with the adhesive and grout calculator.
• Test: on glossy and porous surfaces and with contrasting grout, test the grout first on one tile.

You can find the table of grout and silicone colours in the chapter Grout and silicone.

Substrate and adhesive

For tiles with all sides shorter than 38 cm, the American standard ANSI A108.02 allows a substrate deviation of up to 6 mm over 3 m – it is therefore more lenient than for large formats. However, glossy glaze will reveal any wall undulations in side lighting, so ensure the wall is levelled with a filler before tiling. Choose an adhesive with reduced slip (marked T according to STN EN 12004) to prevent small tiles from slipping on the wall. Ceresit indicates the trowel notches and consumption for adhesive CM 11 Plus based on the longer side of the tile:

With too deep notches, the adhesive is pushed into the grout joints and must be scraped out. When laying, check with a spirit level every few rows – a small deviation can quickly accumulate in the bond.

Metro tile combinations

• Metro on one wall and 60 × 120 cm on the others – choose a large format in a similar shade to highlight the metro shape rather than its colour.
• Metro on the wall and floor tiles 60 × 60 cm on the floor – a calm floor with minimal grout joints balances the small grid on the wall.
• Metro and hexagon – metro on the shower wall and small hexagon on its floor, both in the same colour.
• Metro and wood – white metro tiles and floor tiles in wood imitation 20 × 120 cm, see Wood effect tiles.
• Finishing – some series also have finishing pieces, for example, Equipe lists rounded edge (bullnose) pieces and quarter-round trims in the Cottage series 7.5 × 15 cm in the catalogue. Otherwise, finish the edge with a metal trim.

How much metro tile to buy

When using metro tiles, it is worth counting pieces. A strip behind the sink 120 × 100 cm has 1.2 m² – that is 54 tiles 7.5 × 30 cm, 60 pieces 10 × 20 cm or 107 pieces 7.5 × 15 cm without cutting. A kitchen splashback 240 × 60 cm has 1.44 m², which is 64 pieces 7.5 × 30 cm. Additionally, add a reserve of around 10% for the bond and 15 to 20% for herringbone, where there are many angled cuts at the edges. Metro tiles are sold in packages per m², so round the result to whole packages and keep one for repairs. When tiling around sockets and switches, remember that small tiles will need to be cut in several places and the offcuts are almost unusable again.

Offer and prices

As of November 2026, the e-shop vkupelni.sk has 16 items in the size 7.5 × 30 cm and 9 tiles in the size 10 × 20 cm. The most well-known is the Spanish Equipe Metro: Equipe Metro White 7.5 × 30 cm costs €42.90/m², black €45.90/m² and red Rosso €49.90/m², the same prices apply for the size Equipe Metro 10 × 20 cm and the original size 7.5 × 15 cm costs €21.45/m². The cheaper option is Ecoceramic Asly 7.5 × 30 cm at €23.54/m² and the tile Paradyż Tamoe 9.8 × 19.8 cm at €35.34/m² (all as of November 2026). You can find the offer under the links metro tiles 7.5 × 30 cm and tiles 10 × 20 cm on vkupelni.sk.

Common mistakes

• Metro throughout the bathroom – many grout joints and a restless impression, best to have one wall.
• No layout – narrow strips will remain at the ceiling and in the corners, which are very noticeable with small tiles.
• Contrasting grout without testing – the result on glossy glaze will only be visible after grouting the entire wall.
• Tiles on the floor – metro tiles are mostly only for walls.
• Small reserve for herringbone – angled cuts at the walls will increase waste to 15 to 20%.

Colours in this format: white · light grey · anthracite · black · beige · brown and wood · green · blue · terracotta – and colour combination table.

Sources: Apartment Therapy – history of metro tiles; TileBar – What is subway tile; Sapho – Equipe Evolution 7.5 × 15 cm (thickness and weight); Maxaro – metro tiles 10 × 20 cm with bevelled edge; Equipe Cerámicas – general catalogue (sizes 7.5 × 15 and 7.5 × 30 cm, finishing pieces); Floor Trends – ANSI A108.02: flatness for tiles shorter than 38 cm; Floor Trends – ANSI A108.02: flatness of the substrate, grout joint, displacement and edge overhang; technical sheet Ceresit CM 11 Plus (consumption based on tile size and trowel notches, combined method); technical sheet Mapei Ultracolor Plus (grout consumption formula); STN EN 12004 and STN EN 13888; offer and prices on vkupelni.sk (Equipe Metro, Ecoceramic Asly, Paradyż Tamoe – as of November 2026); our articles Unconventional shapes of tiles, Laying patterns and the chapter Grouts and silicone.

Terms in the glossary: Walk-in shower · Grout · Patchwork · Large-format tiles · Water absorption · Epoxy grout (RG)