The Best Tile Materials for High Traffic Areas

Terek Fischer 4/18/24

The type of tile you choose for your entryway, mudroom, living room, patio, etc., can significantly impact the longevity of your floor, from appearance to maintenance to total failure. You’re going to want something that’s easy to clean and can stand the test of time. There isn’t always a one-size-fits-all solution; for example, you can't avoid needing to clean your floor—every once in a while, every floor needs a good wipe down or mop. Just keep that in mind before moving forward.

We will discuss the most common types of tile and stone and whether they are suitable for a high traffic area. We are also going to approach this assuming each type of tile is properly installed with good etiquette and correct underlayment.

What is considered high traffic?

High traffic areas are usually the same in every home; typically, they're your entryway, kitchen, living room, hallway, and patio—any place that experiences a moderate to high level of foot traffic on a daily basis. A bathroom isn't always considered high traffic because it's usually one person in at a time, and parties are rarely hosted there—unless that's your thing, then good on you.

Classic Tiles

Porcelain Tile

The most common type of floor tile, by far the easiest to clean and maintain. It also offers the widest variety of designs and finishes compared to other types of stone and tile. It has a lower water absorption rate than ceramic and natural stone. The downside to porcelain is that achieving a natural finished look can be quite difficult to replicate properly, though not impossible—you just have to find the right design and texture.

By far the top choice for high traffic floors, no questions asked.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tile was very popular for large-scale commercial applications like malls, airports, and stores due to its cost-effectiveness compared to porcelain or natural stone A downside to ceramic tile is that it is much softer and more fragile than porcelain, and it offers limited variety in size specifically for flooring applications

Cement Tile

These tiles are always more unique in design and shape, offering more patterns than other types of tile. Cement tile is usually much thicker than ceramic or porcelain tiles, ranging anywhere from ½” to 1” thickness. Cement tile needs to be sealed because of the extremely porous nature of cement. Depending on the specific finished glaze, cement tile can also be more prone to scratches, though this can be prevented with modern sealers.

Natural Stones

Most of the natural stones require similar maintenance, and their appearances vary from stone to stone. For the sake of brevity, I’ll highlight the most common stones. Each one needs to be sealed on a yearly or bi-yearly basis.

Slate

Slate has a natural advantage over some other stones due to its resistance to chipping. I just felt a couple of tile guys keel over—hear me out. The durability comes from its metamorphic origin from shale, which gives it a layered structure. Minor chips in slate can sometimes be discreetly repaired by lightly chiseling around the affected area to blend the layers together before resealing; although, the ease of such repairs can vary depending on the specific characteristics of the slate used.

Marble

Real marble is an incredible looking stone with lots of unique patterns and characteristics. The downside to marble is that it can scratch very easily, though modern sealers can help prevent scratches; it’s still a soft stone.

Travertine

My personal favorite stone to set! Becoming a little more outdated unfortunately, travertine is a wonderful stone to have in your home. It offers lots of texture and detail without completely overwhelming a floor. However, with all that texture, it is more prone to collecting dust and dirt in the pores of the tile over time.

Terracotta

Rich in color and life, terracotta is a beautiful stone to bring some vibrancy into a room. It is also a softer stone and has a very porous texture, making it absolutely necessary for a strong sealer to be applied.

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The obvious choice for the most durable and long-lasting floor is definitely porcelain tile. That doesn’t mean it's always the right pick for your home; if you really desire a more natural look and porcelain won’t do that for you, the natural stones do work for high traffic areas. You just need to be aware of the possible maintenance and decide if it’s worth it in the end!

Make sure to consult a professional tile installer to help weigh these decisions in your home before you do it yourself!