Wear Rating System

The Right Tile for the Right Location


Tile Wear Rating Chart

While the composition of field tiles and wall tiles may differ, a wear rating system helps determine where a tile is best suited based on how much foot traffic a particular tile is designed to withstand. This rating scale starts at ‘1’ for tiles that are intended for wall applications only and runs up to ‘5’ for tiles that can withstand a heavy amount of foot traffic. The chart below describes Best Tile's wear rating applications.

Wear Rating 1: Wall Applications Only

Tiles with a wear rating of 1 are not suitable for floors and are intended for wall use only in residential and commercial applications. Wear rating 1 tiles are popular choices for kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls and feature walls.

Wear Rating 2: Walls + Light Residential Floor Applications

Tiles with a wear rating of 2 are suitable for walls + light residential floor applications. Wear rating 2 tiles are not designed to stand up to constant or heavy traffic and should only be used in residential areas that have light foot traffic such as powder rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms.

Wear Rating 3: Walls + Residential Floor Applications

Tiles with a wear rating of 3 are suitable for walls + all residential floor applications. Wear rating 3 tiles are ideal for residential use in kitchens, family rooms and hallways.

Wear Rating 4: Walls + Residential / Most Commercial Floor Applications

Tiles with a wear rating of 4 are suitable for walls + all residential and most commercial floor applications. Wear rating 4 tiles are ideal for most commercial applications such as restaurants and offices.

Wear Rating 5: Walls + Residential / Commercial Floor Applications

Tiles with a wear rating of 5 are suitable for walls + all residential and commercial floor applications. Wear rating 5 tiles are intended for heavy traffic and constant use areas, such as shopping malls, schools, hospitals, and other spaces that need a durable, easy to maintain floor tile.

Wear Rating 8: Customer Determines Use

Customer should discuss suitable applications with Showroom Design Consultant. This applies to all natural stone products: marble, limestone, slate, granite and tumbled marble.