How To Tile With Spacers

If you want clean, professional grout lines on your next tiling project, you’ll need tile spacers. Learn how to use them and how to avoid common spacing mistakes in this guide.

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 05/03/2024

Clean, uniform grout lines are the difference between a professional-looking tiling job and a do-it-yourself (DIY) disaster. The secret to getting those perfect grout lines isn’t magic—it’s tile spacers. These small plastic tools ensure consistent gaps between each tile during installation and grouting. Learn more about the different tile spacer types and how to use them to create a professional finish on your next retiling project.

Why Use Tile Spacers?

Tile spacers are small plastic tools placed between tiles during tile installation and before grouting. They give you a cleaner finish with less wasted materials. The spacers create consistent gaps between the tiles, resulting in clean, straight grout lines. They also stop your tiles from drifting out of alignment, giving you a reference for placing and spacing them evenly.

Straight grout lines will also improve your tiling project’s integrity. Uneven gaps in the grout can make it more prone to cracking or chipping over time. Consistent spacing makes it easy to apply the grout evenly without overfilling or underfilling your grout lines.

Types of Tile Spacers

You’ll see a variety of tile spacers at the hardware store. Each spacer type offers different advantages for different tile projects. Understanding the available tile spacer types will help you choose the right spacer for your next project.

Cross spacers: These tile spacers look like the letter X. Place them in the corners where four tiles meet to create an even gap on all sides. Cross spacers work well for wall and floor tiles and can be used with ceramic tiles and other materials.
Peg spacers: These are small, square-shaped pegs that you would place at tile edges. They are similar to T-shaped spacers (see below) but without the crossbar at the top. They are easy to remove and great for working with tightly spaced tiles. They are ideal for wall tile installation.
T-spacers: These T-shaped spacers fit snugly between two tiles and are great for offset or brickwork tile patterns. T-spacers provide a lot of stability, so they can help keep uneven or large tiles in place.
TAVY spacers: These spacers are similar to cross spacers but have a plastic circle around the outer edge. The circle piece prevents them from bottoming out in the tile adhesive and makes them much easier to remove for grouting. They are suitable for most floor and wall tile installation projects.
U-shaped spacers: These are open-design spacers that are easy to place and remove and are especially good for large and heavy tiles. They are also known as horseshoe tile spacers.
Wedge spacers: These tile spacers look like miniature wedges and are ideal for countertops and other vertical spaces. You insert wedge spaces between the tiles and the backer board to adjust the tile height. This creates an even surface when working with an uneven foundation.

You might see tile leveling systems alongside tile spacers at your local DIY store. These systems include leveling clips and wedges that work with spacers to hold tiles in place for better alignment and leveling. They are very helpful when working with large format tiles or floor tiles.

How To Use Tile Spacers

You’ll be ready to start your tiling project once you choose your tile spacers. Let’s look at how to use tile spacers effectively to create clean grout lines and a better finish. We’ll start with a step-by-step guide and then offer some tips and tricks to make your tile installation job easier and more successful.

Step-by-Step Guide

Prepare the surface. Ensure your backer board or floor is clean, debris-free, and as level as possible.
Choose your spacers. Select the appropriate spacer size based on your desired grout line width. Most spacers come in 1-millimeter to 10-millimeter sizes. Then, select the right spacer type based on your design:
- Cross spacers are excellent general tile spacers but are ideal for checkerboard patterns.
- T-spacers and peg spacers are great for brickwork and offset patterns.
- Wedge spacers are suitable for countertops and other flat surfaces.
Apply the thinset. Spread thinset tile adhesive using a notched trowel to create a base for your tiles to stick to. Follow the manufacturer’s application instructions.
Place your first tile. Position the first tile in the adhesive. Take extra care to get the first tile straight and level, as its position will affect the rest of your tile surface. Use a level or chalk line to keep your first tile aligned and even.
Use your tile spacers. Position your spacers along the edge of the first tile, where it will meet adjacent tiles or wall edges. This might be at the corners or along the sides, depending on your spacer type.
Lay the rest of the tiles. Press your next tile firmly against the spacers to create your desired grout joints. Keep placing spacers and tiles to create your chosen tile pattern.
Allow the thinset to partially dry, which often takes around 20–30 minutes. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for a more precise dry time. The tile adhesive should be firm to the touch but not completely set.
Remove the tile spacers. Pull the spacers out with your fingers or pliers, or use a flat tool to pry them straight up from the gaps between the tiles. Do not grout over the spacers.
Wipe the tiles. Use a clean cloth to remove any adhesive that may have squeezed between the tiles onto the tile surface.
Apply grout. You can apply grout to the tiles once the adhesive is completely cured.

Tips and Tricks

Change your spacers as required: Use half-spacers at the outside corners and along wall edges to maintain consistent grout lines.
Choose the right spacer size: Wider grout lines create a more rustic aesthetic, and thicker tiles can handle wider grout joints. Smaller grout lines will look more modern but may be harder to clean.
Do a dry run: Lay your tiles out on a flat surface with your spacers to visualize the tile design and ensure you like the grout width.
Go slowly: Work slowly in small, manageable areas to get your tile placement and spacers right.
Use a tapping block: Gently tap the block along the edges to ensure the tiles are firmly against the tile spacers.
Use a tile leveling system: Using a leveling system and leveling spacers when working on a floor or using large-format tiles will help eliminate lippage (when there are uneven tile surfaces).

Common Mistakes When Adding Tile Spacers

Tile spacers seem like simple tools, but even DIY pros are prone to making a few errors. Here are some common mistakes people make when using tile spacers for the first time and how you can avoid them.

Assuming Surfaces Are Even

Surfaces are rarely as even and smooth as you think they are. Using standard spacers on a flat surface can lead to lippage. Use wedge spacers instead. They allow you to make height adjustments to your tiles, resulting in a more even tiled surface.

Leaving Spacers In Too Long

Leaving your spacers in for too long can cause them to stick in cured thinset. Removing them becomes difficult and could damage your tiles. Always read the manufacturer’s recommendations and remove your spacers before the adhesive fully cures.

Not Changing Spacers at Corners

Using full-size spacers at outside corners will make your grout lines wider than the rest of your tiled surface. Cut your spacers in half to keep the grout lines consistent.

Not Removing Spacers Before Grouting

Don’t be tempted to leave your spacers in before you start grouting the tiles. Leaving the spacers in will compromise grout integrity and could lead to cracking, chipping, or loose tiles.

Not Using Spacers at All

Some tilers think they can get away with eyeballing their tile placement. However, spacers are essential for consistent gaps and tile placement. Uneven tiles look bad and could compromise grout integrity.

Using the Wrong Size Spacer

The wrong size spacer can lead to uneven grout lines in your tiling project. Make sure you use the same spacer size throughout your project, and choose a spacer that’s the right size for your tiles. Bigger tiles look better with bigger grout lines, for example.

Removing Tile Spacers

Tile spacers are essential to tile work but are still just a temporary part of your project. Remove your spacers when the tile adhesive is firm but not completely cured. Most tile adhesive manufacturer labels will call this a “working time,” typically 20–30 minutes after you apply the adhesive to the surface. If you can press your finger into the thinset and it feels firm but leaves a slight indentation, it’s time to remove your spacers.

Grab the right tools: You’ll need a flat tool like a margin trowel for X-shaped tile spacers. You can use your fingers or a pair of pliers for T-shaped spacers.
Gently pry them out: Carefully remove the spacers from the adhesive. Pull them straight out using your fingers or nudge a flat spacer up using the flat tool edge. Never pry them sideways, as it can move your tiles out of place.
Inspect as you go: Remove tile spacers one by one as you move around your tiled surface. Inspect your project often to check for tiles that may have slipped out of place.

Never leave your spacers in for grouting. Spacers block the grout from filling the gaps between the tiles. Uneven grouting can cause your tiles to fall off and the grout to chip.

Our Conclusion

Tile spacers are simple tools that can produce a professional finish for your tiling project. They create consistent grout lines, help with even grouting, and keep your tile layout straight and even. The key to tiling success is choosing the correct spacer type, using them consistently, and removing them at the right time. Avoid common spacer mistakes like using the wrong size or forgetting to remove them before grouting. The right technique can help you achieve a flawless finish for your tiled backsplashes, countertops, floors, and more.

FAQ About Tiling With Spacers

Should you use spacers when tiling?

You should use spacers when tiling to create even grout lines and a more professional finish.

What are the disadvantages of tile spacers?

The disadvantage of tile spacers is that they can slow down your project. Placing them can be tedious, and you’ll need to pay close attention to your work when removing them to avoid displacing your tiles. However, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

Do you take out tile spacers before grouting?

Yes, you should remove tile spacers before grouting. Leaving them in will result in an inconsistent grout joint and will affect your tiled surface’s integrity.

Do tile spacers get left in?

No, do not leave tile spacers in. Always remove them before grouting.

What size tile spacers should I use?

The tile spacer size you need will depend on your tiles and the desired final look. Most spacers are between 1 and 10 millimeters. Choose a grout width that looks visually balanced with your tiles.

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