Black and White Floor Tile Ideas: Checkerboard, Mosaic and Cement Floors

A black and white tile floor works in three main ways: a checkerboard of two solid tiles, a ready-made mosaic that mixes black and white stone on one sheet, or a patterned tile with the design printed or inlaid in each piece. The black and white floor tile ideas below cover all three, with the exact tile pair, size and finish for each look, from small 12 by 12 inch marble checks to 24 by 24 inch squares.

In short: four matched checkerboard pairs from 12 by 12 to 24 by 24 inches, four ready-made black and white mosaics, and one patterned cement tile. Most of the tiles come from three collections: black and white tile, checkerboard field tile for the solid squares, and black and white mosaic tile for the sheets.

Checkerboard tile pairs at a glance

A checkerboard needs a white tile and a black tile in the same size and finish. These pairs match.

Look	White tile	Black tile	Size and finish
Classic	Italian Carrara	Black polished marble	12 x 12, polished
High contrast	Thassos White Extra	Absolute Black granite	12 x 12, polished
Matte, larger	Bella White	Black honed marble	18 x 18, honed
Large format	Calacata T	Absolute Black granite	24 x 24, honed

1. Classic 12 by 12 marble checkerboard

The classic black and white checkered floor is two polished marble squares, 12 by 12 inches, laid in alternating colors. Italian Carrara, on the left, has a white ground with soft gray veining, shown here in a stair hall. The polished black marble, on the right, is shown in the same pattern in a bedroom. The gray veining in the white tile keeps the contrast softer than a pure white and black.

2. High-contrast checkerboard

For the sharpest contrast, Thassos White Extra, on the left, is an almost pure white marble, and Premium Absolute Black, on the right, is a polished black granite, shown here on a living room floor. Both are polished 12 by 12 inch squares. With almost no veining on either side, each square stays a clean block of color.

3. Matte checkerboard in 18 by 18

Honed marble has a matte face with no shine, which gives a checkerboard a calmer, older look. Bella White and the black marble, both honed and 18 by 18 inches, make larger squares with fewer joints, which suits a bigger kitchen or entry hall.

4. Large 24 by 24 squares

At 24 by 24 inches, a checkerboard becomes a bold, graphic floor with few joints. Calacata T, on the left, is a honed white marble. Absolute Black, on the right, is a honed black granite, a solid black with almost no veining, shown in a living room.

5. Ready-made checker and pattern mosaics

Mosaic sheets put the black and white pattern on one sheet, so the pattern comes pre-set in a smaller scale.

This matte porcelain mosaic sets black and white squares in a 4 inch check on a mesh sheet, so the pattern goes down sheet by sheet instead of tile by tile. It is shown here running through an entry hall, and it is listed for floors, walls and backsplashes, so the same check can climb a kitchen wall.

The zig-zag mosaic, on the left, pairs black marble with Bianco Dolomiti white in a mix of polished and honed pieces, for a pattern close to houndstooth. The 1 inch hexagon, on the right, is a matte porcelain mosaic that scatters black hexagons across a white field, the classic Victorian bathroom floor. Both are listed for floors and walls.

Una is a polished marble mosaic in black, white and gray, cut into a geometric pattern on a 12 by 13 3/16 inch sheet. It is listed for floors and walls, and the pattern is large enough to read as a design rather than a texture.

6. Patterned cement tile

Cement tile carries its pattern in colored cement pressed into the face, so the design is part of the tile. Flecha is a handmade, honed cement tile, 8 by 8 by 5/8 inches, in a black, white and gray pattern, shown here on a kitchen floor. More patterns are in our cement tiles.

Black and white beyond the floor

For walls, see our black and white bathroom tile ideas and black and white backsplash ideas. Smaller black and white sheets are in black and white mosaic tile.

Black and White Floor Tile FAQ

What size tile is best for a black and white checkered floor?

12 by 12 inch squares give the classic checkerboard look and suit most rooms. 18 by 18 inch squares make a calmer pattern for a larger kitchen or hall, and 24 by 24 inch squares turn it into a bold, graphic floor. In each case the white and black tiles must be the same size and thickness.

Should a checkerboard floor be polished or honed?

Both work. Polished marble reflects light and makes the contrast look crisp and formal; honed marble is matte and gives an older, softer look. Use the same finish for both colors so the squares sit evenly.

What is the difference between marble and granite for a black tile?

Black marble, such as Nero Marquina, has white veining running through it. Absolute Black granite is a nearly solid black with very little visible pattern. Marble gives a classic look; granite gives a plainer, more modern black.

Is there a black and white tile that comes already in a checkerboard?

Yes, in mosaic form. The Othello marble mosaic is a ready-made black and white checker with small round pieces mixed in, on a 12 by 12 inch sheet, honed. A marble zig-zag mosaic and a 1 inch porcelain hexagon in black and white also come pre-set on sheets.

What is cement tile?

Cement tile is a tile made from colored cement pressed into a mold, so the pattern runs into the face rather than sitting on top as a glaze. Our Flecha cement tile is handmade, honed and 8 by 8 by 5/8 inches.