Can you paint ceramic tile? Yes, and I’m sharing everything you need to know about tile paint including where to purchase, how to apply and more!
Floor Tile Paint is extremely durable and an easy and inexpensive way to update tile floors and walls – even for high traffic areas!
A year and a half ago, Chris and I purchased a lake cottage full of charm – and some 90’s features like hunter green tile.
While hardwoods are undoubtedly my favorite kind of flooring, we actually have lots of tile between our two homes! I like to use this inexpensive, natural grout cleaner for keeping up with cleaning, and we’ve even done a grout refresh for a fresh new look!
You can also read all about Subway Tile and Hexagon Tile if you’re interested in learning more about tile projects.
Over time, we’ve been updating the home removing wallpaper and updating light fixtures. The green tile started to feel more and more out of place and is central to our open floor plan. It was also infringing on our “white” walls and furniture.
Table of Contents
Can You Paint Ceramic Tile?
Yes! You can floor tile and wall tile with ceramic wall paint if you follow a few simple steps using high quality product. It can handle substantial wear and tear (more on that later in this post).
We contemplated replacing the tile, but have another long-term plan in mind and didn’t want to go to the trouble or expense, so decided to use ceramic tile paint to give it a facelift.
Ceramic tile paint is very durable and can be used as floor tile paint if you do a few basics – sand, clean, and prime first.
Painting floor tiles is so much easier than we ever anticipated. For our small entryway it was a quick project with a lot of downtime to allow the primer and paint to properly dry and cure between coats.
Before we get into the step by step tutorial on how to paint tile, I want to cover all the questions you may have!
How Much Does it Cost to Paint Tile
This project cost less than $60 in all to redo the entryway and the tile by our fireplace and we had a lot of product leftover!
Does Tile Paint Hold Up?
YES! We loved this tile paint even more after we decided to remove it in favor of installing one continuous floor (rather than breaking up the floor plan at the entryway). It had to be removed using a hammer and crow bar. The floor tile paint did not chip at all. We were blown away at how well it adhered. (updated October 2018)
Even with a crowbar, this ceramic tile paint floor did not chip!
Where Can You Paint Ceramic Tile?
Anywhere that needs an update! It’s the perfect long term solution for dated tile in an entryway, kitchen, laundry room, mudroom, bathroom floors – any high traffic area! You can paint tile any color you want, too! I chose to match the walls but it can be tinted to the color of your choice.
Should I Paint Grout Lines?
As you can see, we decided to paint over the grout lines for ease and a monotone finish, but you can tape to retain them if you prefer.
What is the Best Primer for Tile?
I highly recommend INSL-X Waterborne Bonding Primer STIX because it adheres to hard to coat surfaces and is very durable.
What Ceramic Tile Paint Should I Use?
The type of paint you select is very important. You want to choose a high quality ceramic tile paint like Benjamin Moore Satin Imperial Low Lustre Enamel. An enamel is very durable and stain resistant so it can handle a lot of wear in high traffic areas. Latex paint is not a good fit for this project as it won’t stand up to the wear and tear.
Supplies to Paint Tile:
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Stripper
- Painters Tape
- Smooth surface roller
- INSL-X Waterborne Bonding Primer STIX
- Ceramic Tile Paint (Benjamin Moore Satin Imperial Low Lustre Enamel)
You can use a sander if you have one. We forgot to bring ours to the Lake Cottage so we just did it the old fashioned way, which worked just as well and doubled as an arm workout!
Any heavy duty stripper will work. We just picked up one at our local hardware store. This project is simple – no need to overcomplicate it!
How to Paint Tile:
- Tape around tile to protect surfaces around tile if needed.
- Hand sand using medium grit sandpaper with a sanding block or if possible an electric sander to rough up the surface so that primer can adhere.
- Thoroughly clean the tile with a stripper. Rinse clean and allow to dry.
- Prime tile and allow to dry. Use a second coat if needed.
- Paint tile with ceramic tile paint. If you choose to do a second coat, lightly sand between coats so the paint properly adheres.
To see how to paint tile, watch the video in the post.
Painting tile is an easy and inexpensive way to update your home without a lot of effort. You can see more of our lake cottage here!
If you use this technique to paint tile, please return to share your experience using the comments below or tagging me on Instagram! I’d love to see!
More Painting Tips
- Furniture Paint
- How to Paint Concrete Floors
- Painting Walls and Trim the Same Color
- How to Paint Linoleum
- Paint Sheens
- Eggshell Paint
- Quick Painting Tip No Sanding Necessary
- How to Change Your Grout Color
How To Paint Tile
Painting tile is an easy and inexpensive way to update your home without a lot of effort.
Materials
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Stripper
- Painters Tape
- INSL-X Waterborne Bonding Primer STIX
- Ceramic Tile Paint (Benjamin Moore Satin Imperial Low Lustre Enamel)
Tools
- Smooth surface roller
- You can use a sander if you have one, but for a small area it's not necessary.
Instructions
- Tape around tile to protect surfaces around tile if needed.
- Hand sand using medium grit sandpaper with a sanding block or if possible an electric sander to rough up the surface so that primer can adhere.
- Thoroughly clean the tile with a stripper. Rinse clean and allow to dry.
- Prime tile and allow to dry. Use a second coat if needed.
- Paint tile with ceramic tile paint. If you choose to do a second coat, lightly sand between coats so the paint properly adheres.
Notes
Use on floor, backsplash even a bathroom!
Recommended Products
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I’m hoping to use this method, but with two different colors to make a pattern. The first layer would be white, the second a blue color. Do you think the blue layer will stick to the white if I don’t sand? It will be difficult to sand as some of the white layer will show through to complete the pattern. Am I making any sense? Thank you for your help!
You can definitely paint one color on top of the other without sanding, that is not a problem at all!
Hi, I’m planning on painting my kitchen and wondering if you have tried the Rust-Oleum floor paint that I see everyone using?
No, because it was such a high traffic spot, I splurged a little at Benjamin Moore.
I love the color you used. Please share the exact tint. Thank you. I also asked this question on fb. I will check both places.
Hi Jan – we had it tinted to match our walls Farrow & Ball White Tie – It looks white in our home due to natural light, but sample it first.
I’m thinking of painting my bathroom floor! My question is what kind of stripper did you use..furniture stripper? Or wax stripper?
Hi Carolyn,
My apologies that I’m just now seeing this message. The type of stripper we used is linked in the post under supplies!
Enjoy,
Julie
We are thinking of painting our kitchen floor after seeing this post!!!
Our kitchen floor is ceramic but it’s has lots of pores and grooves. Do you think it it will hold up well in this main area?? Would you definitely recommend a second coat??
Thanks for your help!
Absolutely! It’s unbelievably durable! You can certainly do a second coat if needed.
Hey there, I love this technique and want to do this in our main living room but was wondering, I have missing grout in places any idea how I can fix that before painting?
I haven’t personally fixed grout, but my mom has had success removing old grout and regrouting a few tiles. It’s a pretty simple process.
Did you have the BM Satin Impervo tinited at all? I’ve feel like I read the article a couple times and don’t see a mention. I love the color.
I did – to match our walls to be a warm white. You can have it tinted to the color of your choice.
Hi, I love that is such an easy option to updating tile. I plan to try this in my laundry room. How long would you let it cure after the final coat before putting the washer and dryer back?
Hi Megan!
I would try to give it 48 hours I think… but be sure to confirm with the directions on the can of paint! Good luck with your project, be sure to report back if you go for it!
Julie
Hi Julie
I love, love, love your style and creativity done simply!
My fireplace hearth needs an uplift and I was thinking of painting it. My walls are indentical to your living room. The fireplace interior is black….would you suggest the hearth white or black? I too do not want to go thru the mess of tearing out the tile. I just remodeled 2 years ago.
If you want to share a photo in my Facebook group Celebrating Simple I would be happy to give advice. I’m a visual person!
I have recently just painted my bathroom tile floor and I was very skeptical about how easy it was gonna be and I was very surprised. Between the prep work (cleaning, deglazing tiles and tape), premier and two coats of final paint it probably took all about 5 hours total. Total investment was just over $70 and I couldn’t be happier. I would post pictures but not sure if I can on this blog. Honestly it turned out amazing and saved me a ton of money! I used INSLX STIX Primer (2 coats) and INSLX tough floor paint (2coats)
Thank you! So glad you loved the final result. It’s seriously the best fix, isn’t it! You can always share photos in my FB group Celebrating Simple! I’d love to see!
Do you think this would work on a outside concrete deck. We previously stained it and is coming off and looks terrible
Yes, they also have an exterior version.
How long do I let the primer dry for?
Until it is dry to the touch.
I have completed the task of painting my tile. How long should I expect to wait for this paint to dry?
Can you use this on porcelain floor tile? Thanks, RB.
Yes, it should work just as well!
Do you have any photos of how well this paint held up? I notice the site says you updated it May 5, 2020, but I’m not sure which part is new. Most other people who have painted their floors suggest using BM Floor and Patio paint. I’m wondering what made you go with the Low Lustre Enamel.
As mentioned in the post – even when we took a sledge hammer to it, it didn’t chip. It is incredibly durable. This was recommended to me by Benjamin Moore and after using it, I wouldn’t even consider something different. It wore beautifully. No dulling or scratches.
Should the tile look worn after sanding? I’m attempting this on very gl last ceramic tiles and even after sanding with 60 grit sandpaper there is still quite a sheen and they are still very smooth.
Ever so slightly, it will still feel smooth, just takes a touch off to let it grip.
Hello, this looks really good. I’m considering getting this done to my living room tiles as well and I was wondering if I could use a regular satin wall paint, tile paints are not that common in this part of the world.
I’m sorry, I don’t think you’d achieve great results. It wouldn’t adhere to the tile.
Can you add color to the mixture, or is white your only choice.
GREAT question! You can ABSOLUTELY add color. Crazy enough, this is tinted to Farrow and Ball White Tie.
Hi, this is so great! Would this work on tile kitchen counters? The tiles are just like these green ones, except black and I would love them to be white. Thanks!
Absolutely! Tell that black goodbye!
This looks great! I am thinking of doing the same for a floor in my master bath. Can you tell me what type of stripper you used? Also, can you tell me if the floor is more slippery after the tile is painted?
Your designs and homes are beautiful – thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Nancy! I linked to the stripper we used. It’s not slippery at all. It was such a great fix that I actually helped a friend do her entire bathroom with, too! Enjoy!
Can you paint shower tile?
Absolutely!
How do you clean the floors once painted? Steam mop? Swifter?
We swiffer and mop with vinegar and water.
love the way this turned out! Wondering if this would work on our natural stone shower? Not too porous as I thought a lime wash would work on it. Thinking this may be a better fit?
Thank you! I’m not sure as this is designed for ceramic tile but you could purchase a single stone tile to test.
I just had a handyman tell me it was going to cost $1,700 to tile my galley style bathroom … I think I will try painting the existing tile using your technique!!
A big thank you!
You’ll be pleased! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Hi Julie:
We want to paint our bathroom tiles including ones in the shower. Do you think or have any of your readers tried this and what type of paint did they use?
Yes! My friend did it a few months ago and is so glad she did. Same paint! Enjoy!
So, just to get this completely straight…..you DID NOT put any type of sealant over your 1-2 coats of paint? Thank you.
Correct
Where did you get your paint? I see it at the Ben Moore store but for 59.00. Wondering if you found a better place since entire project was 60.00. I know its less than redoing the tile but at the cost I found with the primer it would be closer to 100.00 to do.
You don’t need much, just a small quart. I’m assuming that’s the gallon price.
I’ve been contemplating painting wall tile in a bathroom. We’d be going from beige/almond to a white/gray and wonder if I still need to do a primer. Not really needing durability as in a floor and the color isn’t dark.
Thank you!
Yes, I’d do just as listed in the project card for the best results. I’d hate for it to flake on you. I did so in helping a friend do her shower walls.
Can liquid sandpaper be used instead of sanding by hand?
I wish, I highly recommend sanding…if you have a sanding tool it’s quick and easy.
This looks great! Is there a special way it needs to be cleaned or anything?
Nope! Just your usual floor cleaner!
Would this be the same process for backsplash tile?
YES! It’s perfect for painting tile backsplash. Enjoy!
How do you clean the floor after it’s been painted? Anything special?
Nope! We use swiffers or a little dish soap and warm water to clean floors.
These are great tips. You always have the best pointers.
This is really helpful! Thank you so much for the tips!
What a great DIY project! Never thought about painting tile! I have the perfect space to transform like this!
I love how it turned out! I wish I would have known about this type of paint in our last house. I painted our fireplace mantel, and it would have looked even better if I had painted the tile as well!
The tile looks amazing! So clean and bright now!
You always have the best suggestions and tips. These are awesome!
I had no idea you could paint tile! I think this is brilliant!
So many great tips! I love the effect!
I never thought of painting tile! This is such a great post, I just shared with my brother too!
If I was going to use Farrow and Ball paint what finish would you suggest?
It would be best to ask a Farrow and Ball representative. Unfortunately we can’t get them here, so I’m unfamiliar with their finishes.
I seriously had no idea you could do this! I’m going to talk my wife into redoing our downstairs bathroom! THANK YOU!
Fabulous tip!! I wish I had known this at our old house!!
I’m so glad I found this, there are quite a few spots in my home that I would like to paint!
So cool! I did not know that!
How long did this project take? Did you allow the stopper to dry for 48 hours or just wait until it air dried?
Just a couple hours total allowing it to air dry in between.
How about the tile in a shower? Would this technique work there?
I would double check with your local paint store, but I believe so. Enamel can handle water…it’s used in garages, etc.
I never thought of painting tile before, so much easier than putting in new tile.
Julie,
What a great post! I am wondering if I wanted to apply a stencil on tile, would it make sense to paint it all first in white? I have painted concrete floors and then stenciled them, but I would love to try a stencil (like old world tiles) on tile. Any thoughts?
It would definitely depend on your stencil design – if white is one of the 2 colors, definitely! Otherwise you can just follow the first steps and start with your first color. Enjoy!
Julie,
So helpful! Thank you! I have been looking for just these tips! One question..I am wanting to do a gray and white checked rather than just one color in our laundry room and half bath. Two questions. One, what do you think the best way to deal with the grout would be? Should the grout be white or gray? And, two, how would I tape it off? Thanks!
That’s why I decided not to do a pattern – clean lines for grout would be nearly impossible. Sorry I’m not more help!
Hi, thank you for this post. I have the same tile around my fireplace as at my front door, and this sounds like it can take care of both places. Any idea if you can find the STIX primer in stores, or is it strictly on Amazon?
I purchased it in store, just linked for convenience and so you can read more details should you want them. I’d love to see the transformation when you’re done! I still cannot believe how much it elevated our entry.
Can I use this same technique on my fireplace tile?
Absolutely, any exterior of the fireplace. I’d consult your local paint store should you want to do it to any interior/fly tile you may have.
Hi Julie. Do you know if you can use this on fake tile?? 😉 I think we have linoleum. Thanks!
Hi Jess! You absolutely can, though you may use a different primer. I’d ask your local paint store which they’d recommend for linolium.
Your new white painted tile looks beautiful would you recommend painting tile in a shower?
Renee
Thank you! I know they make product for it, but since I haven’t tried it, I can’t confirm. I’d ask your local store, sorry I’m not more help!
This is great! Few questions? Did you paint the grout too? What did you use to clean the grout so well? Could this be used on a counter top that has tile?
Thanks so much!
It absolutely could, yes, we painted the grout as well. We used a stripper to thoroughly clean it before priming and painting. There are several options for masonry strippers at any hardware store. It couldn’t be easier!
Thank you for replying. I have this exact color tile in front of my fireplace. It’s awful. Did you use a small brush for the grout lines or just the roller? Did you seal after painting? What color Bm paint did you use? You have inspired me to do this to mine!
Just the roller. You’re not really sealing tile when it’s done, since it’s paint, so Benjamin Moore recommended refraining from doing so. I used the same color as my wall, Farrow and Ball White Tie, but from BM. If you have a pretty trim color you could do that, too.
Finished result looks fabulous and I’m pinning for future ugly tile coverage. It would be great it you’d add in the type of stripper you used. Is it a wax stripper, or a paint stripper?
Thank you! It’s a masonry stripper – I wish I had taken a photo of it, I left it at the lake house. However, when at the hardware store there were 5’ish options and they said any would work.