Education
Tile can look different on a screen than it does in your home. Ordering a sample lets you compare the tile's color, finish, texture, and variation under the lighting in your actual room before you commit to a full order.
Quick answer: Tile Mart offers three ways to sample tile. You can order up to five free 4-by-5-inch standard swatches for one $14.99 flat shipping fee, choose a curated sample bundle for pattern pairings such as checkerboard tile, or request full-size pieces when scale and edge detail matter. Sample orders are available within the contiguous United States.
How to order tile samples from Tile Mart
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Shortlist your tile options. Browse by room, material, color, or format and choose the products that fit your project. -
Select โGet a Sample.โ On an eligible product page, use the sample option instead of adding full boxes to your cart. -
Add up to five standard swatches. Standard sample orders allow one swatch per tile type and up to five different swatches per order. -
Check out with your shipping address. The swatches are free; standard sample orders have a $14.99 flat-rate shipping fee.
Most sample orders are delivered within three to five business days of the order date. See current eligibility, pricing, and delivery details on the Tile Mart Sample Program page.
Choose the right type of tile sample
The best sample format depends on what you need to evaluate.
Standard 4-by-5-inch sample swatches
A standard sample is a 4-by-5-inch card mounted with a real piece of the tile. It is the fastest way to compare color, undertone, sheen, surface texture, and veining at home. You may order between one and five different swatches for the same $14.99 shipping fee.
Standard swatches work well when you are narrowing down field tile, mosaic, or single-color options. Because the sample is only part of the product, it may not show the full scale of a large-format tile, an entire mosaic sheet, or all of the variation found in natural stone and high-variation tile.
Curated sample bundles
A sample bundle includes loose tile pieces selected to show how a pairing looks together. This is especially useful for checkerboard tile and other patterns that depend on two or more coordinating colors.
The first bundle from a product page is $14.99, and each additional bundle from the same series is $5. Shipping is included. Bundles do not count toward the five-swatches-per-order limit, so you can order standard swatches and a bundle in the same checkout.
Full-size tile pieces
Request a full-size piece when a small swatch cannot show the detail you need. Full pieces can make it easier to judge the scale of large-format tile, dimensional surfaces, trim, or a tile's complete edge profile.
Full-size pieces are sold at the standard per-piece retail price, with shipping calculated according to the destination and delivery method. Availability is handled through the product inquiry form or Tile Mart's contact form.
What to check when your tile samples arrive
Review samples in the room where the tile will be installed. Compare them in daylight and under the artificial lighting you use at night. Focus on these five details.
1. Color and undertone
Place the sample beside fixed materials such as countertops, cabinets, flooring, wall paint, and plumbing finishes. Two tiles may both look white online while one appears warm and the other cool next to your countertop.
2. Finish and light reflection
Tilt the sample toward and away from the light. Gloss finishes reflect more light, while matte and honed surfaces create a softer appearance. A dark glossy tile may look nearly black in low light and reveal more color near a window.
3. Surface texture
Run your hand over the sample to understand how the surface feels and how visible dust, water spots, or fingerprints may be. For floors and wet areas, do not use touch alone to judge slip resistance or suitability. Check the product's technical specifications and intended applications before ordering.
4. Shade variation and veining
Marble tile, other natural stone tile, handmade-look tile, and products with higher shade variation can differ from piece to piece. A single swatch shows the tile's general character, not every color or vein that may appear in a full order. Review the product photos and listed shade-variation rating along with the physical sample.
5. Scale and pattern
Step back and view the sample from the distance at which you will normally see the finished surface. For mosaic tile, consider the complete sheet and pattern repeatโnot only one chip. For checkerboard and other two-color layouts, use a sample bundle to compare the colors together.
How to compare tile samples in your room
Label each sample and place it near the intended installation area. If possible, review it in the morning, afternoon, and evening. A backsplash sample should be checked beneath the actual cabinet lighting, while a bathroom sample should be viewed next to the vanity, countertop, and fixtures.
Use the sample to narrow down appearance, then verify the product page before purchasing. Confirm the material, nominal and actual size, finish, application, shade variation, water absorption, and any available technical ratings. Ask your installer to confirm the appropriate grout joint, setting materials, substrate preparation, and layout for the selected product.
A real project: Marin tile in a Jersey Shore bathroom
In an episode of Tile Mart University, design architect Julee Ireland of Home Renovation School opens a Tile Mart sample box and explains what she looks for when comparing tile. She then shows a bathroom design created for a Jersey Shore project using tile from the Bedrosians Marin collection.
Design by Julee Ireland, Home Renovation School
One tile shown in the project is Marin Midnight Tide, a 2.5-by-5-inch gloss glazed ceramic subway tile. Its deep blue-black color and reflective finish demonstrate why it helps to view a sample under your own lighting. The product is listed for residential shower walls and walls; always confirm the stated application for the exact Marin product you select.
Frequently asked questions about tile samples
How many tile samples can I order from Tile Mart?
You can add up to five different standard sample swatches to one order, with a limit of one swatch per tile type. Curated sample bundles are priced separately and do not count toward the five-swatches limit.
Are Tile Mart tile samples free?
Standard 4-by-5-inch swatches are free. You pay one $14.99 flat-rate shipping fee for an order of one to five standard swatches. Sample bundles and full-size pieces follow different pricing.
How large is a standard tile sample?
A standard Tile Mart sample is a 4-by-5-inch mounted swatch card. It is intended to help you assess color, finish, texture, and veiningโnot to represent the full scale or complete variation of every product.
Will my full tile order look exactly like the sample?
Not always. Tile can vary by production run, and natural stone varies by nature. Products with visible shade movement or veining may contain a broader range than one swatch can show. Review the product's shade-variation information and inspect the delivered material before installation.
Can tile samples be returned?
Samples are final sale. If a sample arrives damaged or you receive the wrong item, contact Tile Mart with a photo and your order number for a replacement.
What should I check first on a tile sample?
Start with color and undertone in the intended room. Then compare the finish, texture, variation, and scale alongside the surfaces and fixtures that will remain in the space.
Ready to compare your shortlist at home? Explore the Tile Mart Sample Program to order standard swatches, browse available sample bundles, or request a full-size tile piece.