Bullnose Tile

Your Guide to Bullnose Tile

Bullnose tile is a finishing tile with one edge rounded into a smooth curve instead of left as a sharp, unglazed cut. You'll also see it called bull nose tile or bullnose trim, all the same piece. It caps the exposed edge of a tiled wall, the top of a half wall, or the side of a window opening, so the installation ends in a clean curve instead of a raw edge.

Most bullnose runs in 3x6 and 3x12 sizes to match standard wall tile coursing, with a 3x3 double bullnose for spots where both sides of an edge are exposed, like the cap of a freestanding pony wall. Tile Mart carries bullnose in ceramic and porcelain, in glossy, matte, and polished finishes, so you can match it to your field tile rather than introduce a second material at the edge.

Where Is Bullnose Tile Used?

Bullnose finishes the top edge of a tiled bathroom or shower wainscot, the cap of a pony wall, and the edges of a tiled kitchen backsplash where it meets an open wall or window. Bullnose is most often used on vertical edges, not as a floor transition. Check each product’s listed application before using it on floors, stairs, or wet areas. 

How to Choose Bullnose Tile

Match Your Field Tile

Order bullnose in the same color and finish as your field tile, and check the listed size against your field tile's actual dimensions; a 3x12 bullnose won't sit flush against a 3x6 field tile run without extra cutting. Glossy bullnose pairs with glossy field tile for a consistent sheen, matte with matte, and the same logic applies to color: a "white" bullnose from one line can read warmer or cooler than a "white" field tile from another, so order both samples together before you commit.

Single vs. Double Bullnose

Use single bullnose on any wall edge with only one exposed side, like the top of a tiled wainscot against open wall above it. Use double bullnose where both faces of the edge show, like the cap of a pony wall you can see from both sides of a room.