Corner Trim & Cove Base Tile

Your Guide to Corner Tile and Cove Base

What Is Corner Tile Trim?

Corner tile trim is the shaped piece that turns a corner for you, so you're not stuck mitering field tile by hand. You'll also hear it called corner molding or corner bead. It comes in two shapes: an inside corner curves inward, perfect for an alcove or a shower niche, and an outside corner curves outward, ideal for the corner of a column or a half-wall. Outside corners come in a left and a right version too, so the curve always faces the way your wall actually turns. We carry corner tile trim in ceramic and quarry, in matte, glossy, and honed finishes.

Looking for an even more seamless look? Bullnose Tile builds that same curve right into the tile itself, instead of a separate corner piece.

A metal, stainless steel, or L-shaped profile trim is another option some installers reach for, but that's a different product made of metal or PVC rather than tile. We keep our focus on tile-matched corners in ceramic and quarry, so every piece blends with your wall instead of standing apart from it.

Cove Base Runs Straight, Corner Tile Completes It

Most of what's here pairs with cove base, the curved trim that runs along the bottom of a tiled wall, easing a sharp 90-degree angle into a smooth curve so water and debris are less likely to collect in a hard-to-clean corner. You'll also hear it called coving, or sanitary cove base, especially in commercial kitchens and other sanitary installations where an easy-to-clean floor-to-wall transition is important. A straight run of cove base only works on a flat wall though, so the moment that wall turns a corner, you need the matching inside or outside corner tile piece above to follow it. We carry cove base in ceramic, quarry, and porcelain, in matte, glossy, and honed finishes, so you can carry your wall's look all the way to the floor.

Stairs Deserve a Finished Look Too

Stair coping, sometimes called stair nosing, brings that same polished finish to tiled stairs, capping the front edge of each tread with a built-in anti-slip texture that gives every step solid footing. A stair corner does the same direction-changing job as an inside or outside corner, sized for wherever a staircase meets a landing or wall.

Where Corner Tile and Cove Base Belong

This finishing touch goes anywhere a tiled wall turns a corner or meets the floor: the inside corner of a shower niche, a bathroom floor-to-wall transition, the corner of a backsplash wrapping a wall edge, or a commercial kitchen floor built to meet sanitary code. Stair coping and stair corners bring that same finished, secure feel to tiled staircases and landings.

How to Choose Corner Tile and Cove Base

Order Corner Pieces and Cove Base Together

A little planning up front makes for a seamless finish later. Walk the room and count up your corners and your straight runs before you order, so everything arrives ready to install as one cohesive look. A corner in a slightly different color or finish than your cove base will stand out right where you want things to blend.

Pick Inside, Outside, and the Right Direction

Inside corners and outside corners each play a different role, and a left outside corner needs its right-hand match to complete a run. A quick walkthrough before you order saves you a second trip later.

Give Stairs a Little Extra Thought

For stair coping, start with the grip your tread needs, then find the closest color and finish to go with it. A little texture goes a long way underfoot, and you'll still land on a great match for your tile.

Order by the Piece

Corner tile trim and cove base are sold piece by piece, not by square footage or a running length. Measure your straight runs, count your corners and tread edges, and order a couple of extra pieces in case one is damaged or cut wrong during installation.