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Difference between matte and glossy tiles
A full attribute comparison including slip resistance (CoF), cleaning, and room suitability.
| Attribute | Matte finish | Glossy finish | Anti-skid finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slip resistance (CoF) | 0.4–0.6 — moderate to safe | 0.2–0.4 — below safe benchmark | 0.6–0.8 — very safe for wet areas |
| Cleaning ease | Easy — damp mop, no streaks | Very easy — sweeping/dry mopping, mopping once every three days | Good — needs a mild scrub occasionally due to texture; abrasive scrubbing is not advised |
| Dust & footprint visibility | Low — scatters light, hides marks | High — every speck visible under light | Low — similar to matte |
| Aesthetic appeal | Cosy, natural, contemporary | Luxurious, seamless, endless, brightening | Modern — 150+ premium designs available |
| Price range | ₹40–120/sq ft | ₹45–130/sq ft | ₹50–140/sq ft |
| Best room | All rooms, especially dusty or high-traffic areas | Living room, bedroom, hallways(dry areas only) | Bathroom, kitchen, outdoor, homes with elderly/kids |
| Light reflection | Low — diffused, reduces glare | High — makes rooms feel larger | Low-medium — slightly textured surface |
| Our verdict | Recommended for most rooms | Living rooms, bedrooms, and dry areas only | All wet areas for safety |
BIS standard: The Bureau of Indian Standards recommends a minimum CoF of 0.6 as a safety threshold for wet area floors (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas). Glossy tiles at CoF 0.2–0.4 are too low for this benchmark and should never be used on bathroom or kitchen floors.
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Find your scenario below and get a direct recommendation.
If you have
Elderly parents or senior citizens at home
→ Always choose
Anti-skid tiles with CoF 0.6+ for all floors — especially for areas like the bathroom and kitchen. Slipping on wet floors is a leading cause of injury in seniors. Safety is non-negotiable. Anti-skid tiles are now available in premium marble-look and stone-look designs, so that you can get the best of both worlds.
If you have
Young children or babies at home
→ Always choose
Anti-skid or matte tiles for all floors, especially bathrooms and playroom areas. Wet feet on glossy tiles are the highest-risk that can result in unfortunate incidents. Matte tiles also hide scuff marks and dirty marks far better than glossy tiles.
If your home
Gets a lot of dust (near highway, construction, or busy road)
→ Choose
Matte tiles over glossy. Glossy tiles can show a layer of dust and require daily maintenance to look clean. Matte tiles hide dust significantly better, and you can go for a couple of days between cleaning without the floor looking dirty.
If you want
A luxury, premium look for the living room
→ Choose
Glossy or high-gloss matte (satin finish) tiles for the living room and bedroom. They reflect light and make the room feel larger by making the floor feel endless. The glossy finish also gives a premium touch to the room. Pair with anti-skid tiles in adjoining bathrooms to ensure safety.
If you have
A small room and want it to look bigger
→ Choose
Glossy tiles in light colours for dry small rooms ensure the light reflection visually expands the space. For small bathrooms, use large-format matte tiles with minimal grout lines to maintain safety and create an equally effective illusion for the size.
If you want
Low maintenance — minimum daily cleaning effort
→ Choose
Matte tiles throughout the house. Contrary to popular belief, matte tiles don't need more cleaning than glossy tiles. They hide dust, watermarks, and footprints far better. That means you need to clean less frequently for the same clean appearance.
Common fears about tile finishes — answered
Every fear answered with a direct Yes or No verdict — no hedging.
Yes — avoid glossy in wet areas
BIS (The Bureau of Indian Standards) recommends a minimum Coefficient of Friction (CoF) of 0.6 for wet areas. Glossy tiles have a CoF of 0.2–0.4, which is evidently below the benchmark. This makes them dangerous and a threat in bathrooms when wet. For bathroom floors, it is best to choose anti-skid tiles (CoF 0.6+) or matte tiles. Glossy tiles can be used on bathroom walls where grip is not a necessity.
BIS (The Bureau of Indian Standards) recommends a minimum Coefficient of Friction (CoF) of 0.6 for wet areas. Glossy tiles have a CoF of 0.2–0.4, which is evidently below the benchmark. This makes them dangerous and a threat in bathrooms when wet. For bathroom floors, it is best to choose anti-skid tiles (CoF 0.6+) or matte tiles. Glossy tiles can be used on bathroom walls where grip is not a necessity.
No — matte tiles are easy to clean
Matte tiles are just as easy to clean as glossy tiles. A damp microfibre mop removes dust and most stains effectively. The advantage of matte tiles is that they hide watermarks, footprints, and smudges well. This means you actually clean less often for a clean-looking space.
Matte tiles are just as easy to clean as glossy tiles. A damp microfibre mop removes dust and most stains effectively. The advantage of matte tiles is that they hide watermarks, footprints, and smudges well. This means you actually clean less often for a clean-looking space.
No — matte tiles hide dust better than glossy
This is the most common misconception. Matte surfaces scatter light rather than reflect it, which ensures dust particles are difficult to spot on matte tiles. Glossy tiles reveal dust, dirt, and watermarks. For houses in dusty areas, matte is the more practical choice.
This is the most common misconception. Matte surfaces scatter light rather than reflect it, which ensures dust particles are difficult to spot on matte tiles. Glossy tiles reveal dust, dirt, and watermarks. For houses in dusty areas, matte is the more practical choice.
No — for quality vitrified glossy tiles
Quality vitrified glossy tiles have the gloss in-built rather than a superficial coating. They are fired at 1200°C, and the gloss is integral to the tile surface. The tiles do not lose their shine under normal household use. Shine loss occurs only in low-grade surface-coated tiles, which is why it is recommended to verify that tiles are ISO-certified vitrified before purchasing.
Quality vitrified glossy tiles have the gloss in-built rather than a superficial coating. They are fired at 1200°C, and the gloss is integral to the tile surface. The tiles do not lose their shine under normal household use. Shine loss occurs only in low-grade surface-coated tiles, which is why it is recommended to verify that tiles are ISO-certified vitrified before purchasing.
No — modern anti-skid tiles are premium in design
This may have been the case some years ago. Today, premium anti-skid tiles are available in wood-look, stone-look, concrete, and marble finishes with aesthetic appeal at par with glossy tiles. The texture that provides grip is subtle and not the rugged look that was the norm before. Orientbell' anti-skid range has 150+ design options.
This may have been the case some years ago. Today, premium anti-skid tiles are available in wood-look, stone-look, concrete, and marble finishes with aesthetic appeal at par with glossy tiles. The texture that provides grip is subtle and not the rugged look that was the norm before. Orientbell' anti-skid range has 150+ design options.
Not on floors — walls only
Glossy tiles can absolutely be used on bathroom walls and kitchen backsplash for an artistic flair. Their CoF of 0.2–0.4 is much below the standard safety benchmark and creates a genuine slip hazard when wet. For kitchen and bathroom floors, it is recommended to use matte or anti-skid tiles for better protection.
Glossy tiles can absolutely be used on bathroom walls and kitchen backsplash for an artistic flair. Their CoF of 0.2–0.4 is much below the standard safety benchmark and creates a genuine slip hazard when wet. For kitchen and bathroom floors, it is recommended to use matte or anti-skid tiles for better protection.
No — matte tiles show footprints less than glossy
Footprints are easy to spot on glossy tiles because they create visible smudges, as the high-gloss surface reflects light unevenly over skin oils. On matte tiles, the same footprints are far less visible because the surface already scatters light. The tile' stain resistance depends on its water absorption rating, not its finish.
Footprints are easy to spot on glossy tiles because they create visible smudges, as the high-gloss surface reflects light unevenly over skin oils. On matte tiles, the same footprints are far less visible because the surface already scatters light. The tile' stain resistance depends on its water absorption rating, not its finish.
Find your ideal tile finish in 3 questions
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Step 1 — Which room?
Frequently asked questions
Exact search questions — answered with a verdict first.
Anti-skid tiles are the best finish for bathroom floors. Anti-skid tiles have a CoF of 0.6–0.8. The BIS recommends a minimum of 0.6 for wet areas. Matte tiles, with a CoF 0.4–0.6, are a practical second choice. Never use glossy tiles on bathroom floors as their CoF of 0.2–0.4 is dangerous when wet, but they can be used on bathroom walls.
Glossy or matte tiles are good options for living rooms. Glossy tiles make the living room feel larger and more luxurious. Matte tiles offer a warmer, more contemporary look and require less frequent cleaning. You can choose based on your aesthetic preferences.
The key difference is CoF: anti-skid tiles have CoF 0.6–0.8, while matte tiles have CoF 0.4–0.6. Anti-skid tiles are specifically engineered for wet-area safety with a textured surface that increases grip. Matte tiles have a smooth but non-reflective surface and are safer than glossy tiles, but not as safe as anti-skid for wet floors. For bathrooms and kitchens, anti-skid is the smart choice.
Anti-skid or matte tiles are the correct choice for Indian kitchen floors. Kitchens can get wet and slippery due to moisture, grease, and cleaning. Glossy tiles (CoF 0.2–0.4) can be dangerous when moist. Anti-skid tiles with CoF 0.6+ are the safest choice. For Indian kitchens with heavy cooking, choose tiles with low water absorption (less than 0.5%) to prevent oil stain penetration.
Matte finish is the ultimate low-maintenance option or most homes. Despite the common belief, matte tiles hide dust, footprints, and water marks better than glossy tiles, making them easy to maintain. Glossy tiles look clean only when freshly swept and mopped. Anti-skid tiles need a mild scrub occasionally due to the textured surface, but are otherwise easy to maintain.
CoF stands for Coefficient of Friction. It is a measurement of the grip a tile surface provides. BIS standards recommend a minimum CoF of 0.6 for wet area floors (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas). Glossy tiles offer a CoF of 0.2–0.4, while matte tiles have a CoF of 0.4–0.6, and anti-skid tiles have a CoF of 0.6–0.8. Ask your dealer for the CoF certificate before buying bathroom or kitchen floor tiles to ensure you get the right tiles.
Glossy tiles on walls, large anti-skid or matte on floors, is the best combination for a small bathroom. Glossy tiles on walls ensure the light reflection makes the space feel larger. But always use anti-skid or matte tiles on the floor for safety. Choose light-coloured tiles in both cases for visual expansion. Use large matte or anti-skid tiles for the floor, which allows fewer grouting lines, helping make the space look bigger.
Anti-skid tiles with CoF 0.6+ are the highest recommended choice for homes with elderly parents or senior citizens. Slipping and injuries are some of the top concerns in a house with seniors. Use anti-skid tiles on all floors that could get wet, like bathrooms, kitchens, and balconies. Modern anti-skid tiles come in 150+ premium designs, including marble-look and stone-look finishes to ensure you don't compromise on aesthetics.
Matte finish or satin finish are the ideal choices for bedrooms. Bedrooms are dry areas, which allows the glossy tiles to be used without any concern. Matte finish creates a warm and cosy ambience, hides dust and footprints between cleanings, and doesn't create sharp glares or reflections from light sources. Glossy works in bedrooms but requires more frequent cleaning to maintain its appearance.
PEI (Porcelain Enamel Institute) rating measures a tile's wear resistance on a scale of 1–5. Depending on the rating, the recommended usage of tiles is - PEI 1–2: Wall tiles only. PEI 3: Light residential floor use. PEI 4: Heavy residential + light commercial. PEI 5: Heavy commercial use. or Indian home floors, it is advisable to choose tiles with a PEI 3 minimum, and PEI 4 for kitchens and high-traffic areas. The finish type (matte/glossy) doesn't change the PEI rating.
Related guides from Orientbell:
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