Calacatta vs Carrara

Calacatta and Carrara both take their names from the same marble district in Tuscany, but they are different varieties. Bianco Carrara is the district's most common type: white to blue-grey with finer grey veining. Calacatta is one of its pricier "exotic" varieties, usually with a whiter background and bolder veining. SoCal Tiles sells both.

Calacatta Carrara Source
Name origin Carrara marble district, Tuscany, Italy Carrara marble district, Tuscany, Italy Carrara marble, Wikipedia
Trade classification One of the district's more expensive exotic variations By far the most common type Carrara marble, Wikipedia
Background Whiter White to blue-grey SoCal Tiles observation of stocked Calacatta Gold and Bianco Carrara
Veining Bolder, more widely spaced, gold-toned to grey Finer, denser grey veining SoCal Tiles observation of stocked Calacatta Gold and Bianco Carrara
Care Calcareous: etches with acids; sealing adds stain resistance, not etch protection Same Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone
At SoCal Tiles Calacatta Gold: mosaics, field tile, trim; mostly Polished Bianco Carrara: mosaics, field tile, trim; Polished and Tumbled SoCal Tiles product catalog

Choose Calacatta when…

You want a whiter background with bold, dramatic veining, and a rarer variety. Order a sample from the product page to see the veining in your own light before committing to a large area.

Choose Carrara when…

You want the classic white to blue-grey look with finer, quieter veining. It is the variety the district is best known for. Order a sample to check block-to-block variation.

Learn more: Calacatta Marble · Carrara Marble

SoCal Tiles carries

Tiles and mosaics can be ordered as a sample from the product page.

Sources

  1. Carrara marble, Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-09-24)
  2. Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone (retrieved 2026-09-23)
  3. SoCal Tiles product catalog (retrieved 2026-09-21)