Choosing natural stone is about more than selecting a color or pattern. Stone type, finish, size, application, maintenance, and natural variation can all affect the finished installation. This guide will help you compare materials, calculate your quantity, and order with greater confidence. Looking for burgundy tile, deep reds or classic whites? This guide also covers natural stone products from marble, travertine, dolomite, limestone and onyx tile, plus finishes, tile sizes, patterns, borders and cost.
1. Start With the Application
The best material depends on where and how it will be installed. Before choosing a tile, consider moisture, foot traffic, weather exposure, maintenance, and slip resistance.
Kitchen
Natural stone can be used for kitchen floors, backsplashes, feature walls, and other decorative surfaces. Backsplashes generally offer more flexibility because they receive less foot traffic than floors.
Bathroom
Many marble, dolomite, travertine, and limestone products can be used on bathroom walls and floors when properly installed and maintained. Shower applications require careful waterproofing, appropriate setting materials, proper drainage, and a suitable tile finish.
Entryway and Interior Floor
Entryways and frequently used floors require a durable surface appropriate for foot traffic. Consider the stone’s finish, expected maintenance, tile thickness, and the amount of dirt or moisture entering the space.
Fireplace
Natural stone can create a distinctive fireplace surround or feature wall. Confirm that the selected material, setting products, and installation method are appropriate for the surface and expected heat conditions.
Outdoor Area
Exterior installations require products suitable for the local climate, weather exposure, drainage conditions, and installation method. Not every natural stone tile or finish is recommended for outdoor use.
Pool Area
Pool decks, coping, waterlines, and submerged applications have different technical requirements. Consider water exposure, chemicals, slip resistance, freeze-thaw conditions, and whether the product is suitable for the intended pool application.
Product suitability can vary by installation. Consult a qualified installer and review applicable building codes before ordering.
2. Understand the Stone Types
Every natural stone has its own appearance, performance characteristics, and care requirements.
Marble
Marble is valued for its veining, depth, and timeless appearance. It is available in subtle white and beige selections as well as dramatic black, green, red, and multicolored varieties. Marble generally requires sealing and should be protected from acidic substances and abrasive cleaners.
Travertine
Travertine offers warm colors, visible pores, and natural movement. It is available in filled, unfilled, honed, polished, brushed, chiseled, and tumbled finishes. Travertine is frequently used for interior floors, bathrooms, patios, pool areas, and traditional architectural designs.
Dolomite
Dolomite often combines a light marble-like appearance with distinctive gray or taupe movement. It is popular for kitchens, bathrooms, floors, and walls. Like other natural stones, its suitability depends on the finish, application, and maintenance expectations.
Limestone
Limestone typically has a soft, understated appearance with subtle fossil markings and tonal movement. It can complement traditional, Mediterranean, transitional, and contemporary spaces.
Onyx
Onyx is known for translucency, vivid coloration, and dramatic mineral movement. It is most often selected for decorative walls, backsplashes, bar fronts, niches, and other lower-impact feature applications.
Granite
Granite is a dense natural stone available in a broad range of colors and crystalline patterns. Depending on the product and finish, it may be used for interior or exterior architectural applications.
Names and Types of Natural Stone
Wondering what type of stone you are looking at, or comparing the types of natural stone for a house? Start with the five families we sell: marble, travertine, dolomite, limestone and onyx. Each has its own page in the Stone Encyclopedia: what is marble, what is travertine, what is dolomite and what is onyx.
Inside each family, stones are sold by name: Bianco Carrara, Thassos White, Calacatta Gold, Crema Marfil, Nero Marquina, Ivory Travertine, Noce Travertine, Bianco Dolomite and many more. Have tile you want to match or repair? Our Stone Matching Service can help.
3. Choose the Right Finish
The finish changes the appearance, texture, maintenance, and possible applications of the stone.
Polished
A glossy, reflective finish that emphasizes color and veining. Polished stone may show etching, scratches, water spots, and wear more readily and can become slippery when wet.
Honed
A smooth, matte or low-sheen surface with a softer appearance. Honed finishes are widely used for floors, walls, bathrooms, and contemporary interiors.
Tumbled
A weathered finish with softened edges and visible surface texture. Tumbled stone is commonly used for backsplashes, showers, traditional interiors, and selected exterior applications.
Brushed
A textured finish that enhances the stone’s natural character. Brushed products are often selected for rustic, transitional, and outdoor-inspired designs.
Chiseled or Antiqued
These finishes create more pronounced texture and aged edges. They are frequently used for pavers, patios, pool areas, and Old World-style installations.
A textured finish does not automatically make a product suitable for every wet or exterior application. Confirm the requirements of your specific project with your installer.
Natural Stone Finish Types at a Glance
Stone finishes, also called tile finishes or stone finishing types, describe how the surface was treated. Our range includes polished, honed, tumbled, brushed, split-faced, brushed and chiseled, antiqued, filled and honed, and filled and polished surfaces. A plain, natural-finish stone is usually honed or tumbled: soft, matte and easy to live with. An antique stone finish is typically tumbled or antiqued for a worn, old-world edge. Browse polished marble, honed marble, tumbled marble, tumbled travertine, filled and honed travertine, brushed stone and split-face stone. For the difference between two popular looks, read honed vs polished stone and filled vs unfilled travertine. For every finish explained in one place, see our stone tile finishes guide.
4. Select a Tile Size and Pattern
Tile size can change the scale and visual character of a room.
- Large-format tile can create a more continuous surface with fewer grout joints.
- 12×12 and other standard field tiles work well in a broad range of spaces.
- Rectangular tile can be installed in straight, offset, or other approved layouts.
- Mosaics can accommodate curves, slopes, niches, shower floors, and decorative details.
- Checkerboard tile combines contrasting stones to create a classic geometric floor.
- Pattern sets can create modular layouts for interior or exterior spaces.
Before selecting a layout, confirm the actual product dimensions, tile thickness, grout-joint recommendation, and installation requirements.
Standard Tile Sizes in Inches and Feet
Standard tile sizes for natural stone include 4x4, 6x6, 12x12, 12x24, 18x18 and 24x24 inches, with 6x12 and 18x36 offered in selected stones. In feet, a 12x12 tile is 1 ft by 1 ft, a 12x24 is 1 ft by 2 ft and a 24x24 is 2 ft by 2 ft. Natural stone is sold in nominal sizes, so the actual tile dimensions and thickness can differ slightly; always use the size and thickness on the product page. Need something like 18x24 or 12x48? Sizes vary by stone, so browse by size or ask us. Shop 4x4, 6x6, 12x12, 12x24, 18x18, 24x24 or large-format stone tile.
Listello Tile, Borders and Trim
A listello (also written listello tile or tile listello) is a narrow decorative strip used as a border. In natural stone, that job is done by liners and moldings: pencil liners, bullnose liners, chair rails, crown and specialty moldings and baseboard trim. A stone tile border can frame a mirror, mark chair-rail height or run as a stripe through a backsplash. Deep-beveled brick tiles add a classic edge to subway-style walls. Learn more in our stone trims and edges guide.
Pattern Names: French Pattern, Versailles, Herringbone and More
French pattern tile, also called Versailles pattern, combines several tile sizes in a repeating layout that avoids a simple grid. See the Versailles pattern tile collection for full-size sets, the Versailles mosaics for the mini version, and our Mini Versailles guide for details. Other classics include herringbone, chevron (the zig-zag pattern), basketweave, hexagon, lantern and arabesque, lattice and geometric fretwork and checkerboard tile. For more pattern ideas, see our stone tile patterns guide.
5. Order Samples Before Making a Final Decision
Images can help you compare products, but screens display colors differently. Natural stone may also contain variation that cannot be fully represented by one photograph.
A sample can help you evaluate:
- General color and undertone
- Finish and surface texture
- Veining or mineral movement
- Compatibility with cabinetry, paint, and lighting
- Grout and design combinations
A sample represents a small portion of a naturally varying material and will not show every color, vein, or marking that may appear in a full order.
Order samples early and evaluate them in the room where the material will be installed. View them under both natural and artificial lighting.
6. Expect Natural Variation
Variation is an inherent and desirable characteristic of natural stone. Tiles may differ in color, shade, veining, markings, texture, pores, fossils, and other geological features.
Natural stone may include:
- Light and dark tonal variation
- Fine or dramatic veining
- Mineral deposits and crystalline areas
- Small pits, pores, fissures, or surface texture
- Filled areas or resin reinforcement
- Natural edge and dimensional variation
These characteristics are generally part of the material rather than manufacturing defects. Review multiple pieces and dry-lay the material before installation so the installer can distribute variation throughout the project.
7. Calculate How Much Tile You Need
Measure the length and width of each installation area and calculate the total square footage. Add the areas together when the project contains multiple sections.
A basic calculation is: Length × Width = Square Footage
For example: 10 ft × 12 ft = 120 sq. ft.
We generally recommend ordering additional material for cuts, breakage, pattern alignment, installation waste, and future repairs.
Suggested overage
- Straightforward layouts: approximately 10%
- Diagonal or patterned layouts: approximately 15%
- Complex rooms or extensive cuts: consult your installer
These percentages are general estimates. Your installer should confirm the final quantity before you order.
Use the SoCal Tiles Tile Calculator for an initial estimate, but base the final order on field measurements and your installer’s layout.
How to Measure for Tile and Plan Your Quantity
To measure tile needs, sketch each area, measure length and width in feet, multiply for square footage and add the areas together. Subtract large openings, then add overage: the waste factor is approximately 10% for straightforward layouts and approximately 15% for diagonal or patterned ones. Compare the total with the coverage listed per piece, sheet or box on the product page and round up to whole units. Planning a bigger project? Try our Natural Stone Project Planning service or send your numbers for a Quantity & Layout Review.
8. Order Enough Material at One Time
Natural stone can vary between production runs, shipments, and quarry selections. For the best possible consistency, order the full project quantity—including overage—in one purchase.
Additional material ordered later may not match the original shipment in:
- Color
- Shade
- Veining
- Finish
- Thickness
- Calibration
- Overall appearance
Keeping several unused pieces after installation can also make future repairs easier.
9. Review Product Details Before Ordering
Before adding a product to your cart, review:
- Material type
- Tile or sheet dimensions
- Finish
- Thickness
- Coverage per piece, sheet, or box
- Sold-by unit
- Minimum order quantity
- Recommended application
- Current availability
- Estimated fulfillment time
Some products are sold by the piece or box while pricing is displayed by square foot. The quantity entered may therefore be converted into full pieces, sheets, or boxes.
Contact SoCalTiles before ordering if you are uncertain about coverage or quantity.
10. Plan for Installation
Natural stone should be installed by a qualified professional familiar with the selected material and application.
Before installation:
- Inspect the complete order
- Confirm that the correct product and quantity were received
- Check the tiles for shipping damage
- Dry-lay and blend pieces from multiple boxes
- Approve the layout and variation
- Confirm the setting material and grout
- Determine whether sealing is required
- Verify substrate preparation and waterproofing
- Follow applicable codes and industry standards
Do not install material that appears incorrect or unacceptable. Installation generally indicates acceptance of the product.
11. Sealing and Maintenance
Many natural stones benefit from sealing before or after installation, depending on the product, finish, application, and installation system.
Use products designed for natural stone and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Avoid acidic, abrasive, or harsh household cleaners unless they are specifically approved for the stone.
For more information, visit our Stone Care and Maintenance Guide.
12. Understand Shipping and Delivery
Smaller qualifying orders may ship by parcel carrier. Larger and heavier tile orders are usually secured to a pallet and sent by LTL freight.
Before delivery:
- Confirm your telephone number and delivery address
- Review the tracking or appointment information
- Make sure someone is available to inspect the shipment
- Photograph visible damage before unloading when possible
- Note damage or shortages on the delivery receipt
- Contact SoCalTiles promptly if there is a problem
Visit our Freight Information page for more details about delivery appointments, residential service, inspection, and reporting damage.
13. Local Order Pickup
Confirmed orders may be eligible for pickup from our Orange County warehouse. The warehouse is not open for walk-in shopping or product viewing.
Wait until you receive a pickup-ready notification before arriving. Your confirmation will include the warehouse address, available hours, and pickup instructions.
Natural Stone Products We Offer
Natural stone products at SoCal Tiles include field tile, mosaics, chair rails and moldings, liners, baseboards, checkerboard tile, travertine pavers and pool coping and shower corner shelves. Every piece is real natural stone, so it suits many interior projects, from floors and walls to backsplashes. Not sure where to start? Browse best sellers or shop all.
Burgundy Tile and Other Bold Stone Colors
Looking for burgundy tile? In natural stone, deep red and wine tones come from red marbles such as Rosso Levanto; see the Rosso Levanto marble collection and check each product page for current availability. For violet veining, look at Calacatta Viola marble. For warm browns like mocha, see Cappuccino marble and brown stone tile; for champagne tones, beige and cream stone tile; for crisp whites, the Bianco family such as Bianco Carrara. Colors vary from piece to piece, so order samples first.
What Affects the Cost of Natural Stone Tile
Natural stone cost is shaped by a handful of things, and knowing them helps you compare tile fairly:
- The stone itself: rarer, more dramatic or harder-to-quarry stones usually cost more than common ones. Onyx, including white onyx and green onyx, is a specialty stone.
- Finish and processing: polishing, filling, brushing, chiseling or hand-tumbling all add work.
- Format: field tile, mosaic sheets, liners and moldings are made and priced differently.
- Size and thickness: larger and thicker pieces are heavier to ship and handle.
- Pattern and waste: diagonal and intricate layouts need more overage.
- Installation and care: setting materials, labor, waterproofing and sealing are part of the total project.
Current pricing is always shown on each product page. For a larger project, use Request a Quote, and ask about the Trade Program if you work in the trade. Browse Sale & Clearance for current markdowns, and order samples before you commit: any 5 samples are $25 and ship free (see Shop Sample Tiles).
Quick Tips for Buying Stone Tile
- Order samples and view them in your own light.
- Buy the whole project quantity, with overage, in one order.
- Check the actual size, thickness and coverage on the product page.
- Dry-lay tile from several boxes before it is set.
- Ask your installer about setting materials, grout and sealing; see our Natural Stone Tile Installation Guide.
- Keep a few spare tiles for future repairs.
Questions about a stone or pattern? Contact our team or visit our FAQ page.
Get Project Support
Use our Natural Stone Project Planning service to compare suitable materials and formats. If you already have measurements, submit them for a Quantity & Layout Review. For repairs or additions to an existing installation, use our Stone Matching Service. If you still need an installer, explore the Natural-Stone Contractor Directory.
14. Retail and Trade Accounts
Retail customers can shop through SoCalTiles without creating an account. You may also use your email address to access your customer account, order history, and current order status.
Contractors, designers, builders, developers, retailers, and other qualified professionals can apply for a SoCalTiles Trade Account. Approved trade customers must sign in to view their available trade pricing and account benefits.