What Is Zellige Tile? History, Cost, and How to Use It

Zellige tile is handmade glazed clay tile from Morocco, cut by hand one piece at a time and fired in a kiln, a craft that has been practiced in Fes for roughly 1,200 years. That is why every tile has slightly different edges, color depth, and surface. It is thicker than factory tile, it reflects light unevenly in a way machine-made tile cannot copy, and at Handtile it costs $21 per square foot for standard 4x4 squares. The rest of this guide covers where zellige comes from, how it is made, what it costs, where to use it, and how to look after it.

In this article

• What is zellige tile?
• Where does zellige come from?
• How is zellige made?
• What does zellige look like, and why is it never perfectly flat?
• How much does zellige tile cost?
• Where can you use zellige?
• Square zellige, bejmat, and mosaic sheets: what is the difference?
• How is zellige installed?
• How do you care for zellige?
• How do you spot real zellige?
• FAQ

What Is Zellige Tile?

Zellige (also spelled zellij) is a traditional Moroccan tile made from hand-cut clay with a glossy or satin glaze on the face. Unlike porcelain or ceramic tile pressed in a mold, each zellige piece is shaped individually by a craftsperson, so no two tiles match exactly. Edges are slightly irregular, thickness varies from tile to tile, and the glaze pools and thins across the surface, which gives a finished wall its depth and its soft, shimmering look.

That variation is the point of the material, not a flaw. If you want a perfectly uniform grid, zellige is the wrong tile. If you want a wall that looks handmade and feels warm instead of flat, it is one of the best choices available.

Where Does Zellige Come From?

Zellige has been made in Fes, Morocco, for roughly 1,200 years, and the city is still the heart of the craft. It was laid in the great mosques and learning institutions of Fes, including the mosque and university of Al Qaraouiyine, which is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating university in the world. From there it spread to palaces, fountains, and the courtyards of traditional riads, where tile covers walls, floors, and basins. The skills have been passed down through workshop families, learned on the job rather than from a manual.

Every Handtile tile is still made in Fes, Morocco, in artisan workshops we work with directly. You can read more about how we source in our guide to Handtile's handcrafted zellige.

How Is Zellige Made?

The process is slow, and almost all of it is done by hand. Clay is shaped and fired, then glazed and fired again. Craftspeople called maalems cut the tiles to size individually with a hammer and chisel, which is why the edges are never razor sharp or perfectly square. The result is a dense, thick tile, typically 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch, compared with roughly 1/4 inch for standard ceramic wall tile.

That thickness is part of why zellige is chip resistant and long lived. It also changes how the tile is installed, which we cover below. For the full story on why it is built this way, see why zellige tile is so thick.

What Does Zellige Look Like, and Why Is It Never Perfectly Flat?

A zellige wall has movement. Colors shift from tile to tile, the surface has gentle waves, and small pits or edge chips are normal. Those are marks of handmade clay, not defects, and they are exactly what makes light play across the wall in the afternoon. Our guides to why zellige is never perfectly flat and chips and pits explain what to expect so there are no surprises when your order arrives.

Because of that variation, we recommend a free sample before you commit. Seeing the exact shade and texture in your own light is the best way to know whether zellige is right for your space.

How Much Does Zellige Tile Cost?

Genuine handmade zellige typically runs $18 to $28 per square foot for material across the US market. Handtile's standard 4x4 squares and 6x2 bejmat are $21 per square foot, in the middle of that range, and our pre-assembled mosaic sheets are priced per sheet. Shipping is a flat, published rate based on order size, starting at $35 for under 5 sq ft, so you can see the real total before you buy.

Installation is the other half of the budget, and it runs about $4 per square foot. Zellige takes more time to set than standard tile because each piece is placed individually. Our zellige tile cost guide walks through a full backsplash and bathroom budget, and the installation cost guide covers labor. To work out how much to order, see our overage guide.

Where Can You Use Zellige?

Zellige is most common on walls, and it works in more rooms than people expect:

• Kitchen backsplashes. The classic starting point. See our backsplash guide and kitchen guide.
• Bathrooms and showers. Walls, niches, and vanity backsplashes work well with proper waterproofing. See the bathroom guide and shower guide.
• Floors. Possible in lower-traffic spaces with flexible grout and an experienced installer, and bejmat is the sturdier choice. See using zellige on the floor.
• Fireplaces, pools, and covered outdoor areas. See our guides to fireplaces, pools, and outdoor durability.

Square Zellige, Bejmat, and Mosaic Sheets: What Is the Difference?

Zellige comes in a few formats. Square zellige (our standard is 4x4 inches) is the most common, with about 9 tiles covering a square foot. Bejmat is the rectangular brick format (6x2 inches here), with about 12 tiles per square foot, and it is the sturdier option for floors. Mosaic sheets arrive pre-assembled in a pattern on mesh backing, which saves layout time for small feature areas.

We compare them in detail in bejmat vs square zellige, what is bejmat tile, and mosaic sheet vs square zellige.

How Is Zellige Installed?

Because thickness varies from tile to tile, an installer back-butters each piece individually with a polymer-modified thin-set rather than spreading one flat adhesive bed. Grout joints run wider than with factory tile, typically 3/16 to 1/4 inch, and an unsanded or epoxy grout is the safer choice, especially on glossy glazes and in wet areas. Choose an installer who has set handmade tile before, since that experience affects both the cost and the finished look.

If you are weighing a do-it-yourself install, read can you install zellige yourself and 7 installation mistakes to avoid. For grout choices, see the grout spacing and color guide and the grout color guide.

How Do You Care for Zellige?

Zellige is a porous, hand-glazed material, so sealing matters most in wet areas and around cooking. A penetrating sealer applied before installation, and again after the grout cures, protects against moisture and staining, and in wet rooms plan to reseal about once a year. For daily cleaning, a soft cloth and a non-abrasive cleaner are enough, and abrasive scrubbers should be avoided because they can dull or scratch the glaze. Our guides to sealing and cleaning zellige cover the details, and are zellige tiles hard to maintain answers the common worries.

How Do You Spot Real Zellige?

Not everything sold as zellige is handmade. Genuine zellige is hand-cut clay with visible irregularity on the edges and a textured, unglazed back, while "zellige-look" tile is machine pressed, flat, and uniform. Ask for the thickness range in writing, request a sample you can hold, and be wary of pricing far below the real market range. We break down the differences in real zellige vs zellige-look tile, and if you are comparing sellers, see where to buy zellige tile in the US and the best 4x4 zellige brands.

Wondering whether it is worth the extra cost over standard tile? Read is zellige tile worth it and zellige vs subway tile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is zellige tile?

Zellige is handmade Moroccan clay tile. Each piece is cut by hand, glazed, and fired, so edges, thickness, and color vary slightly from tile to tile.

How old is zellige?

The craft has been practiced in Fes, Morocco, for roughly 1,200 years, and zellige decorates the mosque and university of Al Qaraouiyine, widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

How do you pronounce zellige?

It is commonly pronounced "zeh-LEEJ." You will also see it spelled zellij.

How much does zellige tile cost per square foot?

Genuine handmade zellige runs about $18 to $28 per square foot for material across the US market. Handtile's 4x4 squares and 6x2 bejmat are $21 per square foot, and installation adds about $4 per square foot.

Is zellige tile durable?

Yes. It is thicker and denser than standard ceramic tile, which makes it chip resistant, and it holds up well when it is installed and sealed properly.

Can zellige be used in a shower or on a floor?

Yes, with the right setup. Shower walls need a waterproof membrane, sealer, and unsanded or epoxy grout. Floors suit lower-traffic spaces with flexible grout, and bejmat is the sturdier format underfoot.

Why does zellige take longer to install than regular tile?

Each tile has to be back-buttered and set individually to account for thickness variation, which takes more time and experience than laying flat, uniform tile.

Can I order a sample first?

Yes. Samples are free, you only pay the shipping, so you can check the shade, thickness, and texture in your own light before ordering.