Where to Buy Zellige Tile in the US: Handmade vs Big-Box Stores
You can buy zellige tile in the US from four places: specialty tile importers, big-box and national chains, local tile showrooms and online marketplaces. Specialty sellers are the most likely to carry real handmade zellige from Fes, Morocco, while many big-box collections are machine-made tile in a zellige style. The safest way to buy is to order a sample, check the edges and glaze against what real zellige looks like, order about 15% extra, and place the whole order at once so the tile comes from one batch.
In this article
- Where can you buy zellige tile in the US?
- How do you tell real zellige from zellige-style tile?
- What should you check before you buy?
- How do you order a sample?
- What does zellige cost?
- FAQ
Where can you buy zellige tile in the US?
Online from a specialty importer is the most common route for real handmade zellige, because few local stores stock it. Big-box stores and showrooms are worth a visit to see tile in person, but check what you are looking at before you assume it is handmade.
| Where | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty tile importers (online) | Handmade zellige, wide color range, samples shipped to your door | Ask where it is made, and check lead times and return terms |
| Big-box and national chains | Seeing tile in person, quick pickup, easy returns | Many "zellige" collections are machine-made ceramic or porcelain |
| Local tile showrooms | Expert advice, installer referrals | Limited colors, special orders can take weeks |
| Online marketplaces | Small lots and one-off colors | Hard to confirm origin, batch and return policy |
Handtile ships handmade zellige from Fes, Morocco to all US states. Our 4x4 squares and 6x2 bejmat tiles are $21 per square foot, and you can start with a free tile sample.
How do you tell real zellige from zellige-style tile?
Look at the edges, the glaze and the variation. Real zellige is formed and glazed by hand, so no two tiles match. Tiles of Ezra describes the difference this way: authentic zellige is "formed by hand, glazed by hand, fired in traditional kilns," while imitations are "machine-pressed ceramic tiles."
| Check | Real handmade zellige | Zellige-style, machine-made |
|---|---|---|
| Edges | Hand-chiselled and slightly irregular | Mechanically straight |
| Glaze | Has depth, you can see into it | Sits flat and reflects light evenly |
| Color | Shifts tile to tile across the wall | Nearly identical tiles |
| Origin | Made in Fes, Morocco | Often unstated or made elsewhere |
My Moroccan Tile suggests a quick test: hold a tile at a low angle to the light. Real zellige "scatters light in multiple directions," while machine-made tile reflects it uniformly. Our post on real zellige vs zellige-look tile goes deeper.
What should you check before you buy zellige?
- Where is it made? Ask for the country and city. Real zellige comes from Fes, Morocco.
- Can you get a sample? Lili Tile advises you to "order at least one sample of every zellige color you are considering."
- How much extra do you need? Order 15% or more for cuts and breakage. Lili Tile suggests 15 to 25%. Our overage guide has the math.
- Will it come from one batch? Buy everything in one order. Samples and full orders can come from different firings, so shade can differ slightly.
- How long is shipping? Ask for the lead time before you book an installer.
- What is the return policy? Natural color variation and small chips are normal for handmade tile, so read what counts as damage.
Handmade in Fes, with subtle grey and beige undertones.
Between grey and taupe, with a semi-gloss glaze.
A deep green 6x2 brick for a stacked or offset wall.
How do you order a zellige tile sample?
Add a tile sample to your cart. At Handtile, each sample is free and ships directly to you. Hold it against your counter, cabinets or floor in morning and evening light, and check it next to your grout choice. A sample comes from a single batch, so treat it as a guide to the color and surface rather than a promise that every tile matches.
If you are an interior designer, architect, contractor or retailer, the Trade Sample Box: Neutrals holds six of our most-specified neutral zellige colors. It is complimentary for approved trade accounts, and you can email info@handtile.com for a trade code.
What does zellige tile cost?
Handtile's 4x4 squares and 6x2 bejmat tiles are $21 per square foot, and installation adds roughly $4 per square foot. Mosaic sheets run from $28 to $39 per sheet. For a full breakdown, read our zellige cost guide and our post on installation cost and finding an installer.
Start with our white and neutral zellige tile collection and order a free sample first.
New to zellige? Start with our complete guide to what zellige tile is, including its history, cost, and best uses.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy authentic zellige tile in the US?
From specialty importers that sell handmade tile from Fes, Morocco and ship across the country. Ask for the origin, order a sample first and check the edges and glaze.
Does Home Depot or Floor & Decor sell real zellige?
Big-box stores carry zellige-style collections, and some are machine-made ceramic or porcelain. Check the product description for how the tile is made and where. If every tile looks identical and the edges are perfectly straight, it is not handmade.
Can I order zellige samples?
Yes. Handtile's tile sample is free. Order one for every color you are considering and look at it in your own light.
How much extra zellige tile should I order?
About 15% for cuts and breakage, and more for complex layouts. Buy it all in one order so it comes from the same batch.
Why does my sample look different from my full order?
Handmade tile varies from batch to batch and from tile to tile. That variation is part of the look, and a good installer blends tiles from every box.
Start with a free sample
See the real glaze and edge in your own light, then order your wall.
Get a free tile sample →Handmade in Fes, Morocco. Ships to all US states.
Sources: Tiles of Ezra, Imitation vs Authentic Zellige; My Moroccan Tile, What Is Zellige Tile; Lili Tile, Pre-Purchase Zellige Guide