Zellige Tile Sizes: Squares, Bejmat, Hexagons and Mosaics Compared

Handtile zellige comes in four formats: 4x4 inch squares, 4x4 inch hexagons, 6x2 inch bejmat bricks and pre-assembled mosaic sheets. For most walls and backsplashes, the 4x4 square is the right size. For floors, patios and brick patterns, choose 6x2 bejmat. Pick hexagons for a softer, more graphic wall, and mosaic sheets when you want a finished pattern without laying it tile by tile.

Because every piece is hand-cut and hand-glazed in Fes, Morocco, these are nominal sizes. Expect slight variation in face size and thickness from tile to tile. That variation is the point, and it is why size choice affects how your finished wall or floor reads.

In this article

• What sizes does zellige tile come in?
• Zellige tile sizes at a glance
• What size zellige is best for a backsplash or wall?
• What size zellige is best for a floor?
• When should you choose hexagons or mosaics?
• Does tile size change installation and ordering?
• FAQ

What Sizes Does Zellige Tile Come In?

Traditional zellige is a small-format tile. The classic piece is a roughly 4x4 inch square, chiseled by hand from a larger fired clay slab. Bejmat is the longer relative: a 6x2 inch brick cut from thicker clay, historically used on Moroccan floors and courtyards. Hexagons and mosaic sheets are variations on the same small-format idea.

Zellige is not sold in large format the way porcelain is. A 12x24 inch zellige look-alike is a machine-made tile, not the handmade product. If you want to understand that difference, read our guide to real zellige versus zellige-look tile.

Zellige Tile Sizes at a Glance

What Size Zellige Is Best for a Backsplash or Wall?

The 4x4 square is the default for walls, and it earns that spot. The small face shows off glaze pooling on every tile, and the many grout joints let a wall bend slightly around uneven plaster without looking forced. In a typical kitchen, a 4x4 backsplash reads as a quilt of slightly different tiles rather than a flat sheet of color.

If your wall is tall or very large, the number of joints can start to feel busy. In that case, consider running 6x2 bejmat in a stacked or offset brick pattern, which gives longer lines and a calmer rhythm. Our bejmat pattern guide shows which layouts work.

What Size Zellige Is Best for a Floor?

Choose bejmat. Our bejmat is 12 to 15 mm thick, and more traditional bejmat can run up to 20 mm. That extra body is why it has traditionally been the Moroccan floor tile. The 6x2 brick format also gives you herringbone, stacked and offset layouts that a square cannot. For thickness details, see how thick zellige tiles are, and for the full floor picture read can you use zellige on the floor.

Whatever size you pick for a floor, the substrate must be solid and fully cured, and any lippage should be kept tight.

When Should You Choose Hexagons or Mosaics?

Hexagons suit a single statement: a powder room wall, a shower niche or a panel behind a vanity. Our hexagons measure 4x4 inches point to point, so they sit at the same scale as the squares and pair well with a square field on the surrounding wall. Mosaic sheets suit anyone who loves a pattern but does not want to plan a layout. The pattern arrives assembled, so the installer sets sheets rather than individual pieces. Browse the full zellige mosaic sheets and read the mosaic sheet versus square zellige comparison before choosing.

Does Tile Size Change Installation and Ordering?

Every format is sold by the square foot, so you can compare formats on the same basis. The bigger effect of size is on labor and waste. Small tiles mean more pieces to set and more joints to grout, and handmade tile needs each piece back-buttered. Plan on 15 to 20 percent overage, covered in our overage guide, and see the zellige tile cost breakdown for budgeting.

Designers and installers ordering for clients can ask about the Handtile Trade Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard size of zellige tile?

The standard zellige tile is a hand-cut square of roughly 4x4 inches. Bejmat, the brick format, is roughly 6x2 inches.

Does zellige come in large format?

Not in its handmade form. Authentic zellige is a small-format tile because it is chiseled by hand from fired clay slabs. Large-format tiles sold as zellige-look are machine made.

Are zellige tiles exactly 4x4 inches?

No. Each tile is cut by hand, so face size and thickness vary slightly. Installers handle this with back-buttering and a grout joint that absorbs the difference.

Which zellige size is best for a small bathroom?

The 4x4 square works well because its scale feels proportionate on small walls. See our guide to the best zellige tile for small bathrooms.

Can I mix different zellige sizes in one room?

Yes. A common pairing is bejmat on the floor and 4x4 squares on the walls, in the same or a complementary color.