Zellige Tile Buying Guide, from Format to Installation

Any single zellige tile looks different depending on its installation. A 4x4 square and a 2x6 bejmat in the same colorway produce different surfaces across a wall. This guide covers those decisions in order: format, finish, color, where zellige can be used, how much to order, and what to confirm before installation begins.

What to Know About Zellige Before Buying

Buying zellige means buying a handmade surface. Each tile is hand-pressed, sun-dried, hand-shaped, and hand-dipped in glaze before firing in an earthen kiln.

Heat moves unevenly through the chamber, producing dynamic glazes, tonal shifts, and the chips, pits, and crazing that are signature features of each piece. Thickness and edge vary from tile to tile, and the glaze shifts in tone as the light changes.

Zia's zellige is available in 2x2 and 4x4 squares, the 2x6 bejmat, hexagons, and mosaic formats, across a palette spanning neutral whites and creams, earthy reds and browns, pinks, purples, blues, and greens.

Which Format to Choose

Format shapes how that color and glaze distribute across the wall; the same colorway in a 4x4, a bejmat, and a hexagon produces three distinct surfaces.

For projects where color and dynamic tones take center stage, the 4x4 square is the most versatile field tile. Its balanced proportions create a cohesive surface that allows the glaze variation to carry the design.

The 2x6 bejmat rectangle is a directional format and a classic shape in the Moroccan material. Run horizontally or vertically, it orients the field along a clear axis. This format suits herringbone, chevron, and running bond layouts, and works well on kitchen backsplashes and shower walls where the layout pattern becomes the focal point.

Hexagon formats introduce a geometric shape while maintaining the organic tonal variation of handmade tile. They work well on shower floors, feature walls, and surfaces where the shape itself contributes to the composition.

Smaller-format trapezoid, 2x2, and mosaic tiles ship mesh-mounted on 8x8-inch sheets. Separate and mix sheets as needed before grouting so surface variation is distributed across the installation.

When deciding between formats, order samples of each and view them in the actual space. The difference between a 4x4 and a 2x6 across a full backsplash wall is significant and worth exploring in person before a full order.

Glazed or Unglazed: Choosing the Right Finish

The hand-applied glazes create a surface that responds to light differently across each tile, producing the depth and movement for which zellige is known.

Glazed zellige cleans with a pH-neutral cleaner and is suited for wet areas when properly sealed.

Unglazed Natural zellige is a different material in practical terms. The matte clay surface is more grounded and earthy, and requires additional sealing before grouting, uses a different grout than glazed zellige, and needs more diligence with periodic resealing based on traffic and moisture exposure.

The Zellige Installation Guide covers sealing and grouting steps.

How to Navigate Zellige Color

Color in zellige does not behave the way it does in a more uniform category, like some ceramics. The glaze shifts in tone across each tile and across the installation. A colorway that appears as a clean white in a sample can carry cream, grey, and warm undertones across a full wall. That is the nature of the material.

Zia's palette spans quiet neutrals and saturated bold tones.

Whites, creams, and soft greys create a calm foundation where texture and light reflection carry the surface.

Greens, blues, and deeper earth tones introduce richness while preserving the organic variation that defines handmade tile.

Two things narrow the decision. First, order samples and view them in the space under different lighting conditions, morning and evening; the same tile can read quite differently depending on the light source.

Second, orient samples vertically, not flat on a surface. On a wall, light strikes zellige’s glaze at an angle and the sheen shifts tile to tile; the same surface reads flatter underfoot, where light hits straight down.

Where Zellige Can Be Used

Zellige is suited for shower walls and floors, interior floors, and exterior walls in non-freeze/thaw climates. Preparation requirements vary by application.

Shower Walls and Shower Floors

Approved for both. Deeper tones like Portuguese Blue and Jade deepen in the enclosed light of a shower; warmer tones like Amber and Burnt Sugar bring warmth against white fixtures. Seal according to Zia's zellige installation guide. For shower floors, set grout spacing to a minimum of 1/8" and apply an anti-slip treatment after installation.

Pools and Spas

Glazed zellige is rated for pool and spa environments, including submerged applications. Zia's Jade, Tidepool, and Racing Green carry particular depth at the waterline; light through water brings the glaze alive.

Interior Floors

Entryways, powder rooms, and sunrooms suit zellige well and provide exciting design opportunities. A zellige floor makes a room feel settled; the variation in each piece carries the suggestion of age from day one.

Exterior Walls

The irregular edges that come from hand-pressing and kiln-firing soften hard architectural lines; on a wrapped column, framed entryway, or outdoor fireplace in a mild climate, the handmade surface becomes the detail. Zellige is not suitable for exterior floors or any exterior application in freeze/thaw climates.

How Much to Order

Order a minimum overage of 15% more than the calculated square footage to account for curation and cuts. For a more uniform result, ordering up to 25% extra gives the installer more flexibility when blending tone and surface variation, or cutting or mitering edge pieces.

One thing specific to zellige: each production run varies, and tiles from separate orders can differ in tone and surface character. Ordering the full quantity at once gives the most consistent result across the installation.

What to Confirm Before Installation Begins

Zellige's variation in thickness and edge profile calls for a different approach than precision-cut tile.

• Installer experience. Zellige requires an installer with specific experience in handmade Moroccan tile.
• Substrate preparation. Install on stable, flat, properly prepared surfaces only. Subfloors must be fully cured. Waterproofing is required in wet areas before installation begins.
• Tile blending. Before setting begins, open all boxes, mix tiles from each, and set them out dry. Distributing variation before setting produces an intentional result.
• Sealing sequence. For glazed zellige in wet areas, seal according to Zia's zellige installation guide. For Unglazed Natural, apply a penetrating sealer before grouting per the installation guide, and allow it to fully cure before proceeding.
• PPE and Prop 65. Installers should wear protective face and eye coverings when working with tile, mortar, sealants, and grout. See Zia's Proposition 65 warnings for full guidance.

See the Zellige Installation Guide for full installation steps.

Ordering from Zia: What to Expect

The investment in zellige is repaid in the room: glaze variation that comes from uneven heat in an earthen kiln, and craft with 800 years behind it.

The material extends across kitchen backsplashes and range hoods, shower walls and pool waterlines, interior floors, and the exterior walls of courtyards and terraces. Each application brings a different light; the glaze responds accordingly.

Zia's zellige pricing varies by format and is listed on each tile page in the zellige collection.

For international shipping or project questions, contact Zia's team at info@ziatile.com or 310-844-1170.

Order samples of the format and colorway under consideration, and view them in the actual space under morning and evening light before committing to a full order.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Zellige Tile

Which Zellige Format Is Right for the Project?

The most reliable way to decide on a tile or mix is to order samples of the formats under consideration and view them in the actual installation space. A 4x4 square and a 2x6 bejmat read very differently across a full wall, and that difference is not always clear from reference photography. For herringbone or chevron layouts, the 2x6 bejmat is the format to consider. For an even, all-over field, the 4x4 size is a classic choice.

Can Zellige Formats Be Mixed in the Same Installation?

Yes, zellige formats can be mixed within the sam e installation, though thickness will vary across some sizes. Tile dimensions are outlined on each tile page. Combining a field tile with a mosaic border or feature area is common, and each format shares consistent material character. Grout spacing widths should be consistent across any format transition.

How Should Zellige Color Be Evaluated Before Ordering?

Order samples and view them in the actual space under the specific lighting conditions, at different times of day, and oriented the way they will be installed, depending on the surface. Zellige tonal variation cannot be fully captured in photography, and the same colorway can read differently depending on light source, surrounding materials, and orientation.

What Happens If a Reorder Is Needed?

Each zellige production run varies in clay, glaze, and kiln conditions, which means tiles from a later order can differ in tone and surface from the original batch. Ordering the full quantity at once, with a minimum of 15% overage (up to 25% for a more uniform result), gives the most consistent result across the installation. If a reorder becomes necessary, contact Zia's team at info@ziatile.com or 310-844-1170 for project-specific questions.