Tiles in Morocco: the complete guide to choosing well
Tiling is the material you walk on every single day, and the one people get wrong most often, because it is bought with the eyes rather than from the technical sheet. Here is the method I apply on my projects in Casablanca and Rabat: the product families and what they are really for, how to read the technical ratings, the price ranges recorded in 2026, and the mistakes that lead to a complete re-lay.
Which tile to choose in Morocco: the short answer
For the vast majority of homes in Morocco, the right choice is porcelain stoneware 9 to 10 mm thick, with water absorption below 0.5 %, a wear rating of PEI IV in circulation areas and a slip rating of R9 indoors, R11 minimum on terraces and around a pool. 2026 ballpark figures: 120 to 350 MAD/m² (Moroccan dirhams) supplied for standard porcelain stoneware, plus 80 to 180 MAD/m² for laying, adhesive and grout.
Zellige, cement tiles, natural stone and travertine are not competitors to porcelain stoneware: they are accent materials, more beautiful and more demanding, which I reserve for limited surfaces and specific uses. All the prices below are ranges observed in 2026 in Casablanca and Rabat showrooms, to be confirmed by quotation from your supplier.
| Family | What it genuinely does well | Recommended use | Ballpark, supplied (MAD/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-body porcelain stoneware | Mechanical and abrasion resistance, colour right through the body | Lobbies, retail, offices, garages, staircases | 200 to 450 |
| Glazed porcelain stoneware | Value for money, every decorative finish possible | Residential floors, terraces, bathrooms | 120 to 350 |
| Wall tile (faïence) | Light weight and easy wall installation | Walls only, kitchen and bathroom | 70 to 180 |
| Cement tile | Graphic pattern, local artisan production | Low-traffic floors, decorative "rug", splashback | 350 to 900 |
| Zellige | Vibrating light, the hand of the craftsman | Walls, hammam, patio, fountain, banquette backs | 400 to 1,200 |
| Natural stone and marble | Nobility, thickness, repairable by re-sanding | Living room, staircase, vanity tops, thresholds | 300 to 900 |
| Travertine | The warmth of limestone, excellent outdoors | Pool surrounds, terraces, patios | 250 to 650 |
| Terracotta and bejmat | Patina, thermal mass, traditional character | Riads, patios, low-traffic interior floors | 200 to 500 |
The seven families and what each is really for
Porcelain stoneware: the workhorse, in two versions
Porcelain stoneware is a vitrified body fired at high temperature. In the full-body version, the colour runs through the entire thickness: a chip stays almost invisible, which makes it the choice for public spaces and commercial projects. In the glazed version, a decorative layer is applied to the surface: this is where you find wood, marble or concrete effects, with printing quality that has improved enormously. For a home, good-quality glazed stoneware is enough in 90 % of cases; I switch to full-body in building lobbies, shops and office floors where traffic is continuous.
Wall tile: a wall covering, never a floor
Faïence wall tile has high water absorption and a porous body. It is perfect as a kitchen splashback or shower lining, but laying it on a floor is a mistake: it cracks under point loads. This confusion remains one of the most common on sites where tiling is bought without a technical sheet.
Cement tiles: beautiful, alive, demanding
Cold-pressed and coloured in a mortar layer a few millimetres thick, they are porous and sensitive to acids. They need a pore filler then a water repellent, and cleaning with neutral soap. I use them on limited surfaces: a central "rug", an entrance hall, a splashback. In a family kitchen or a children's bathroom, the risk of staining is real.
Zellige: a material of light
Zellige from Fez is a hand-cut glazed terracotta tile. Its irregularities, its shading and its fine joints are precisely what you come for: asking for regular zellige makes no sense. Plan the setting-out on site with the maâlem (master craftsman), and accept slower installation. On floors, only certain thick formats and bejmat are suitable.
Natural stone and marble
Morocco has a solid stone industry, from the fossil marble of Erfoud to limestones and granites quarried in several regions. Major advantage: the thickness means a damaged floor can be re-sanded instead of replaced. Drawbacks: limestones are sensitive to acids, and installation cost and weight are significant. Always check the finish: polished is slippery in a bathroom, so choose honed or tumbled outdoors.
Travertine
A cavity-filled limestone, usually pore-filled at the factory. It is my material of choice around a pool: it barely heats up, it does not dazzle, and it stays non-slip in a tumbled finish. It needs a water repellent, reapplied every two to three years in a coastal climate.
Reading a technical sheet: PEI, absorption, rectified edges, R9 to R13
A tile is chosen on four indicators. If the seller cannot give them to you, it is not a language barrier: it is a warning sign.
| Indicator | What it measures | Target value |
|---|---|---|
| PEI (I to V) | Glaze resistance to abrasion | PEI III in bedrooms, PEI IV in living rooms and kitchens, PEI V in retail |
| Water absorption | Porosity of the body | Below 0.5 % (group BIa) for floors or outdoors; up to 10 % acceptable for wall tile |
| Slip resistance (R9 to R13) | Grip with footwear | R9 dry interiors, R10 kitchens and bathrooms, R11 terraces, R11 to R12 pool surrounds and ramps |
| Rectified or not | Edges calibrated to a tenth of a millimetre after firing | Rectified for a 2 mm joint; non-rectified for a 3 to 5 mm joint |
Two further points come up often. The barefoot rating (A, B, C) applies to hammams and pool surrounds: aim for C in a wet area where people walk barefoot. Frost resistance matters for a project in Ifrane, Azrou or the Middle Atlas, far less so on the coast.
Finally, a large rectified format is not an achievement in itself: it demands a perfectly flat substrate, serious levelling and double buttering of the adhesive. On an uneven screed, a 120 x 120 tile will sound hollow and crack. This is a trade-off I settle at plan stage, like the other installation decisions described in my guide to villa plans.
Tile prices in Morocco: 2026 ballpark figures
The price of tiling can never be read from the label alone. You have to add up supply, substrate preparation, adhesive, grout, trims and wastage. Here are the ranges I observe in 2026 in Casablanca and Rabat, to be confirmed by quotation: the tile market moves fast and the gaps between showrooms are wide.
| Item | 2026 ballpark | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Glazed porcelain stoneware 45x45 to 60x60 | 120 to 250 MAD/m² | The widest range on the market |
| Large-format rectified porcelain stoneware | 250 to 500 MAD/m² | More technical installation, fewer joints |
| Wall tile | 70 to 180 MAD/m² | Beware limited-run decorative ranges |
| Artisan zellige | 400 to 1,200 MAD/m² | Specialist installation not included |
| Stone, marble, travertine | 250 to 900 MAD/m² | Depending on finish and thickness |
| Installation labour | 60 to 150 MAD/m² | Depending on format, setting-out and cuts |
| Adhesive mortar and grout | 15 to 40 MAD/m² | Adhesive suited to the format, never sand and cement for large formats |
| Levelling compound or screed repair | 30 to 90 MAD/m² | Mandatory before large formats |
| Skirtings, stair nosings, trims | 25 to 90 MAD/linear metre | An item often forgotten in quotations |
Two ordering rules: add 8 to 10 % extra area for wastage, more for diagonal or herringbone patterns; and check that all the tiling comes from the same production batch, since shades vary from one batch to the next. Across a project, tiling generally represents 4 to 8 % of the works budget, a share I always place within the overall envelope detailed in my guide to house construction prices in Morocco.
Many searches are for "tiles from Morocco": usually the aim is to find a distributor. My advice stays the same: ask for a sample to take away, look at it in daylight in the room concerned, and insist on the technical sheet before paying a deposit.
The right tile for each room
| Room | What I recommend | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Living room and circulation | PEI IV porcelain stoneware, 60x60 or 80x80 format | Continuity with other rooms, minimal thresholds |
| Kitchen | R10 porcelain stoneware on the floor, wall tile or stoneware as splashback | Avoid untreated cement tiles near the hob |
| Bathroom | R10 porcelain stoneware, class C for a walk-in shower | Fall, waterproofing under the tiles, epoxy grout in the shower zone |
| Hammam | Zellige, tadelakt or small formats laid over waterproofing | Low absorption, continuous joints, ventilation |
| Terrace and patio | R11 porcelain stoneware or tumbled travertine | Movement joints, 1.5 % fall, light shades |
| Pool surround | Travertine, honed stone or R11 to R12 stoneware | Barefoot comfort, reaction to chlorinated water |
| Staircase | Full-body stoneware or stone, non-slip nosings | Identical riser heights once clad |
| Offices and retail | PEI V full-body stoneware | Continuous traffic, trolley movement |
These trade-offs are decided before work starts, on the drawings, at the same time as electrics and plumbing: this is the heart of my work as an interior architect in Casablanca and on the projects I run in Rabat. If your works create floor area or affect the structure, remember that the application is filed through the Rokhas platform and requires an architect registered with the Ordre National des Architectes (law 016-89): the details are in my guide to building permits in Morocco.
The vocabulary of a Moroccan building site
On site, the words matter as much as the drawings. Here are the ones that come up most often and what they really mean.
- Zellige: hand-cut glazed terracotta tile, available in formats from 2 to 10 cm.
- Bejmat: elongated terracotta brick, laid on floors, often in patios or riads.
- Tadelakt: polished and soap-treated lime plaster; it is not a tile, but it often replaces wall tiling in a hammam.
- Faïence: in Morocco the word is commonly used for any wall covering, including stoneware. Always ask for the water absorption figure so you know what you are buying.
- Chape (screed) and ragréage (levelling compound): the mortar layer that receives the tiles, then the product that makes it flat. The second is not optional with large formats.
- Sable-ciment: traditional laying on fresh sand and cement mortar, still widely practised. Suitable for medium, non-rectified formats, not for large formats.
- Double buttering: adhesive applied both to the substrate and to the back of the tile, mandatory above 60 cm sides and outdoors.
- Calepinage (setting-out plan): the laying plan, which fixes the starting point, the axis and the position of the cuts. To be approved before the first row.
- Spacers and grouting: the wedges that set the joint width, then the filling. Standard cement grout, epoxy grout in wet or splash zones.
- Maâlem: the master craftsman leading the team. On zellige or bejmat, his hand accounts for half the result.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing from a showroom photo. A sample seen in the light of the actual room, flat on the floor, reads as a different shade. Always test on site.
- Laying wall tile on the floor. Absorption too high, body too fragile: cracks within months.
- Ignoring slip resistance outdoors. Glossy R9 stoneware around a pool is dangerous from the first splash.
- Laying large formats on an uneven screed. Without levelling and double buttering, tiles sound hollow, lift and break at the corners.
- Forgetting movement joints on a terrace. Under the Moroccan sun, an unbroken 60 m² field will lift.
- Ordering the exact square metres. Without an 8 to 10 % reserve, a later breakage or repair becomes impossible: the batch no longer exists.
- Mixing two production batches. The shade difference shows most on light, plain colours.
- Leaving cement tiles unsealed. An oil or lemon stain becomes permanent.
- Using too many materials. Beyond three references in one home, the reading of the spaces falls apart. Better one continuous floor and one strong accent.
- Deciding on tiling after the plumbing. Shower tray heights, shower falls and thresholds are calculated beforehand, not during.
How I use these choices in a project
In my projects, tiling is never an isolated purchase: it follows from the setting-out, the levels, the light and the real use of each room. I provide a costed list of references, the corresponding technical sheets and a laying plan the contractor applies without interpretation. The scope of these services and the fee ranges are set out on the fees page: a targeted assessment runs between 1,500 and 2,500 MAD, an interior architecture commission between 10 and 20 % of the works value, 2026 ballpark figures to be confirmed by quotation.
If you are unsure which kind of support you need, my guide architect or interior architect explains the differences, and all the technical guides are gathered on the guides page. You can also see how I work with materials on the projects page, in particular on the My Laser centres designed by the practice in Casablanca and Tangier.
Tell me about your project: the area concerned, the rooms, the condition of the substrate, the materials that appeal to you and the budget you have in mind. The more precise the description, the more useful my answer will be. The form and my direct number, +212 661 25 78 84, are on the contact page; you can also visit my architect in Casablanca page or read more about my approach in about.
What clients ask me most
What is the best tile for a villa in Morocco?
Porcelain stoneware 9 to 10 mm thick, water absorption below 0.5 %, PEI IV, R9 or R10 indoors and R11 on terraces. It is the most robust compromise between durability, maintenance and price. Zellige, stone or cement tiles come next as accents on limited surfaces.
How much does tiling cost per m², installed, in 2026?
As a ballpark recorded in 2026 in Casablanca and Rabat: 120 to 350 MAD/m² for the supply of standard porcelain stoneware, plus 60 to 150 MAD/m² of labour and 15 to 40 MAD/m² of adhesive and grout. Add levelling and skirtings. These ranges should be confirmed by quotation from the supplier and the installer.
Full-body or glazed porcelain stoneware: which should I choose?
For a home, glazed is enough and offers a far wider choice of finishes. Full-body is justified where traffic is heavy or where a chip would be highly visible: building lobbies, shops, office floors, public staircases.
Can zellige be laid on floors?
Classic wall zellige is not made for floors. For a traditional-style floor, you use bejmat or a specific thick zellige, laid by a craftsman used to the material, with a suitable treatment. In a bathroom or a patio, slip resistance and maintenance must be settled before purchase.
What slip rating is needed around a pool?
R11 as a minimum, and a barefoot rating of C for areas where people walk unshod. Tumbled travertine or honed stone also offer better thermal comfort than dark stoneware, which becomes scorching in summer.
Do I need an architect to choose tiling?
Not to buy a tile, but yes as soon as you have to settle levels, shower falls, thresholds, setting-out and consistency between rooms. That is where costly rework is decided. A targeted assessment, between 1,500 and 2,500 MAD as a 2026 ballpark, is often enough to secure these choices.
Let's talk about your tiling project
Tell me the area concerned, the condition of the substrate, the rooms and the budget you have in mind: I will tell you which tile families really hold up in your case and how to secure the installation. Use the form or call me directly on +212 661 25 78 84.
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