The Best and Most Popular Grout Colors

Choosing a grout color can be a difficult thing to do. Grout comes in all sorts of different colors, and each grout color will make your tile look a bit different.

In this article, we will discuss common grout colors, the pros and cons of different grout colors, and specific color combinations for gray tile, marble tile, white tile, and more.

If you are struggling with choosing a grout color, keep reading for all the details you need to make the right choice for your home.

Grout Colors for Tiles

Grout is a mixture of cement, water and sand, which is then combined with added pigment to give it its color. Because of this, grout can come in about any color.

What Grout Colors are Available?

The most popular grout colors for tile are white, gray, black, brown and tan. In fact, if you go to your local tile or home improvement store, you will tend to see only these shades for sale.

But, you can certainly get bolder shades for your grout. Grout can be specially ordered in colors such as, red, green and blue.

What is the Best Color for Grout?

People frequently ask what the best color is for grout. The answer is, it depends on what you mean by “best”.

Some people want their grout to give a bold contrast to their tile. So they may want a very dark grout for their very light tile. Others may want a more muted, monochromatic look, where the tile and grout are close to the same shade.

For me, I tend to look for a grout that is not going to look dirty easily. This is the best color for grout for me. I hate scrubbing grout lines, and find that it is very difficult to keep white grout lines looking white.

In fact, I am a huge fan of painting stained grout with a sealer/paint when the tile is in great shape, but this grout needs a facelift.

What Color Grout Stays Clean?

If you’re looking for a grout color that stays clean, your best options are going to be tans and grays. Since these colors are basically the color of dirt, they don’t show dirt the same way other colors will.

White grout will yellow or become brown over time, especially if you have children or pets. Even black grout will show dirt and debris more than you would expect. Have you ever noticed how easily a black car interior looks dirty? Same thing with black grout.

But gray or tan grout tends to hold its color better over time because the stains blend in.

What Color Grout Hides Tiling Mistakes?

If you have laid your tile on your own, and you’re a little worried about how it turned out, you may want a grout color that is going to minimize the look of the tiling mistakes you have.

For example, when I laid the penny tile in my bathroom, I had done a lot of reading on how to lay it, and learned that it is super important to make sure each tile sheet is put in just the right place. You don’t want to have gaps that are too large or too small between the tiling sheets, as this will show the seams.

Going with a white grout would have been the safest option for minimizing the look of any imperfections in the tiling job, but since I have way too many children to have white grout in my house, I opted for a light gray.

A very dark grout on light tile is going to give a very bold look, which is gorgeous, but will also maximize the impact of any spots where the tiles aren’t placed perfectly.

So, sometimes a grout color that is similar to the tile color you have is going to be the best color for your grout.

An Important Note about Grout Colors

One thing that I should mention before we go any further, is that grout colors tend to look darker on the bag or color chart than they do once dried.

So, remember this when choosing a grout color, especially if you are DIYing the job. When grout is exposed to more water than it should, either by adding more water during the mixing phase, or by using too much water to remove the excess grout, it will lighten the shade of the grout.

Recently, I grouted my newly laid white penny tile with a light gray grout. I wanted the grout and the tile to blend well, but didn’t want to go with a white grout because I hate dirty looking grout.

So I went with a light gray grout, hoping that it would provide some contrast and hide stains best.

When the grout dried, it was very, very light. Like, one shade off of white, light. After scrubbing the grout haze off and applying sealer, it ended up at a good place, but it is definitely lighter than the color on the bag was.

So, if you want a medium-depth grout, maybe go one shade darker than you actually want.

Grout Colors for White Tile

White tile can work with a variety of different grout colors because it is so versatile.

Choosing a grout color for your white tile is going to depend on what sort of look you want in the space.

In this picture, you see white tiles with white grout, light gray grout, dark gray grout, brown grout and black grout.

As you can see, each gives the tile a very different look.

The white on white look is very clean and modern looking.

The light gray grout gives the white tile a more muted, soft look.

The dark gray grout still looks soft, but with a little more definition.

The warmth of brown grout balances out the coolness of the white tile.

And finally, the black grout gives a very modern farmhouse look to the white subway tile.

Grout Colors for White Subway Tile

Even though we just talked about grout colors for white tile, people frequently have specific questions about choosing a grout color for white subway tile.

White subway tile has become hugely popular in recent years, and is also a classic choice. It has been around forever and will be around forever.

The most common grout colors for white subway tile are white, gray and black.

White grout in white subway tile gives a clean, classic look. It looks fresh and sophisticated in either a kitchen or a bath. As you see in the picture though, the white grout can still look a bit gray due to the shadowing of being set a little inside the tile. White grout in white subway tile tends to go best in farmhouse, coastal, traditional, contemporary or modern style homes.

Gray grout in white subway tile looks soft and elegant. The gray grout gives the tile a bit of definition, but doesn’t make too bold of a statement. Gray grout in white subway tile tends to go best in farmhouse, coastal, traditional, or contemporary style homes.

Black grout in white subway tile presents a very stark contrast. The white tile tends to look even whiter and more crisp when paired with the dark black grout. This bold look tends to go well in farmhouse, contemporary and modern style homes.

Grout Colors for Gray Tile

Gray is a very popular color for tile right now. It is neutral and versatile. The most common grout colors for gray tile are white, varying shades of gray, and black.

As you can see in the picture above, pairing white grout with gray tile makes the tiles stand out due to the contrast.

Gray grout with gray tile tends to blend better, giving the space a monochromatic look.

And last, black grout with gray tile gives a room a masculine, edgy sort of look.

Grout Colors for Marble Tile

Marble tile is both classic and on-trend right now. It tends to give off an elegant, sophisticated look that is clean and bright.

Pairing grout colors with marble tile will make a bit impact in the way the marble tile looks.

For example, white grout with marble tile makes the marble tile look more like a classic marble slab. The grout lines blend in with the tile.

Black grout on the other hand provides a sharp contrast with the marble tile, giving it a more modern look.

Brown grout can be a popular choice for marble tile as well, as some marble has more brown tones than gray. This, again, sets the marble off but also complements it perfectly.

And last, gray or tan grout gives the same sort of distinction that black or brown grout does, but with a softer tone to it.

All of these options are beautiful, but will give the tile a different look.

Grout Colors for Black Tile

The most popular grout colors for black tile are white, gray and black. Again, these colors will give the black tile a different look.

White is the bold, sophisticated option for pairing with black tile, while black grout gives a masculine, edgy sort of look.

Gray grout with black tile looks more tone-on-tone, showing off the deepness of the black tile while will still playing into it.

Grout Colors for Beige Tile

Beige tile is a popular choice for traditional style, southwestern style and Spanish style homes. Most commonly, people pair their beige tile with beige grout, providing a muted look. But, it can also be paired with white or brown grout.

Grout Colors for Black and White Tile

If your tile is both black and white, the most common grout colors are going to be black and white as well. Either black or white grout will match well with the tile. As black and white tile tends to be a dramatic sort of look anyways, you can go one of two ways with your grout.

First, you can choose a grout color that matches the more prevalent color in the tile, giving a more matching look. Second, you can choose your grout color based on which color is less prevalent, and thus will add more drama to the tile look.

Tile and Grout Color Combinations

Since choosing a grout color can be difficult, and it is a decision that you have to stick with for a while, here are pictures of the most common tile and grout color combinations to help you decide which will go best in your home.

Some of the most common tile and grout color combinations are: