4-1/4" and some larger wall tiles have bumps cast in that act as spacers. Unless you want a larger gap, no additional spacers are needed.
Whether your particular tile has them is uncertain. They're often necessary to prevent sagging with heavier tile while the mortar or mastic sets.
Answer from isherwood on Stack ExchangeCletile
cletile.com › blogs › cle-education › tile-spacing-guide
your guide to optimal tile spacing for every project
April 24, 2024 - a guide to help you choose), giving them a distinctive, artisanal look—but also requiring extra care to get the tile joint right during installation. because of their irregular tile edge, these surfaces usually need a wider tile seam (often 1/4 inch or more) to accommodate tile variation and ensure a visually balanced layout. using tile spacers may not always be effective; instead, installers often adjust spacing and tile alignment by eye to maintain a consistent overall rhythm.
Tiling with no spacers? Contractor says it’s not necessary. Am I missing something? Lines definitely don’t look straight.
Your guy is not right. Hasn't heard of gravity I suppose. More on reddit.com
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October 23, 2021Subway tile install without spacers
ooof so the lines aren’t angled, each tile is angled individually. That’s unacceptable craftsmanship to me. Is he paid out?
More on reddit.com 34
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April 16, 2018Installing porcelain tile without spacers?
You gonna find out in a year lol. I'd personally never do it myself. Procalin is very very dense so any movement/ grinding will affect the thinset rather than the tile. More on reddit.com
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September 13, 2023How Do People Tile Without Grout Lines or Spacers?
Wrong. Don’t try this. I do this everyday and without grout joints your tile will start to rack on you. They aren’t perfectly the same size so you’ll eventually start getting out of line. If you asked this question you obviously aren’t going to have the skills to combat lippage. It’s a mistake, save your time and money. Use 1/16 grout joint More on reddit.com
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October 15, 2023Videos
00:50
Don't Use Spacers... for Irregular tile #tile #tiler #construction ...
DON'T USE SPACERS! Well at least not when you're installing "Irregular" tile. I mean you can, but you'd have to use a combination of spacers & wedges to compensate for the irregular tile. It's much easier & faster to use a non sag thinset and space them out with a tile module, by hand. I set this entire shower without using any spacers. Inconsistently Consistent is the goal👍 Let me know how you like to install Irregular Tiles! #spacers #tile #tiler #protip #protips #diytips #tipsandtricks #construction #contractor #irregular #tradesecrets #tradesman #tiletok | TikTok
04:14
Why I Installed This Shower Without ANY Spacers & Versabond LITE ...
10:07
How to install a simple subway tile kitchen backsplash - YouTube
14:29
How to Install a Subway Tile Backsplash - YouTube
Fine Homebuilding
finehomebuilding.com › do subway tiles need to be spaced?
Do Subway Tiles Need to Be Spaced? - Fine Homebuilding
August 4, 2025 - It depends on the brand of tile and the look you want to achieve. Subway tile made by Dal-Tile or American Olean, for example, has a small built-in spacer that allows you to stack the tile without additional spacers.
TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › how-to-lay-tiles-flat-without-spacers
How to Lay Tiles Flat without Spacers
Good quality at good prices🌟 All creator-tested, shopper-approved, you’ll actually love · Celebrate Super Brand Day on TikTok Shop! Discover the biggest brands and their best deals of the year—exclusively on TikTok Shop · Beachwaver’s Super Brand Day is here from May 20–26, and ...
The DIY Playbook
thediyplaybook.com › home › diy index › 10 tips for installing subway tile
10 Tips To Install Subway Tile In Your Bathroom
August 17, 2023 - Yes. Most subway tile has grooves on the sides so you don’t need to use spacers at all because it’s an automatic 1/16″ grout line.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/home › tiling with no spacers? contractor says it’s not necessary. am i missing something? lines definitely don’t look straight.
r/Home on Reddit: Tiling with no spacers? Contractor says it’s not necessary. Am I missing something? Lines definitely don’t look straight.
October 23, 2021 - There are tiles that don't require spacers. Subway tiles have a thin flange built into them so that when they're installed without spacers they have a space between them for grout still. These tiles are not made that way.
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › 914910123318959 › posts › 1101798657963437
Do beveled edge subway tiles require spacers for ...
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Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 4007731 › tiling-with-no-spacing-between-tiles
Tiling with no spacing between tiles
July 5, 2016 - I asked him about this and he said this type of tile doesn't need spacers because the edges are beveled and when they butt up together, they create a 1/8 space that he then will grout over.
The Craftsman Blog
thecraftsmanblog.com › home › the ultimate guide to subway tile
The Ultimate Guide to Subway Tile - The Craftsman Blog
May 3, 2022 - You can choose whatever size grout joints you want, but if you want a tradtional look to your subway tile then the smaller the joint the better so I’d recommend nothing larger than a 1/16″ joint for a historically accurate subway tile installation. I have worked with some irregular shaped subway tiles that were handmade and tiles like that require a 1/8″ joint to accommodate the slight differences in their size. Some subway tile have spacers on the edges to give them the proper spacing and some require the use of plastic spacers until the mortar dries.
Quora
quora.com › Is-laying-flooring-tiles-without-spacers-possible
Is laying flooring tiles without spacers possible? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): The short answer is yes, tiles are more susceptible to breakage and popping when installed without the use of spacers. This is due to the thermal properties of tiles and how they are subject to expansion and contraction because ...
NIUYUAN Trims
niuyuantrims.com › need-spacers-for-subway-tiles
Do You Need Spacers For Subway Tiles - NIUYUAN
July 8, 2025 - Yes, spacers are highly recommended for subway tile. They help you get uniform grout lines. This is crucial for that sharp, classic subway tile appearance we all love. When I first started in this industry, I learned quickly that consistency is king. For subway tiles, this means consistent spacing. Without spacers, even slight variations can add up.
TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › subway-tile-backsplash-no-spacer
Subway Tile Backsplash No Spacer | TikTok
5 days ago - Modern #subwaytile includes built in #spacers You do NOT need extra spacers. Just stack and butt and go! ... Subway tile has built in spacing! Also don’t let adhesive till ur joints!
Modern Builds
modernbuilds.com › vertical-subway-tiles-how-to
VERTICAL SUBWAY TILE BACKSPLASH // HOW TO — Modern Builds
If you’re a quick at tiling it might be best to apply the tile adhesive directly onto the wall so that you can move faster when installing the tiles. We aren’t so quick, so we chose to “back butter” the tiles, which means we applied ...
Quora
quora.com › Do-you-need-spacers-for-subway-tiles
Do you need spacers for subway tiles? - Quora
Answer: If the tiles have spacers molded into their edges (you’ll see and feel two bumps on each edge of the tile), then no, you do not need spacers unless you want a wider grout line than the built-in spacers provide.
The Floor Elf
floorelf.com › what-are-lugged-tiles
What are Lugged Tiles?
March 6, 2014 - These are rectangular, the most common being 3 x 6 inches, and are stacked in a running bond or brick pattern. ... Lugged tiles are easier to install because they eliminate the need for spacers...
Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 2672345 › help-do-i-need-spacers-for-american-olean-3x6-subway-tiles
Help! Do I need spacers for American Olean 3x6 subway tiles?
We used the same tile for our kitchen backsplash. Please use the spacers (check to see what is recommended grout line and get spacers that size).
Green Tile
edwardmartin.com › home › information › information
What Is The Best Spacing For Subway Tiles?
August 1, 2024 - Maintaining consistent grout line width throughout your subway tile installation is crucial for achieving a professional and polished finish. Inconsistent grout lines can detract from the overall appearance of the tiled area. To ensure even spacing, use tile spacers during installation.
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › 914910123318959 › posts › 1145322466944389
Spacers vs no spacers on subway tile Pros and cons???
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-best-way-to-tile-fixing-with-a-spacer-or-without-a-spacer
What is the best way to tile fixing, with a spacer or without a spacer? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): I never use spacers , they are to big and leave too large a grout gap . This takes time and materials to fill in . Instead I use the cardboard from the flaps of the boxes they come in and is a about 2mm thick and enough to allow tile movement but minimal to get dirty from grime a...
NIUYUAN Trims
niuyuantrims.com › can-lay-floor-tile-without-spacers
Can You Lay Floor Tile Without Spacers - NIUYUAN
July 8, 2025 - Skipping them can lead to an unprofessional finish and maybe costly repairs later. Understand when spacers are totally needed for quality. Yes, for a professional, durable, and nice-looking floor tile installation, spacers are generally required.