Kit Kat tiles are fast emerging as one of the top tile trends in recent times.
With their slim, finger-shaped profile, Kit Kat tiles add instant texture and visual rhythm to any surface without overwhelming a space. The uniform stacked layout creates a clean, ordered aesthetic that photographs exceptionally well, which has undoubtedly fuelled their popularity through interior design platforms and social media.
Practical as well as stylish, the mesh-backed format makes installation straightforward, and the narrow grout lines give a sleek and contemporary finish.
At Parkside, we stock various tile ranges that reflect the Kit Kat style. In this post, we’re here to explain more about Kit Kat tiles and provide you with some visual inspiration for your next tiling project.
Kit Kat Tiles: An Overview
Kit Kat tiles are slim rectangular tiles that are installed in distinctive laying patterns. The ‘Kit Kat’ name comes from the visual resemblance to the chocolate bar's individual fingers. For this reason, you’ll often find this style referred to as finger mosaic tiles. However, it’s good to note that the Kit Kat or ‘Kit’ terms are purely stylistic, rather than an official industry classification.
Kit Kat tiles are defined as small, rectangular tiles arranged in a distinctive pattern. Usually, they are installed in a uniform stacked (straight joint) pattern, all running in the same direction, either horizontally or vertically. The vertical orientation, in particular, is extremely popular within contemporary tiling projects.
One of the reasons why Kit Kat tiles are being increasingly chosen for tiling projects is due to their extreme versatility. That’s because Kit Kat tiles can work just as well as a full wall covering, just as they can as a smaller design feature within the room.
Alternative names for Kit Kat style tiles:
- Bar tiles
- Column mosaic tile
- Finger mosaic tiles
- Finger tiles
- Linear mosaic tiles
- Stacked mosaic tiles
- Stave tiles
- Strip mosaic tiles
Kit Kat (Mosaic Tiles) Origins
The origins of finger shaped tiles are a blend of historical tile making traditions and modern design trends. Roman and Byzantine mosaic traditions used small, elongated tesserae in similar proportions, laid in uniform rows. Much later on, mid-century Scandinavian and European design embraced finger-format tiles in bathrooms and kitchens as a clean, modernist alternative to large-format slabs.
The current revival of the ‘Kit Kat’ format as it's recognised today (thin, finger-shaped, mesh-mounted tiles) emerged as a distinct product category in the 2010s. Its resurgence was largely driven by Australian and Scandinavian interior design trends, as well as the rise of social media and design blogs, which popularised textured and tactile surfaces.
Mini Kit Kat Tiles
Mini Kit Kat tiles are simply a smaller format version of the standard Kit Kat tile. While standard Kit Kat tiles are typically around 23mm x 98mm, Mini Kit Kat tiles are generally in the region of 12mm x 48mm to 15mm x 60mm, which is roughly half the size. However, the dimensions vary by manufacturer and there's no fixed industry standard for the ‘mini’ designation, since as we've just touched on, 'Kit Kat' in itself is a colloquial term rather than a formal tile specification.
A smaller finger mosaic tile is often chosen for compact spaces where the standard Kit Kats can look oversized. With the smaller size there are also more grout lines. The increased number of joints adds finer texture and more visual detail. Likewise, the smaller format is more forgiving on curved walls and column wraps.
Kit Kat Tiles in Commercial Interiors
Finger mosaics are well suited to commercial interiors where a wall needs texture and detail without a busy pattern. Their small format follows curves and wraps around edges that larger tiles cannot, and porcelain ranges stand up to the cleaning regimes and heavy use found in hospitality, workplace and leisure settings. The applications below are where Kit Kat tiles are most often specified.
Hotel En-Suites and Spa Areas
Finger tiles give hotel bathrooms texture without relying on pattern, and the vertical lines add height to compact en-suites. In spa areas, matt or softly glazed porcelain fingers work well behind vanities and in shower enclosures.
Restaurant and Bar Fronts
The small format wraps around curved bar fronts and counter edges that larger tiles cannot follow. Gloss glazes catch low-level lighting and give the bar a focal point within the room.
Commercial Washrooms
Kit Kat tiles can lift washroom interiors above standard specification, particularly in hospitality and workplace settings. Pair them with epoxy grout and run them to full height behind basins and urinals, where splash resistance matters most.
Reception Desks and Feature Columns
Wrapped columns and reception desk fronts are where finger mosaics are most effective, since the tile follows the form without visible cuts. Specifying a contrasting colour against the surrounding walls helps define the feature.
How To Lay Kit Kat Tiles
The most popular way to lay Kit Kat Tiles is in a uniform stacked (straight joint) pattern, meaning all of the tiles run in the same direction. This can involve laying the tiles horizontally or vertically.
Kit Kat Tile Design Ideas
Slim profile tiles can now be found in many formats, including those not necessarily marketed as ‘Kit Kat’ tiles. That’s because using slim tiles is a contemporary way to add visual interest to walls as well as standalone features, especially within hospitality environments.
Bathroom Shower Surround
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Hospitality Bar Areas
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Reception Or Hallway Wall Tiles
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Wood Effect Bathroom Decor
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3D Tile For Statement Room Features
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Materials and Finishes for Commercial Interiors
Porcelain is the most common body for commercial Kit Kat tiles, offering low water absorption and good resistance to staining and impact. Glazed ceramic gives a wider choice of handmade-style colours and crackle effects but is generally limited to internal walls. Glass fingers add depth and light reflectance, though they need a white adhesive to avoid shadowing through the tile.
Finish has a strong effect on how the wall reads. Gloss glazes pick up light along each finger and emphasise the vertical rhythm, which works well in bars and hospitality spaces with low, warm lighting. Matt finishes give a calmer, more architectural surface and hide fingerprints and splashes more effectively in high-contact areas.
Setting Out and Installing Kit Kat Tiles
Small-format mosaics show every imperfection in the substrate, so the wall should be flat to within 3mm under a 2m straightedge in line with BS 5385-1. Any deviation shows as a ripple across the fingers, particularly with gloss finishes under raking light.
Use a C2-classified cementitious adhesive to BS EN 12004 for porcelain fingers, with a notched trowel sized to give full coverage without adhesive squeezing up through the joints. Bed each sheet with a flat float to embed it evenly.
The most common mistake is inconsistent joints between sheets. The joint between two sheets should match the joints within each sheet, otherwise the sheet grid becomes visible across the wall. Dry-laying a section before fixing helps confirm spacing and alignment.
Kit Kat tiles are usually laid in a straight stack, either vertically or horizontally. For other layouts and how they affect the read of a wall, see our tile laying patterns guide.
Where fingers need cutting at edges, cut through the mesh to separate whole fingers wherever possible and only cut individual fingers along their length when necessary. On curved surfaces, the mesh can be scored between fingers so the sheet follows the radius without stressing the tiles.
Grout and Maintenance
The joint density of Kit Kat tiles is their main practical drawback. A finger mosaic has several times the grout area of a large-format tile, and in commercial wet areas that grout is what determines how the wall looks after a few years in use.
For washrooms, showers and food service areas, an epoxy grout is the more durable choice. It resists staining, chemical cleaning agents and water penetration far better than cementitious grout. Where a cementitious grout is used, specify a CG2WA product to BS EN 13888 for improved water absorption and abrasion performance.
Grout colour changes the character of the wall. A matching grout lets the fingers read as a continuous textured surface, while a contrasting grout emphasises each tile and makes the grid the dominant feature.
Routine cleaning with a neutral pH cleaner is sufficient for glazed porcelain. Avoid abrasive pads on gloss finishes and acidic cleaners on cementitious grout.
Can Kit Kat Tiles Be Used on Floors?
Some Kit Kat ranges are suitable for floors, but many are rated for wall use only, including several of the finger mosaic ranges Parkside supplies. Always check the product specification before specifying for a floor.
Where a range is floor-rated, the high joint density can help wet slip resistance, which is why small-format mosaics are often used in shower floors and barefoot wet areas. The PTV of the specific tile and finish still needs confirming, as gloss glazes can perform poorly when wet. Our PTV-rated tiles show tested slip values for each finish.
Kit Kat Tiles FAQs
Are Kit Kat tiles still popular?
Yes. Kit Kat tiles have moved from a short-term trend to an established format in commercial interiors, particularly in hospitality, where texture and curved surfaces are central to the design. Recent ranges have broadened the choice of finishes, from handmade-effect glazes to matt porcelain, which has kept the format relevant.
What is the difference between Kit Kat tiles and finger mosaic tiles?
There is no technical difference. “Kit Kat” is an informal trade name for finger mosaic tiles, taken from the resemblance of the stacked fingers to the chocolate bar. Manufacturers also sell them as stick mosaics, finger tiles or linear mosaics.
Can Kit Kat tiles be used on curved walls
Yes. Their narrow width and mesh backing let them follow curves that larger tiles cannot. Tight radii suit mini formats, while standard widths work on larger columns and gently curved walls.
Specifying Kit Kat Tiles For Your Project
Parkside supplies tiles to architects and designers across the UK, including wall and floor tiles which embody the Kit Kat style.
On our website, you’ll find all of our tiles for commercial projects, including details of how to order sample tiles.
For any help or advice, please contact us or give us a call on 0116 276 2532.
We also invite you to visit us in person at any of our studios located in Glasgow, Leicester, London and Manchester.
