The Best Grout Color For Marble

Marble is a fantastic tile choice for a bathroom, backsplash or floor. But what’s the best grout color for marble?

No matter what your tiling with marble your gonna have to choose a grout. The best and most popular grout colors for marble by far are white, gray and black. But there’s a lot of nuance here. It’s not a one size fits all answer. There are quite a few variations of white and gray and lots of variables when it comes to the marble. Are you using Carrara, Calacatta, or some other type of white marble. You also have to take into consideration the style of the room and surrounding colors like the cabinets. Choosing the best grout color for your marble is a very important part of the design and needs to be considered carefully. Use the right color and that marble tile can really pop, choose wrong and the entire design can look dirty and unappealing.

Ahead we’ll discuss the best grout colors for marble tile in details along with some pro tips and pics.

What Grout Colors Look Best With Marble Tile

We use 4 main colors for all of our marble tile work and they all come from the manufacturer Polyblend.

Bright White. A very pure white that looks great with marble. if you want your backsplash or bathroom marble to stand out then bright white is a great way to do it. The brighter the white the more attention is attracts. However white is harder to keep clean which can be an issue in a shower.
Arctic White. A type of white that’s slightly darker than bright white. There’s some graying to it. Arctic white isn’t as stark as bright white but still draws plenty of attention. And it looks fantastic with marble.
Bleached Wood. This is a light gray that’s on the warm side. It works best when your marble has warm gray in it too.
Cape Gray. A medium gray that’s just a little on the cool side. We use it when we need a little more contrast.

As a general rule you should use white when you want to draw attention to the marble. Use gray when you want a softer look that’s not as bold.

Every manufacturer has their own grout color names. No matter which you use look for a bright white, a slightly grayer white, light gray and medium gray. These are what we’ve found to be the best grout colors for marble.

Get Grout Samples

Before we start looking at the best grout colors for marble it’s worth mentioning how specific you should be when choosing grout. This is a hard article to write because there’s so much variety in terms of marble and grout. Each brand uses there own mix for each color. One brands gray may be a little darker or a little light than another even if the names the same. You really need to get samples.

Every tile store we work with gives us a few samples of the tiles we like and grout. From there it’s simple. Mix the grout, install it on the sample and see what works best in your kitchen or bathroom. Real world samples is the best way to find the perfect grout color to go with your specific marble.

Another reason to get real samples is lighting. Light sources can make a big difference in terms of how the grout will look on your wall. How often have you seen something in the store that looked great but got it home and didn’t like it. Typically this is due to lighting and the surrounding colors. Always get or create exact real world samples of every material you use.

Bounced light is an important thing to consider and another reason to use real samples instead of photos. At the store, online or in a magazine the coloring around the marble will be different than in your home. Bounced light, shadows and reflections all effect how the grout will look.

All these tips are very macro. I can easily say white grout with Carrara looks great but there are other factors to consider that are very specific to your home.

Sanded Or Unsanded

Another factor to consider is whether or not your using sanded or unsanded grout. Unsanded is grittier and typically used for larger grout lines. Smaller lines, like a backsplash, usually use unsanded.

The difference is the texture. Unsanded grout is much smoother. Sanded grout has a sandy texture. The light catches all those little specs which makes unsanded look a tiny bit darker. It’s not a huge difference but it’s noticeable. When you look at a photo or create samples make sure you use the correct grout type.

As a general rule we use unsanded grout as much as possible. it’s a sleeker look. But it’s not always an option. if your marble is on the floor then you’ll need sanded grout. Sanded is stronger which is why it’s used for larger grout lines. Unsanded is much weaker grout but is smoother with a brighter color.

If your looking for the best grout color for your marble take into consideration the type of marble, where it’s being installed and the width of the grout lines. Once you know the type of grout you need choose samples of the proper type for consideration.

White marble tile kitchen backsplash with unsanded bright white grout.

Marble Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash With White Grout

A subway tile backsplash in the kitchen is super popular at the moment. Every designer seems to be either using marble or white subway style and it’s typically finished with a bright white unsanded grout. Especially if you’ve also got white cabinets and a light colored counter.

The color of your marble matters too. The marble here has a lot of bright white in it which compliments the grout. White subway tile backsplashes with white grout seem to be everywhere at the moment and this is a play on that look. You get the white tiles with the white grout but also get a natural stone and some additional detail. Marble is also a richer look than white porcelain and a lot softer because it’s not as shiny.

Look at how bright and clean those grout lines are. You can get close with sanded grout but unsanded is brighter. if this is the look your going for then I recommend using it. It’s one of the best grout colors for marble and very in style.

Why Use White Grout With Marble

What’s great about using a bright white grout with marble is how timeless and clean the design is. It’s been around for a generation and won’t be going out of style any time soon. Most people want a light and bright kitchen and everyone these days seems to love marble. It’s just one of the those combinations you really can’t mess up or go wrong with.

It’s also super versatile. Just about any cabinet color, paint, hardware and flooring goes with it.

Marble tile shower with sanded white grout.

Sanded White Grout With Marble In The Shower

In the shower I like to use sanded white grout with marble because it’s tougher. Sanded grout is a lot stronger than unsanded so it can stand up to the constant soaking.

If you compare this picture to the previous example you can see how much darker sanded grout is. Even though it’s still white it’s not as bright. You can use unsanded in a bathroom like this because the grout lines are so thin but I like the added durability in a shower. Especially since you have to clean the marble so often to avoid mold and mildew growth.

With this color marble white is the best grout color. Even though it’s not as bright as unsanded it’s still more than enough to create contrast. The white grout creates a nice separation between the tiles.

Bathroom feature wall with marble tile and bright white unsanded grout.

Bright White Grout With Marble Feature Wall

Bright white grout and marble creates a beautiful feature wall. With a hexagon pattern like this I recommend using an unsanded bright white grout. Especially if your countertop is also bright white like the marble quartz example. The grout is a nice match for the counter color and creates a fantastic contrast between the tiles.

Choosing the best grout colors for marble isn’t all about the marble. it’s also about what else is in the room. In this bathroom we’ve got a black vanity, gold faucet, silver hardware and bronze lights. That’s a mix of just about every metal on the market and lot’s of pigment. The last thing you want to do in a bathroom like this is to use a dark grout.

The idea of this marble feature wall is to create a backdrop for all that color. White grout is a fantastic choice.

Beautiful luxury kitchen with a hexagon marble tile backsplash and light gray grout.

Light Gray Grout With Hexagon Marble Tiles

Light gray is another top grout color to use with marble because it naturally works with the color scheme. It’s a harmonious grout color that’s meant to blend in with the marble and gives the backsplash a softer appearance. White is a brighter color that really pops out at you. With gray the grout lines sit back and blend in more with the marble. Because of this effect the other colors around the marble stand out more and the backsplash appears more like a solid.

Check out the kitchen shown above. By using gray that backsplash looks almost like a solid slab. If it were white the lines would stand out so much more. You’d clearly see every small hexagon tile. Gray blends the shapes together much more.

Why Use Light Gray With Marble

Light gray is a fantastic grout color to use with marble tile. It’s one of the most popular and in style colors so you really can’t go wrong by using it. Gray in general is being used just about everywhere inside and outside the home not only because of how good it looks but also due to it’s versatility.Other colors are very easy to work into a gray and white color scheme with marble. If your someone who likes to add color through artwork, plants or a two tone cabinet then using gray grout with your marble is a good choice.

It’s a harmonious choice that blends rather than stands out. If you want the beauty of a marble backsplash but want it to sit back in the design then light gray is a good choice. It’s also much easier to keep clean than white. Even the tiniest discoloration will show on white grout but gray is much more forgiving.

Beautiful country style kitchen with marble oven backsplash and light gray grout.

Light Gray Oven Backsplash Grout With Marble

Check out this beautiful marble oven backsplash. Notice how softer it looks when compared to a marble backsplash using white grout. It’s really a decision you’ll have to make early on that has nothing to do with the grout color or marble. Do you want the marble to pop out at you or sit back. See how the light gray blends with the gray inside the marble. When the value range is this close the tile becomes flatter. It almost appears like a solid slab.

This is something you need to think about very early on. Light grout or dark grout stands out while medium tones blend in.

Gray kitchen using marble tile backsplash and countertop, soft gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances and light gray grout.

Gray Kitchen With Marble Tile & Light Gray Grout

Gray kitchens are the perfect place to use a soft gray grout with marble. You have to choose your marble carefully though. Some marble tiles are more white, some more gray and others are a mix. The tiles used on this backsplash are a mix. About half are all white and half all gray. And then you’ve got the gray cabinets and marble countertops. By using a soft gray grout the entire room becomes connected to the grout. it’s almost a seamless transition from surface to surface. As your eyes move around the room every element feels connected.

When you use contrast the point is to highlight certain features. You want things to stand out with a white or black grout. Light gray doesn’t do that. It’s about blending different components together. The result is a much more unified design.

Elegant white and gray kitchen with marble tile backsplash, marble countertops, white cabinets and medium gray grout.

White & Gray Kitchen With Medium Gray Grout

Another great grout color to use with marble tile is medium gray. It’s not a huge difference from light gray grout but adds just a bit more contrast. If you like the idea of a softer look and don’t want your backsplash to pop out but want a little bit more contrast then go a little darker. The marble will still be harmonious and you’ll still get that elegant quality that you want from marble. But you’ll also get a little more definition.

Pro Tip: The darker you go with gray grout the more attention you draw to the marble.

Beautiful luxury kitchen with marble countertops and backsplash with medium gray grout.

Marble Tile Inlay With Medium Gray Grout

If your installing an inlay with your marble tile backsplash then you’ll probably want a little more attention drawn to the marble. Going a little darker with the gray is a great way to do it. You don’t have to go as stark as bright white or black to draw the eye. Just a little bit of contrast can go a long way. I love a subtle design instead of colors that are in your face and loud. It’s harder to pull off but definitely worth it when you do.

Conclusion: The Best Grout Color For Marble

Marble is a fantastic tile choice for a bathroom, backsplash or floor. But what’s the best grout color for marble?

I hope the information and pictures help you design a fantastic kitchen or bathroom. If you have any questions or comments e-mail us any time. We’d love to hear from you.