Where to Buy Retro Bathroom Tiles: 9 Trusted Sources Compared

Figuring out where to buy retro bathroom tiles is one of the trickiest parts of a vintage bathroom project. The big-box stores stock plenty of tile, but very little of it looks right for a 1920s hex floor or a 1950s pastel bath. Authentic patterns — penny rounds, 1-inch hexagons, basketweave, and 4×4 subway tile — live in a smaller world of specialty suppliers, salvage yards, and a few surprisingly good online shops.

I have compared nine sources below, covering the full spectrum from budget-friendly to historically exact. Each entry notes what it is best for, what to expect on price, and the one thing to watch out for.

1. Heritage Tile (heritagetile.com)

If you want historically accurate tile, this is the specialist. Heritage Tile reproduces American encaustic-style patterns and classic mosaics — penny rounds, hexagons, basketweave — in colours matched to period palettes.

Expect to pay a premium: mosaic sheets typically run several dollars per square foot above commodity tile. Best for: full restorations where accuracy matters more than budget. Watch out for: lead times on custom patterns, so order samples and confirm the schedule before your tiler is booked.

2. Fireclay Tile (fireclaytile.com)

Fireclay makes handmade-look ceramic tile in the USA, including the small-format squares and subway tiles that define mid-century bathrooms. Their colour range is enormous — including the dusty pinks, mint greens, and butter yellows that scream 1955 — and the handmade variation gives walls a soft, undulating surface that flat modern tile cannot imitate.

Pricing sits in the mid-to-high range. Best for: colourful mid-century wall tile with real depth. Watch out for: shade variation between batches, so order all your tile for one room at once, plus 10–15% overage.

3. Daltile

The workhorse option. Daltile’s catalogue includes 1-inch and 2-inch hexagon mosaics and classic 3×6 subway tile at prices that big-box stores can match. The colours are more limited — white, black, almond, a few greys — but for a black-and-white 1920s bathroom floor, that is all you need.

Best for: budget hex floors and classic white subway walls. Watch out for: the mosaics are mesh-mounted and the mesh can show through lighter grout; seal your grout choice on the sample board first.

4. American Olean

A sister brand to Daltile with a similar profile: widely available, affordable, and stocked in most tile showrooms. Their mosaic range covers penny rounds and hexagons in dependable, if unexciting, colours.

Best for: straightforward projects where you need tile this week, not in six weeks. Watch out for: limited period colours — if your heart is set on jade green, look elsewhere.

5. Clé Tile

Clé specialises in cement and zellige-style tile with a handmade character. Their cement tiles in vintage patterns are gorgeous on bathroom floors. Prices are firmly premium.

Best for: statement floors and feature walls with a handcrafted feel. Watch out for: cement tile needs sealing and is not the most forgiving choice for a high-traffic family bathroom — confirm maintenance with the manufacturer.

6. B&W Tile (B&W Tile Co.)

A smaller maker focused on period bathroom tile, including the small hexagons and subway tiles used in early-20th-century American bathrooms. Worth a look if you are matching existing tile in a restoration — their period colour matches are thoughtfully done.

Best for: restoration matching and small-format classics. Watch out for: smaller production runs mean stock can be intermittent; confirm availability before promising your contractor a start date.

7. Architectural Salvage Yards

For genuinely old tile — the thick, slightly irregular squares from demolished 1920s–40s bathrooms — nothing beats a salvage yard. You will find boxes of original field tile, borders, and occasionally enough of one pattern to floor a small bathroom. Prices are usually very reasonable, often under a dollar or two per square foot for field tile.

Best for: authentic patina and unbeatable prices. Watch out for: quantity. You need enough of one tile to finish the job plus breakage allowance, and matching a second batch later is nearly impossible. Buy 20% more than you think you need.

8. Etsy and eBay Sellers

Online marketplaces are surprisingly good for vintage tile, especially decorative accent tiles, borders, and small lots of period mosaics. Individual sellers list everything from 1930s bathroom borders to unused mid-century stock.

Best for: accent tiles, borders, and small quantities. Watch out for: condition grading is subjective — ask for close-up photos of every tile, and check the seller’s return policy before buying a full room’s worth.

9. Your Local Tile Showroom

Do not overlook the independent tile shop in your area. Many carry lines from smaller makers, can order period patterns you cannot find online, and — critically — will lend you full-size sample boards. Seeing a 12×12 sheet of penny rounds next to your actual paint colour beats any website photo.

Best for: seeing tile in person and getting installer recommendations. Watch out for: markups on special orders; get the manufacturer’s name and compare the price online before committing.

How Much Tile to Order

Whatever source you choose, order 10–15% more than your measured square footage for cuts and breakage, and 20% for diagonal layouts or salvage tile with mixed condition. Keep one full box after the job for future repairs — discontinued patterns are the reason so many vintage bathrooms end up with one odd replacement tile.

Sampling Before You Commit

Order samples from at least two or three sources before deciding. Live with the samples in the bathroom for a few days: look at them in morning light and evening light, next to your paint swatches, and with wet and dry surfaces. Tile that looks perfect online can read completely differently under your actual lighting — sample first and you will avoid the most common renovation regret.

Our Top Picks

• Heritage Tile penny rounds for the floor. The pattern accuracy is excellent, and a black-and-white penny round floor is the single fastest way to make a new bathroom feel like 1925.
• Fireclay Tile 4×4 squares for mid-century walls. The handmade variation and period colour range are unmatched if you are chasing that 1950s pastel look.
• Daltile 1-inch hexagons for a budget restoration. Widely available, affordable, and historically correct for 1910s–30s floors — proof that authenticity does not have to be expensive.

Closing Thoughts

The answer to where to buy retro bathroom tiles depends on what you value most: historical accuracy, colour, speed, or price. Start with samples, measure twice, order extra, and remember that the tile is the soul of a vintage bathroom — it is worth more of your research time than almost any other material in the room.