Choosing tile for a flooring, tile, and stone project usually comes down to format and coverage before anything else. Both are ceramic tiles, but they sit at opposite ends of the format and color spectrum. In this head-to-head, the more expensive option is a four-piece Laufen ceramic tile set with a brown slate-inspired look and textured finish for USD 38.50. The lower-priced option is a box of Daltile orange ceramic subway tiles for USD 19.99. Roughly $18.50 separates the two, but the right choice depends on the size of the surface, the color you want, and how many tiles you actually need.
Quick verdict
Choose the Laufen set when you want a larger, brown, slate-inspired tile and only need a few pieces. Choose the Daltile box when you want many tiles and are drawn to a bright orange retro look.
At a glance
| Tile | Price | What you get | Finish & color | Origin | Condition | Price bar |
| Laufen 12x12 African Slate | USD 38.50 | 4 pieces, 12x12 | Matte brown | United States | Open box | |
| Daltile Matte Orange 4x4 | USD 19.99 | 50 tiles, 6 ft² | Matte orange | Mexico | New | |
Where each tile wins
- Format and scale: Laufen's square tiles offer a larger footprint, while Daltile's small square format gives you many tiles in one box.
- Color and style: Laufen's brown finish is paired with a textured surface; Daltile's orange finish has a vintage/retro feel.
- Practical details: Daltile lists straight edges, self-spacing lugs, a break strength over 175 lbs, and a DCOF rating of at least 0.42.
Product notes
Laufen 12x12 African Slate Ceramic Tile
The Laufen set is a compact buy: four 12x12 tiles with a brown finish and an African Slate design. Some areas show a textured surface, so the face is not perfectly flat or uniform. That texture gives it a more natural slate-like feel, and the larger format keeps grout lines farther apart than a smaller tile would. The open-box condition is the main trade-off for this four-piece set. It is made in the United States, weighs about 3 lb per tile, and is 0.25 inch thick. If your project is a kitchen, hallway, or utility room where a handful of larger brown squares will finish the job, this is a strong candidate.
Daltile Matte Orange 4x4 Ceramic Subway Tile
Daltile's box gives you 50 matte orange 4x4 ceramic tiles and 6 ft² of coverage. The straight edge and self-spacing lugs are practical details for keeping small tiles aligned in a layout. Daltile also lists a break strength over 175 lbs and a DCOF rating of at least 0.42, useful numbers for a tile that may be installed on a floor. The tile name and manufacturer are identified, which can help if you are matching an original restoration. The obvious limit is the bold orange color and the small size: 6 ft² will cover a relatively small area, so a full room will require several boxes, and the bright finish will be a dominant visual element. Choose it when you want many tiles for the money and the orange vintage/retro look fits the space.
Final choice by use case
For a kitchen, hallway, or utility room needing a few larger brown slate-look tiles, the Laufen set is the pick. For a small surface or a project that needs many tiles at the lower listed price, the Daltile box is the pick. If the goal is to match existing tile for an original restoration, the Daltile set is easier to work with because it names the manufacturer and tile.
