Structure & Surface

Wild Rose Pink Subway Tile vs Laufen African Slate Tile: Which Flooring Tile Should You Buy?

A glossy single-piece pink retro tile or a four-pack of matte brown slate-look floor tiles? See how these two flooring tile stone options compare on price, coverage, finish, and best use.

Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Choosing between two very different flooring tile stone options can be tricky when one is a single 4.25-inch pink subway tile and the other is a four-pack of 12x12 brown slate-look tiles. The real question is whether you need an exact color accent for a small project or broader coverage for a floor. One costs $13.37; the other costs $38.50. The right pick depends on your project size, style, and finish preference.

Quick Verdict

The Wild Rose pink ceramic tile is the clear choice if you're restoring a Mid Century Modern bathroom or backsplash and need a glossy, straight-edge accent tile in a specific retro pink. The Laufen ceramic tile is the better buy when you need actual floor coverage: four 12x12 tiles with a matte, textured African Slate look for $38.50. Just remember you're comparing a single piece to a four-piece set, so think about square footage before you order.

Comparison Table

ProductPriceFormatFinishColor/DesignCondition
Pink Ceramic Tile 4.25 in Subway Square Wild RoseUSD 13.371 piece, 4.25 in squareGlossyPink / Wild RoseNew
Laufen Ceramic Tile African Slate 12x12 (4 Pieces)USD 38.504 pieces, 12 in x 12 inMatte, texturedBrown / African SlateOpen box

Where Each Tile Wins

  • Wild Rose pink tile wins for exact retro color matching and single-piece sampling. The glossy straight-edge subway format is a natural fit for accent walls, fireplace surrounds, or small mosaic patches where you don't need much area. It also carries waterproof and water-resistant features, which makes it a practical pick for damp spots.
  • Laufen African Slate tile wins for coverage per dollar and larger format. Four 12x12 tiles for $38.50 gives you far more square footage than one 4.25-inch tile for $13.37. The matte, textured finish and brown slate look suits kitchens, living rooms, hallways, and utility rooms where you want durability without a shiny surface.

Product Notes

Pink Ceramic Tile 4.25 in Subway Square Wild Rose Classic Color 243

Pink Ceramic Tile 4.25 in Subway Square Wild Rose Color 243 Mid Century Modern

This single-piece tile is a dream if you need to match a specific Mid Century Modern palette. The Wild Rose color is described as an exact match to Kohler's classic Wild Rose, so it slots easily into vintage bathroom renovations or a retro kitchen backsplash. The glossy finish and straight edge give it that clean, simple look from the mid-century era. It's made in Mexico and sold as a single piece, which makes it a great sample for checking color against your existing fixtures. However, that single-piece count is also the biggest limitation: a full installation will require ordering multiple pieces, and each piece costs $13.37. For a larger tiling job, the per-piece cost adds up quickly compared to buying a tile that covers more area.

Laufen Ceramic Tile African Slate Design (4 Pieces)

4 PIECES) 12" x 12" LAUFEN CERAMIC TILE, AFRICAN SLATE DESIGN/COLOR, USA MADE

This four-pack gives you a much bigger footprint in one purchase. Each tile is 12x12 inches, and the set costs $38.50. The brown African Slate design has a matte finish and a textured surface that appears in some areas of the tile, which helps create a natural, earthy look on floors. It's made in the USA and is lightweight enough for a floor tile at just 0.25 inches thick. The larger squares make it practical for kitchens, hallways, and laundry rooms where you want fewer grout lines and faster installation. The trade-off is condition: this set is sold as open box, so you may want to be comfortable with a less predictable arrival state than a sealed carton. The texture in some areas also means the surface is not perfectly smooth, which is worth keeping in mind if you prefer a uniform gloss.

Final Choice by Use Case

Choose the Wild Rose pink ceramic tile if your priority is a precise vintage color for a backsplash, accent wall, or small mosaic project. It's easy to order a piece or two to test the shade. Choose the Laufen African Slate tile if you're covering a larger floor area and want a matte, textured slate look with more square footage per purchase. The four-pack makes it the more practical flooring option for real-world coverage.

Products in this article
Pink Ceramic Tile 4.25 in Subway Square Wild Rose Color 243 Mid Century ModernUSD 13.37View on eBay4 PIECES) 12" x 12" LAUFEN CERAMIC TILEUSD 38.50View on eBay
Pink Ceramic Tile 4.25 in Subway Square Wild Rose Color 243 Mid Century ModernUSD 13.37View on eBay4 PIECES) 12" x 12" LAUFEN CERAMIC TILEUSD 38.50View on eBay

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