Our top pick, the Barwalt Ultra Grouting System, includes the supplies you need and helps make the job faster and easier. Here are the best grouting tools for any project. The best way to start building your grouting arsenal is with a whole grouting kit that provides everything you need to get going. These kits will often come with an assortment of floats, containers, bags, and pads necessary to contain and spread the grout evenly onto the work surface. The Barwalt Ultra Grouting System takes the top spot since it is a reliable and affordable kit for beginners and advanced users alike. According to the company, this system can cut down your work time by as much as 50 percent; that’s a lot of time you could be spending doing something else. The kit starts with two center handle grout floats that include cushioned grips and sponge bases. The sponges have slits to hold lots of grout, and are replaceable so you can switch them out for new ones after heavy use. The bucket contains a bottom grid and three rollers at the top, making it a breeze to wet and rinse your sponges without much mess or bother. The large basin also simplifies cleanup once you are done with your project. Price at time of publish: $124 This float promotes the maximum level of comfort with a contoured plastic grip positioned for equal weight distribution. The pad has a gum rubber float bed that makes it easy to push and level grout around into the tile joints with minimal effort. The float bed also has both straight and beveled edges so you can shape the grout lines as you work. The float measures 9 inches by 4 inches. Price at time of publish: $15 The 6-inch x 2-inch float bed is large enough to move a lot of grout at once while retaining fine control over the direction and flow of the grout. The bed is beveled around the edges so you can reach under toe kicks or into deep tile joints without damaging the surrounding areas. For comfort on long jobs, the single handle grip is ergonomically contoured to place your hand in a comfortable position. Price at time of publish: $7 The MARSHALLTOWN grout bag has a large, seamless vinyl surface with a 3/8-inch metal tip on the bottom. Using the bag is easy: pour grout into the bag, then squeeze down to push a narrow stream of grout through the nozzle. The durable vinyl material will make the bag last for several projects, and can even handle mortar as well. The bag is 24 inches long and 12 inches at the widest part. Price at time of publish: $10 The handheld saw is small enough to keep close to you while working. Unlike power tool attachment removers, the saw doesn’t require any electricity to work. The single serrated, carbide blade chips away at dry grout with each back-and-forth swipe of the tool. Once the edge dulls, you can buy replacement blades to extend the life of the tool as well. The handle has two edges ergonomically designed to fit the shape of your hand for extra comfort. Price at time of publish: $13 The tube holds 5.5 ounces, which is enough grout for quick touch-ups and fixes when you don’t want to make a whole new batch of grout. Just squeeze and push the grout out through the narrow nozzle. The exterior resists cracking and shrinking and is moisture/mildew resistant. When sealed, you can keep the tube stored for a long period of time if you want something you can grab easily during your next grout-related emergency. Price at time of publish: $6 Coming in a pack of six, you’ll have enough sponges for both walls and floors. The hydrophiliate surface of the sponge attracts water, promoting more water retention each time you clean the sponge. The extra-large size of the sponge—it measures 7.5 by 5.5 by 2 inches—means you can also use it on other cleanup tasks such as washing a car or boat. Price at time of publish: $11 Use a regular mortar float and sponge to apply the grout; it dries within 24 hours, resists stains, and does not require sealer. You can use this grout on ceramic, mosaic, quarry, porcelain, stone tile, marble and granite tiles. The quart-size container covers up to 157 feet, but the product is also sold in gallon containers if you are tackling a larger job. Price at time of publish: $16 The grout spreader is made of somewhat flexible rubber with just enough give to push grout without giving way. The handle is wood for a secure grip. The tool is 8 inches long, so you can cover a fair amount of tile quickly. Price at time of publish: $7 Grout floats typically have a rubber base and a plastic handle. The technique is simple, but requires a bit of practice to perfect; you use the grout float to pick up a bit of grout, and then hold the float at a 45-degree angle while using the tool to work the grout into the cracks between the tiles. There are floats specifically designed for grouting floors and for grouting walls. Floor floats are stiffer, allowing for more forceful pressure when working the grout into the spaces between tiles, but many people prefer to use a wall grout float for any grouting task, as the softer rubber makes it a little easier to spread grout evenly. The most common size of groat float is around 4 inches by 9 inches, but there are some that are a little larger, and some that are thin and designed for reaching into tight spots. Grouting sponges have rounded edges that won’t dig out the freshly applied grout. You’ll use the dampened grout sponge to wipe away excess grout residue off the tile once you finish working it into the cracks. Some sponges can also have an abrasive side to help scrub away grout that may have started to harden. Grouting bags are ideal for quick, precise grout installation, though you are unlikely to do a big grouting job with just a grout bag. However, these tools are very handy for grouting a small area, such as when you are replacing damaged grout between a few tiles. Thanks to their tips, grout bags allow for very precise application, unlike grout floats, which smear grout over everything and then require you to remove excess grout with a sponge.
Size
When it comes to grouting tools, size is an important factor to keep in mind because if a grouting tool isn’t the correct size it may lead to inefficiencies on big jobs or could prevent you from working in tight spaces. Grout floats should be larger for big jobs and smaller if you will need to work in narrow spaces or tight corners. Consider using narrow, slightly pointed tools designed to reach into corners or tight spaces for more precise jobs, but it’s also a good idea to have several grout floats available to tackle various areas of the tiled surface. Grout sponges are intended for wiping off excess grout, so when it comes to size, choose a big sponge if you need to worry about cleaning up a large tiled area or opt for a small sponge to reach narrow nooks, crannies, and tight corners. Grouting bags are available in a range of sizes and you can even find both reusable and disposable products. Reusable products are an excellent option for controlling the amount of grout you use because you choose how much grout gets added to the bag. However, if you don’t want to worry about measuring, just opt for a disposable, pre-packaged product.
Handle
Control is key for any type of DIY project, which is why it’s necessary to consider the type of handle and whether it has any padding to improve user comfort or a textured grip for enhanced control. Grout floats can have enclosed, rounded handles in the center of the float or they may have long, open handles that attach to the center or one side of the grout float and extend out from this point. Both styles are suitable options, though grout floats with open handles are easier to use in tight spaces, while enclosed handles offer improved control. Grouting sponges don’t often come with handles, though some sponges can be attached to a sponge trowel, giving the user the ability to control the sponge with an enclosed or open handle. This enhances user control and also makes it possible to exert greater force against the sponge without losing as much water due to the trowel backing. Grout bags don’t have traditional handles. Instead, the user must grip the tip to control where the grout will be applied. They also need to hold the bag in order to push the grout out through the tip at a controlled rate, similar to a frosting bag. Look for grout bags with textured exteriors and tips to help improve user control or choose a disposable product that comes in a ready-to-use tube.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. While grouting isn’t difficult, it does require some practice to gain skill at applying it, and it’s admittedly a somewhat tedious task. Here are the basics you’ll need to know: Both sanded and unsanded grout have a cement base. Sanded grout, as the name suggests, has gritty sand added to the cement, while unsanded grout has a smoother, finer texture. As a general rule, you should use unsanded grout for very thin grout lines that are under 1/8-inch thick. Use sanded grout for thicker grout lines. However, if you are grouting around glass tiles, use only unsanded grout. Unsanded grout is also the better choice for use on tiled walls, as it is less likely to slump while setting. Epoxy-based grout is far more durable than cement-based grout, doesn’t stain as easily, and doesn’t require sealing. However, it’s not nearly as easy to work with, so unless you have quite a bit of experience in working with tile and grout, it’s best to leave epoxy to the professionals. Eddie McFarlane, Strategic Advisor for Provider Experience at HomeX, adds, “You’ll want to decide on a layout before you get started. We recommend testing the layout in your space beforehand to make sure it’s exactly what you want by first laying the tile pieces in place without mortar or grout. Make sure you have the right tools on hand: a tile cutter, a rubber mallet, tile spacers, a level, a tile trowel, and mortar. Above all, take the extra little time to clean your tools after use. A dry piece of mortar coming loose and getting on your fresh floor can be very annoying.” For this roundup, Michelle considered a wide range of grouting tools, evaluating each for basic features, performance, and customer feedback. She also received advice from Thomas Hawkins, who is a handyman, master electrician, and owner of Electrician Apprentice HQ, as well as Eddie McFarlane, Strategic Advisor for Provider Experience at HomeX. Timothy Dale, a seasoned home improvement expert who specializes in plumbing, construction, and product recommendations (among other topics) conducted additional research for this article.
