Marble vs Travertine Tile: Which Should You Choose?
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Marble and travertine are both natural stone, but they look, feel and age differently. This guide compares them so you can pick the right one for each room.
The short answer
- Choose marble for veining, bright whites and a refined look.
- Choose travertine for warm, earthy color and a relaxed, textured look.
- Both need sealing, and both can be etched by acids. Neither is a no-maintenance material.
How they look
Marble is known for veining: soft gray feathers in White Carrara, bold veins in Calacatta Gold, almost none in Thassos. It also comes in cream, brown and black, such as Crema Marfil and Dark Emperador.
Travertine is warmer and more textured, with bands of cream, tan, gold and brown, and natural pits that may be filled or left open. See Ivory, Brown Noce and Scabos.
Side by side
| Marble | Travertine | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Veined, cooler or white | Banded, warm, textured |
| Common colors | White, gray, black, cream, brown | Ivory, beige, gold, brown |
| Common finishes | Polished, honed, tumbled | Tumbled, honed, brushed |
| Sealing | Yes | Yes |
| Acid | Can etch | Can etch |
Which suits which room
- Kitchen backsplash: either works. See backsplash tile.
- Shower: either, with sealing and waterproofing. See shower tile.
- Bathroom floor: honed or tumbled travertine, or honed marble. See bathroom floor tile.
- Living areas and entries: tumbled or honed finishes hide wear better than polished.
Finish matters as much as stone
A honed marble can be a better floor than a polished one, and a tumbled travertine can be a better floor than a polished one. Read honed, polished and tumbled to see the difference.
Care is similar
Seal the tile, use pH-neutral cleaners, and avoid vinegar, lemon and bleach. See how to seal marble, how to clean marble floors and what is travertine tile.
Common questions
Is travertine cheaper than marble? It depends on the stone and format. Check the prices on each product page.
Which is more durable? Both are natural stone that can scratch and etch. Care and finish make the biggest difference.
Can I mix them? Yes. Many designs pair warm travertine with white or cream marble. Order samples to check how they sit together.
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