Daltile Finish Line

A 4x12 subway tile covers the same wall with roughly half the grout lines of a 3x6. That matters more than it sounds: grout is what you clean, and it is what dates a backsplash first. The 4x16 takes that further again.

Each size has a matching side bullnose — a 6" piece for the 3x6, a 12" for the 4x12, a 16" for the 4x16.

Glossy or Matte

This is the decision most people land on this page to make.

Glossy reflects light, which opens up a small bathroom or a backsplash sitting under cabinets. The trade-off is that it shows water spots and fingerprints, so it works better on a backsplash than on a shower wall in a hard-water area.

Matte has no reflection, which reads calmer across a large wall and hides water marks. It is only made in the 4x12. If you want a matte subway tile from this series, that is the size, there is no matte 3x6 or 4x16.

Matching bullnose for every size

Most subway tile is sold as a field tile and nothing else. You are then left capping the end of a backsplash or the edge of a shower wall with metal trim or a Schluter profile in a different material, which rarely looks like it was planned.

Finish Line has a glazed bullnose in the same body and glaze for each field size, so the finished edge is the same tile, turned.

Count your exposed edges before you order. A typical kitchen backsplash needs bullnose at both ends of the run and around any window return. A shower needs it on the curb and on the outside corner where the wall meets the room.

Colors and SKU codes

White is available in every size. Fawn, a soft light brown, is offered in the 4x12 glossy only.

If you are matching an existing installation, the Daltile color codes are FL90 for White and FL92 for Fawn. Those codes appear on the carton and on Daltile’s spec sheets, quote them when you order and there is no ambiguity about shade.

What to check before you order

• This is a wall tile. It is rated Wall and Countertop, not floor. Do not specify it for a floor, including a shower floor.
• Match the finish across sizes. If you are combining the 4x12 with a 3x6 or 4x16 in the same room, only the glossy will match. The other sizes have no matte option.
• Fawn is 4x12 glossy only. If Fawn is the color, that is the size and the finish.
• Order the bullnose with the field tile. Trim is sold by the piece and can run out of a dye lot independently of the field tile.
• Order about 10% extra, more for herringbone or a diagonal layout, and keep a few spares from the same lot for repairs.
• Order a sample. White glazed ceramic varies more between brands than people expect, warm white, cool white, and the depth of the glaze all read differently against cabinets and countertops.

FAQs

Q) Is Finish Line a subway tile?

A) Yes. The 3x6 is the classic subway proportion, and the 4x12 and 4x16 are longer modern formats. See our full subway tile range for other options.

Q) Can I use Finish Line on a shower wall?

A) Yes, it is rated for wall use. Use the matching bullnose to finish the exposed vertical edge at the entry. The shower floor needs a floor-rated tile or mosaic instead.

Q) What is the difference between FL90 and FL92?

A) They are Daltile’s color codes. FL90 is White, FL92 is Fawn. Quote the code if you are matching an existing installation.

Q) Is there a matte 3x6 or 4x16?

A) Matte is offered in the 4x12. Contact our team to check current availability in other sizes.

Q) Do I need bullnose, or will metal trim do?

A) Either works structurally. A matching bullnose keeps the edge in the same material and glaze; metal trim introduces a second material and a different line. Our guide to tile trims and edge profiles walks through the difference.

Related collections

Subway tile · Backsplash tile · Ceramic wall tiles · Glossy tile · Matte tile