Kit Kat Tiles Australia: Sizes, Materials and Laying Patterns for Finger Tiles
31 August 2026 · Tile Touch
Kit kat tiles are slim, finger-shaped mosaic tiles supplied on mesh-backed sheets. They are also called finger tiles or finger mosaics, and they suit kitchen splashbacks, bathroom feature walls, powder rooms and the front of a bar or island. This guide covers what they are, the materials you will see, how sizes work and the main ways to lay them.
What are kit kat tiles?
The name comes from the shape: narrow rectangular strips that sit side by side, a bit like the fingers of a chocolate bar. Instead of laying each thin piece by hand, the tiles come pre-arranged on a mesh sheet, so you install a sheet at a time and the strips stay evenly spaced. Once grouted, the wall reads as rows of fine vertical or horizontal lines.
They are mostly a wall tile. The narrow format and the mesh backing make them easy to run up a splashback or wrap around a niche, and the many grout lines add grip and detail to a feature wall.
Flat or concave?
Some finger tiles are flat across the face. Others are concave, meaning each strip curves inward slightly so light catches the surface and gives the wall a gentle ripple. Our Gracemere Bone White Speckle Gloss Concave Kit Kat Finger Mosaic is an example of the concave type: a bone white tile with a speckle through the glaze and a gloss finish, so it picks up light along each curved strip. A gloss face like this bounces light around and helps a small room feel brighter.
Materials you will see
Finger tiles and their close mosaic cousins come in a few materials, and the finish changes the look as much as the colour does.
Glazed ceramic and porcelain
Most finger mosaics are glazed. A gloss glaze, like the Gracemere Bone White, reflects light and wipes clean easily, which is why it is popular behind cooktops and sinks. A matt glaze is softer and less reflective, which hides marks and fingerprints better.
Marble look
If you want the veining of stone without natural stone, a marble-look ceramic does the job. Our Hennessy Carrara Marble Look Cube Matt Ceramic Mosaic is a small-cube version of that idea, in a matt ceramic finish, and it shows how a glazed tile can carry a stone pattern while staying easy to clean.
How sizes work
Kit kat tiles are sold by the mesh sheet rather than as single strips, so the number you order is usually a count of sheets to cover your area in square metres. The individual strips are long and narrow; sheet layout keeps the spacing consistent so the grout lines run straight.
Because the exact strip length and sheet size differ between ranges, the most reliable way to check proportions is to order a sample and hold it on the wall. That way you can see the real colour, the width of each finger and how the grout gap will look before you commit to a full order. We keep samples available and ship Australia-wide, and you can also see the tiles in person at our Waterloo showroom in Sydney.
For comparison, small square mosaics give you a sense of the other end of the range. The Fairway Small Plain White Gloss Square Mosaic is 48 x 48 mm per piece, which is a compact, evenly gridded look rather than the long lines of a finger tile.
Laying patterns for finger tiles
The mesh backing does a lot of the alignment work, but you still choose the direction and the join. Here are the common options.
Vertical stack
Fingers run straight up and down, with the joins lining up in columns. This is the cleanest, most modern look and it draws the eye upward, which can make a splashback feel taller.
Horizontal stack
Turn the sheets on their side and the strips run across the wall. Horizontal lines widen a space visually and suit a long splashback or a low feature panel.
Herringbone and vertical offset
Some installers lay finger tiles in a herringbone or a brick-style offset for more movement. This uses more cuts and takes longer, so it is worth confirming with your tiler before you order, since it can change how much tile you need.
Grout choice changes everything
Finger tiles have a lot of grout lines, so the grout colour is part of the design. A matching grout, such as a soft white behind a white tile, lets the surface read as one calm field. A contrasting grout makes every strip stand out and turns the pattern into the main feature. On a gloss tile the contrast is stronger again, because the shine sits against the flat grout.
Other mosaic shapes to consider
If you like the mesh-sheet idea but want a different shape, there are a few directions to explore. Fishscale mosaics give a scalloped, overlapping look; we stock the Wellwood range in Water Green gloss, Jade Green, Black gloss and Gold. Hexagons are another option, from the Lucas Mini White Gloss through to the Lucas Large in White Matt and Black Matt. For rounded shapes there is the Vogue Gold Matt Penny Round, and for a simple squared grid the Anzac Gloss Ocean Blue Square Mosaic. All install as sheets in much the same way as finger tiles.
Frequently asked questions
Are kit kat tiles the same as finger tiles?
Yes. Kit kat, finger tile and finger mosaic all describe the same thing: narrow rectangular strips set on a mesh sheet. The kit kat name simply refers to the shape.
Can I use kit kat tiles in a shower?
They are widely used on bathroom and shower walls because the mesh format wraps around niches and the many grout lines add grip and detail. Confirm the specific tile and the waterproofing with your tiler for your particular wall, and always follow the installation guidance for the range you choose.
How do I work out how many sheets I need?
Measure the wall area in square metres, then order enough sheets to cover it plus a small allowance for cuts and offcuts. If you are using a herringbone or offset pattern, add a little extra, as those layouts create more waste.
Should I order a sample first?
Yes. Colour, finish and the width of each finger are easier to judge on the wall than on a screen. We have samples available and a Sydney showroom in Waterloo if you would rather see the tiles in person.