Stone Tile Lippage: Causes, Limits and How to Prevent It

Lippage is the difference in height between the edges of two neighboring tiles. For calibrated, smooth-finished natural stone, the accepted limit is 1/32 inch, and most lippage comes from an uneven substrate or setting method rather than from the stone itself. You prevent it with a flat floor, the right mortar technique, sensible joint widths, a finish that suits the light in the room, and a mock-up before you commit.

This guide is for homeowners, designers, contractors and installers working with marble, travertine and limestone. It covers how lippage is defined, what the standards allow, why it happens, how to avoid it, and what can be done when it is already in the floor.

TL;DR

• Lippage is the elevation difference between adjacent tile edges. Under industry guidance, calibrated smooth natural stone is held to 1/32 inch.
• Most lippage traces back to an uneven substrate or thin-set used to compensate for it. Large tiles make every flaw easier to see.
• Polished surfaces and raking light make small steps look worse. Textured finishes and wider joints are handled differently.
• Flatten the floor, follow proper mortar coverage practice, and approve a mock-up before the full install.
• Raised edges on existing natural stone can sometimes be ground down by a qualified restoration company.

Table of Contents

• What lippage is and how it is measured
• How much lippage is acceptable in natural stone
• Why lippage happens in marble, travertine and limestone
• How to prevent lippage when setting stone tile
• Choosing stone that sets flat and looks right
• Explore natural stone from Surfaces Galore
• Our perspective on lippage
• Fixing lippage in an existing stone floor
• When to call a professional
• FAQ
• Sources

What lippage is and how it is measured

The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) defines lippage using the language of ANSI A108.02, Section 4.3.7: differences in elevation between edges of adjacent tile modules. In plain terms, you run a hand across the floor and one tile edge catches your fingers because it sits higher than its neighbor.

Laticrete’s technical datasheet describes it as a condition where one edge of a tile is higher than the adjacent tile, giving the surface an uneven appearance. The same document points out that some lippage may be unavoidable because of tile tolerances under ANSI A137.1. That matters for stone: a tile that is slightly warped or varies in thickness will never sit perfectly flush with its neighbor, however good the installer.

Lippage versus an uneven floor

Two different things get confused here:

• Lippage is a step between two adjacent tiles at their shared joint.
• Floor flatness is a gradual rise and fall across a larger area. A floor can be gently wavy without any tile edge sitting proud of its neighbor.

A wavy floor can still be a problem, but the fix is different. Lippage is measured at the joint, so a straightedge or a simple feeler gauge across the joint tells you what you are dealing with.

How much lippage is acceptable in natural stone

The short answer is 1/32 inch for calibrated, smooth-finished natural stone. The Ceramic Tile and Stone Consultants (CTASC) explain that for calibrated smooth finished natural stone the maximum allowable lippage is 1/32 inch. Stone World, citing the TCNA Handbook, reports the same figure as the acceptable industry standard for adjacent stone tiles.

A 2025 CTASC update says the National Stone Institute’s 2022 Dimension Stone Design Manual limits lippage to 1 mm, or 1/32 inch, for natural stone tile installations. It makes exceptions for ungauged or hand-molded tiles whose excessive lippage is an inherent characteristic.

What the numbers depend on

Stone condition	What the guidance says
Calibrated, smooth finish (polished or honed marble, limestone)	Maximum allowable lippage is 1/32 inch
Textured, cleft or ungauged finishes	Meeting 1/32 inch may not be attainable; increase the joint width to limit perceived lippage
Hand-molded or intentionally irregular tiles	Lippage can be an inherent characteristic of the material

There is a wrinkle worth knowing. TCNA explains that allowable tile warpage is not used on its own to calculate allowable lippage. Instead, allowable lippage is the total of the tile’s inherent (actual) warpage plus the allowable lippage from the table. So a slightly warped tile can legitimately sit a little higher at one corner without the installation being out of standard.

Why the finish changes the answer

CTASC frames allowable lippage as a function of both the stone’s finish and how it is installed. A honed, calibrated marble tile and a tumbled travertine paver are different products, and nobody should expect the same flatness from both. If you want a deeper look at finish choice, our guide on polished versus honed tile finishes covers how each behaves in a room.

Why lippage happens in marble, travertine and limestone

Laticrete lists several influences on whether lippage occurs and how visible it is: variation in tile or stone thickness, warpage, joint spacing, the angle of light and reflective surfaces. It also says most lippage is caused by an uneven substrate or by improper thin-set application used to compensate for irregularities.

1. The substrate is not flat enough

This is the most common cause. A tile is a rigid plate. Set it on a floor with a hump, and one edge rides up. Laticrete notes that subsurface tolerance requirements get tighter as module sizes increase, because an out-of-tolerance substrate shows up more as lippage in larger stone.

CTASC’s 2025 update adds that substrate preparation requirements exist in ANSI A108.02 and that when the substrate is too irregular, it becomes difficult for the installer to compensate and minimize lippage.

2. Mortar coverage and technique

Thin-set is not a leveling compound. Piling mortar under one corner to lift a low spot, or skipping back-buttering on a larger tile, leaves voids and uneven bedding. Tiles then settle differently as the mortar cures. Laticrete points installers to NTCA Guideline E-29 as a way to help ensure even mortar application and reduce setting-material lippage.

3. Thickness and warpage in the tile itself

Natural stone is cut from the earth, not extruded in a factory. Even good stone can have small thickness differences from tile to tile, and larger pieces can bow slightly. That is the reason standards allow inherent warpage on top of the tabulated lippage figure. It is also a reason to choose your material and your size with care.

4. Moisture-sensitive stone

Laticrete also notes that moisture-sensitive stones can curl at the edges or corners when exposed to moisture, which contributes to lippage. Some marbles and other stones need a setting material formulated for them, and the installer should confirm that with the stone supplier and the setting-material manufacturer before the first tile goes down.

5. Light and gloss make it visible

The same step can be invisible in one room and glaring in another. Reflective, highly polished surfaces make otherwise acceptable unevenness more noticeable, and so do narrow joints and light that skims across the floor from a window or a wall sconce. A hallway with a long window at one end is a classic place for this to show.

How to prevent lippage when setting stone tile

Prevention is cheap compared with correction. These steps follow the guidance above and the practices described in the standards.

Step 1: Check and flatten the substrate

Before ordering a single box, measure the floor with a long straightedge. Compare the result to the tolerance that applies to the size of tile you plan to use. Grind high spots and fill low spots with a suitable patching or leveling product. Do this before layout, not as an afterthought.

Step 2: Match tile size to the floor you actually have

Larger stone needs a flatter floor. If the substrate can only be brought so flat, a smaller format is more forgiving. If you are set on big slabs, read our practical guide to large format stone installation before you commit.

Step 3: Choose joint width with the finish in mind

For smooth, calibrated stone, tight joints are possible but show every step. For textured or cleft finishes, CTASC’s guidance is to increase the joint width to limit perceived lippage. Wider joints visually soften small differences between tiles.

Step 4: Use proper mortar and technique

Pick a setting material suited to the stone and its size, follow the manufacturer’s data sheet, and use a trowel size that gives full coverage. Back-butter where the tile size calls for it. Follow NTCA Guideline E-29 for even mortar application.

Step 5: Consider a leveling system on larger tiles

Clip-and-wedge or strap-style systems can help hold adjacent edges together while the mortar cures. They help with the setting-material side of the problem. They cannot rescue a bad substrate or badly warped tile, and they do not replace good troweling. Mapei, for one, markets lippage control systems designed for tile and stone finishes, and Stone World has weighed their strengths and limits in an article titled a toy or a tool.

Step 6: Dry lay and check as you go

Lay a few rows without mortar to see how tiles sort and where thickness varies. Pull tiles from several boxes at once. Check with a straightedge across joints every few tiles instead of waiting until a whole room is down. For planning layouts and avoiding mistakes with soft stones, see our guide to common installation errors with marble, limestone and travertine.

Step 7: Approve a mock-up

CTASC recommends building a mock-up, or a small section of the tile assembly, then having the owner and architect inspect and approve it. That tells everyone what can realistically be achieved with this stone, this substrate and this installer’s method, before there is a whole floor to argue about.

Choosing stone that sets flat and looks right

Some of the work is done before the installer arrives. A few choices at the ordering stage reduce the chance of a disappointing floor.

• Pick the finish for the light. A polished marble in a sun-filled room is the most demanding combination. A honed finish diffuses reflections and is more forgiving. Our polished marble selection and care guide walks through the trade-offs.
• Understand the character of the stone. Travertine and reclaimed or multi-finish limestone have natural variation by design. Treat that as part of the look and plan joint widths accordingly.
• Plan the pattern. Layouts such as checkerboard or staggered patterns draw the eye to joints. Our piece on matching tile patterns helps you think through the layout before you buy.
• Order enough. Extra tile lets your installer sort out the flattest pieces and discard the occasional outlier. See how to calculate extra tile and waste for natural stone.
• Get samples in your hands. Samples show you thickness, edge profile and finish in your own light, which is the light that will reveal any lippage later.

Explore natural stone from Surfaces Galore

We are a direct importer and nationwide supplier of marble, travertine and limestone tiles, mosaics and related stone products. Our inventory is premium only, and our own quality assurance is built around architectural-grade material. We also ship samples free, so you can check finish and feel before you place a project order, and we support custom orders and bulk quotes for trade customers.

If you are comparing options, start with our marble, travertine and limestone collections or browse by type in the tile and mosaic collection. Limestone formats such as the Obsidian Ash 16X24 brushed limestone and the Seagrass 18X18 limestone give a sense of the sizes and finishes available.

Our perspective on lippage

Lippage is rarely one person’s mistake. It is usually the sum of a floor, a setting method, a tile and a light source, and the earlier you talk about all four, the less you will argue about it later.

From where we sit as an importer, we see the stone choice as the first lever. A brushed or honed finish, a format that fits the flatness of the floor and a joint width that suits the finish all make an installation easier to get right. Natural stone has character, and the best projects treat that character as a design feature and plan the setting around it.

We design our inventory around premium, architectural-grade stone, and we send free samples because we want you to judge finish, thickness and color in your own room, under your own lighting, before ordering. For trade customers, we are glad to talk through formats and quantities for a specific job so your installer can sort and select the best pieces.

Our advice to designers, builders and homeowners is the same: set expectations early, agree on a mock-up, and give your installer a flat substrate to work with. Do those three things, and a stone floor tends to look the way you pictured it.

John | Surfaces Galore

Fixing lippage in an existing stone floor

If lippage is already there, the options depend on the stone, the cause and how well the tiles are bonded.

Grinding the high edge

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) says that for natural stone, an IICRC-certified company may offer to resurface or grind down the high edge, or refer you to one that does. By contrast, it says ceramic and porcelain lippage has no practical fix. Grinding is a job for a stone restoration specialist with the right equipment, not a weekend project with a rented grinder.

Why polished stone is harder

IICRC also explains that lippage can come from faulty installation or irregularly shaped tiles, and that polishing stone is difficult when lippage is present. The polishing disc cannot reach the areas beside higher tiles, which leaves a “picture framing” effect around each tile. So on polished marble, correcting lippage and re-polishing usually go together, and the finished result depends on how much stone has to come off.

Leveling or reinstalling

Grinding only suits tiles that remain bonded and where the issue is at the edge. If the cause is a substrate that deflects or a floor that was never flat, the lasting fix is correcting the substrate and resetting the affected tiles. That means pulling stone up carefully. Our step-by-step natural stone tile demo guide explains how to lift tiles with less risk of breakage so the good pieces can be reused when possible.

When to call a professional

Bring in an independent specialist when:

• The steps are noticeably larger than 1/32 inch on smooth, calibrated stone and you are unsure whether the work meets the standard.
• You see lippage together with hollow-sounding tiles, cracked grout or movement underfoot, which points to bonding or substrate problems.
• The floor is polished marble and you are considering grinding, since refinishing is part of the same decision.
• You and the installer disagree about what the standard allows. A qualified tile and stone consultant can measure and give an opinion based on the actual stone and conditions.

Because lippage can also be a tripping issue on a walkway, deal with prominent steps promptly in high-traffic areas, stairs approaches and outdoor paving.

FAQ

What is the allowable lippage for natural stone tile?

For calibrated, smooth-finished natural stone, the maximum allowable lippage is 1/32 inch. Textured, cleft or ungauged finishes may not be able to meet that, so wider joints are used to limit how much lippage you perceive. TCNA adds that inherent tile warpage is part of the calculation.

What causes lippage in marble and travertine?

The most common cause is an uneven substrate or thin-set used to make up for it. Thickness variation, warpage, narrow joints, glossy surfaces and raking light all make lippage more likely or more visible. Some moisture-sensitive stones can also curl at the edges if exposed to moisture.

Can lippage be fixed after the tile is installed?

Often yes for natural stone, if the tiles are well bonded and the problem is at the edges. An IICRC-certified company can grind down the high edge or refer you to someone who does. If the substrate caused the problem, tiles may need to be lifted and reset.

Do leveling systems eliminate lippage?

They help hold neighboring edges level while mortar cures, which reduces setting-related lippage. They do not correct a substrate that is out of tolerance or a tile that is significantly warped, so flat prep and good troweling still matter.

How can I check lippage risk before the whole floor is installed?

Build a mock-up of the assembly, using the actual stone, substrate and installer method, and have the owner and architect inspect and approve it. Samples in your own lighting also help you judge how a finish will show small steps.

Sources

• Lippage | Tile Council of North America
• Lippage – Causes and Prevention (Laticrete technical datasheet)
• What is the allowable lippage for cleft/ungauged natural stone? (CTASC)
• Tile and Stone Lippage: What is Acceptable, update (CTASC)
• Lippage control systems: a toy or a tool for tiling? (Stone World)
• IICRC Consumer Tip Sheet: Tile, Stone and Grout

Recommended

• Avoid Common Marble Limestone Travertine Install Errors
• Types of tile edging: a detailed guide for professionals
• How to Prevent Stains on Natural Stone Tile
• Common Marble and Travertine Mistakes

This article is provided for general informational guidance only. Natural stone varies in color, veining, texture and performance. For installation, sealing, cleaning and maintenance, follow the product manufacturer’s instructions and consult a qualified installer or stone-care professional. Always test cleaning and sealing products in an inconspicuous area first. Surfaces Galore is not responsible for damage, discoloration, etching, staining, installation issues or other problems resulting from