Glass splashbacks vs tiles: which is right for your kitchen?

Published 23 September 2026 · by the Hightym team

The splashback is one of the hardest-working surfaces in your home. It sits behind the cooktop and the sink, it cops grease, steam, sauce and water every day, and it's right at eye level. So it's worth choosing carefully.

At Hightym we do both sides of this: we supply and install custom toughened glass splashbacks, and we clean kitchens for a living. That gives us a pretty practical view of what each option is like to live with. Here's an honest comparison.

Cleaning: glass wins comfortably

This is the big one. A glass splashback is a single smooth panel (or a few large panels) with no grout lines. Grease and splatter sit on the surface and wipe off with a soft cloth and a gentle glass or surface cleaner.

Tiles, on the other hand, have grout between every tile. Grout is porous, so over time it can absorb grease and discolour, especially behind the cooktop. You can seal it and scrub it, but it's never going to be as quick as wiping a sheet of glass. If you hate cleaning grout, that's usually the deciding factor.

Looks: it depends on your style

Painted glass gives a sleek, modern, seamless look. Because it's colour-backed, you can choose almost any colour, from crisp white to deep charcoal to a bold accent. Ultra-clear (low-iron) glass shows the true colour without the green tinge you'd see in standard glass, which matters a lot for whites and pale shades. Glass also reflects light, which can make a smaller kitchen feel brighter.

Tiles offer texture and pattern. Subway tiles, handmade-look tiles, mosaics and feature tiles can add character and suit heritage or farmhouse styles. If you love a particular pattern, tiles give you options that plain glass can't.

Durability

Splashbacks need to handle heat near the cooktop, which is why we use toughened glass. Toughened glass is heat-treated to be much stronger than ordinary glass, and if it does break, it's designed to break into small pieces rather than sharp shards. Clearances from cooktops still need to follow the appliance manufacturer's guidance and relevant standards, and we'll talk you through that at the measure.

Tiles are also very durable, and a cracked tile can be replaced individually, although matching an old tile years later can be tricky.

Installation and disruption

Glass splashbacks are custom-made to measure. The usual process is:

1. We measure the area precisely, including power points and window edges.
2. The glass is cut, toughened and colour-backed to your chosen colour.
3. We come back and install it, usually in a single visit.

Cut-outs for power points are made before toughening, because toughened glass can't be cut afterwards. That's why accurate measuring matters so much.

Tiling involves adhesive, cutting tiles on site, grouting and curing time. It's messier and can take longer, although it's very flexible for awkward shapes.

Cost

We're not going to quote numbers here because every kitchen is different, and prices depend on size, colour, number of cut-outs and access. As a general rule, simple tiling with budget tiles can be cheaper upfront, while premium tiles and complex patterns can cost as much as or more than glass. The best way to compare is to get a quote for your actual space.

Caring for a glass splashback

Once it's in, looking after glass is easy. Wipe it with a soft microfibre cloth and warm water or a gentle glass cleaner. Avoid abrasive scourers and harsh powders, which can scratch the surface. For baked-on splatter behind the cooktop, let a warm damp cloth sit on it for a minute to soften it before wiping. That's about it. No grout brush required.

So which should you choose?

Choose glass if you want:

• The easiest possible cleaning
• A seamless, modern look in almost any colour
• A brighter, more reflective kitchen

Choose tiles if you want:

• Texture, pattern or a traditional look
• To use a specific feature tile you love

Thinking about glass?

We supply and install toughened, painted 6mm ultra-clear glass splashbacks and mirrors for kitchens, laundries and bathrooms. The easiest way to start is to snap a photo of your wall with rough measurements and send it through. See our glass splashbacks page, or request a quote and we'll take it from there.