Handmade Ceramic Tile Business
Create handmade decorative ceramic tiles for kitchens and baths
Overview
Ceramic tile businesses generate $100,000-$500,000 annually with 60-75% margins selling decorative tiles to homeowners, designers, and tile shops.
In 2025, handmade tiles valued for kitchens, backsplashes, bathrooms, and accent walls.
Create decorative tiles ($8-$40 per tile), tile murals ($500-$3,000), accent tiles, border tiles, and custom commissioned tile work.
Successful tile makers produce tiles consistently (size, thickness, flatness), develop unique glaze colors and patterns, work with interior designers and architects, wholesale to tile shops and kitchen/bath showrooms, and provide installation guidance.
Can specialize in specific styles: Mediterranean, hand-painted, textured, or modern geometric.
Need press or molds for consistent tiles.
Marketing through interior designers, tile shops (wholesale), kitchen/bath showrooms, Instagram, and Houzz.
Required Skills
- Tile Production
- Consistent Sizing
- Glaze Development
- Mold Making
- Interior Design Knowledge
- Wholesale Sales
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interior designers and architects provide projects
- Tiles functional art for homes
- Can wholesale to tile shops
- Custom tile murals high-value
- Kitchen/bath remodel market steady
Cons
- Need precise consistency for installation
- Tile production requires molds or press
- Heavy fragile products shipping expensive
- Long sales cycle with designers
- Competition from imported tiles
How to Get Started
- Learn tile making and production techniques
- Develop molds or press for consistent tiles
- Create tile sample collections
- Build relationships with interior designers
- Wholesale to tile shops and showrooms
- Create portfolio with installed tile photos
- Market through Houzz and design community
Explore More Pottery & Ceramics Ideas
Discover additional business opportunities in this category.
View All Pottery & Ceramics Ideas →