Travertine effect porcelain is porcelain made to look like travertine: the warm beige and cream tones, the soft banding, the fine veining. Natural travertine is a porous stone with open holes that are filled and sealed, then resealed over the years. Porcelain is dense, so it needs no filling and no sealing, and acidic spills will not etch it. Real travertine still wins on character: it can be honed back when it wears, and it ages with the house.
This guide compares the two side by side, says where each one is the better choice, and helps you pick the colour, size and finish for your room. If you already know you want the porcelain, browse our travertine effect porcelain tiles.
What is travertine effect porcelain?
Travertine is a natural stone, a form of limestone, known for its sun-bleached colour and the pores and banding running through it. It has been laid on floors for centuries, and it still makes a room feel calm and warm.
A travertine effect tile recreates that surface on porcelain. Every Marvra tile is 11 mm rectified porcelain, classified BIa with water absorption of 0.5% or less, and tested to BS EN 14411. Rectified means the edges are cut square after firing, so the tiles can be laid with narrow joints and the pattern reads as one surface. Our travertine range is 11 mm tile for indoor walls and floors. A patio or garden path needs thicker exterior porcelain, so ask us before using any tile outside.
To be clear: these are porcelain tiles with a travertine look, not natural stone. You get the colour and movement of travertine without the upkeep the stone asks for.
Travertine vs travertine effect porcelain: side by side
In short, natural travertine is porous and needs filling and sealing; travertine effect porcelain is non-porous and needs neither. Each has its own weak points, so here is the full picture.
| Natural travertine | Travertine effect porcelain (Marvra) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Natural stone, a form of limestone | First grade rectified porcelain, 11 mm |
| Holes and pores | Open holes, usually filled before or after laying | No open holes to fill |
| Sealing | Needs sealing, and resealing over time | Never sealed |
| Water absorption | Porous, takes in liquids if unsealed | BIa, 0.5% or less |
| Lemon juice, wine, acidic cleaners | Can etch the surface | Will not etch the fired surface |
| Everyday cleaning | Stone-safe products only | Damp cloth and a pH-neutral cleaner |
| Repairs | Scratches and wear can be honed out | A chipped tile is replaced, so keep a few spares |
| Underfoot | Feels cool, warms with underfloor heating | Feels cool, warms with underfloor heating |
| Pattern | Every tile is different | Printed faces repeat across a floor, so lay the tiles out dry and mix boxes |
| Cutting | Cuts with standard stone tools | Dense, needs a porcelain cutter or wet saw |
| Formats | Varies by supplier | 30 x 60, 40 x 90 and 60 x 120 cm |
The cost difference is less about the price per m² and more about the years after fitting. Natural travertine needs filling, a sealer and regular resealing; porcelain needs none of them, so it usually costs less to keep.
Where natural travertine still wins
Real travertine can be honed, filled and resealed, so it can be brought back after years of wear, and many people love the way it ages. It is a good choice for a period home where the floor is meant to look lived on. If you want the look with less upkeep, porcelain is the easier floor to live with.
Does travertine effect porcelain need sealing?
No. Travertine effect porcelain is non-porous (BIa, water absorption 0.5% or less), so the tile needs no filling and no sealer. Our finishes are structured matt and satin matt, not polished, so there is no polished surface to protect either. The grout between the tiles is the porous part: keep it clean, and seal cement grout if your fitter recommends it.
Day to day, a damp cloth or mop with a pH-neutral cleaner is enough. Skip wax and oil soaps: porcelain cannot absorb them, so they sit on top as a film. Our guides on how to take care of porcelain tiles and how to maintain porcelain surfaces cover the full routine.
Choosing the colour, size and finish
Beige, cream or silver travertine tiles
Beige. Ascoli Beige is a classic beige travertine look in 40 x 90 cm with a satin matt finish. Cava Veins Beige has a warm beige base and fine linear veining, in 30 x 60 cm structured matt or 60 x 120 cm satin matt. Beige is the warmest of the three and the one most people picture when they think of travertine.
Cream. Cava Veins Cream has a soft cream base with the same fine veining, in 30 x 60 cm structured matt or 60 x 120 cm satin matt. It is the lightest tone, good for keeping a small bathroom or a north-facing kitchen bright.
Silver. Cava Veins Silver has a soft silver-grey base and fine linear veining, in 30 x 60 cm structured matt or 60 x 120 cm satin matt. It is the cooler option and sits well with grey cabinetry and brushed steel. Silver and the 60 x 120 cm tiles come in limited batches, so check availability on the product page.
Warm travertine tones pair well with timber and brass: oak worktops, walnut vanities, brushed brass taps and handles.
Prices in October 2026: Cava Veins Beige and Cream in 30 x 60 cm from £19.12 per m², Ascoli from £21.62 per m². Current prices and stock are shown on each tile.
Size and finish
- 30 x 60 cm, structured matt (Cava Veins). A textured matt finish you can feel underfoot, close in feel to a honed or lightly tumbled stone. Easier to cut around sockets, pipes and door frames, so it suits splashbacks, bathroom walls, cloakrooms and smaller floors.
- 40 x 90 cm, satin matt (Ascoli). A long proportion with a soft sheen. Works on walls and floors in medium-sized rooms, and is easier to handle around a basin than a large format.
- 60 x 120 cm, satin matt (Cava Veins). One tile covers 0.72 m², so there are far fewer grout lines and the floor reads as one calm surface. See all our large-format tiles.
Satin matt has a slight sheen that lifts the veining without looking polished. Structured matt has no shine and a light texture. The Cava Veins tiles carry the veining along their length, much like a vein cut stone, while Ascoli shows softer banding.
Travertine effect tiles for kitchens, bathrooms and floors
Kitchens. Porcelain resists staining from oil and wine and wipes clean with a damp cloth. On a splashback, the 30 x 60 cm Cava Veins tiles fit neatly around sockets and units. On the floor, a larger format means fewer joints to clean around the cooker and sink. Browse all our kitchen tiles.
Bathrooms. Steam and splashes are no problem for a tile that needs no sealing. Running the same tile from floor to wall makes a small bathroom feel larger, and Ascoli in 40 x 90 cm is a good size for walls around a basin. See our bathroom tiles.
Floors through the home. One tile carried from the hallway through the kitchen into the living room makes a home feel more connected. Our tiles are listed as suitable for underfloor heating; follow the heating system maker's guidance.
Slip resistance, grout and adhesive
Slip resistance. Floor tiles are often rated on the R scale (R9 to R13, higher is more grip) or by a pendulum test value (PTV). For a bathroom floor, a kitchen by the back door or a shower area, ask us for the figure for the exact tile and finish before you order, and tell us where it is going.
Grout colour. An ivory, cream or light beige grout close to the tile keeps the floor reading as one surface. A darker grout picks out the grid.
Adhesive. Ask your fitter for a flexible tile adhesive suited to porcelain, especially over underfloor heating and for large formats. Large tiles such as 60 x 120 cm are usually back-buttered, and many fitters limit a staggered layout to a third of the tile length to avoid uneven edges.
Travertine tile installation, in short
Every job is different, so follow your fitter and the adhesive maker's instructions. A few general points:
- Order around 10% extra for cuts and breakages. The calculator on each product page works out the boxes for you.
- Order everything at once so the tiles come from the same batch, and lay a few out dry before fixing to see the variation.
- Large formats need a flat, well-prepared base and a fitter used to the size.
See the tiles before you order
Travertine tones shift with the light, so see them in your own room before you commit. Order a sample for £1.99. Samples are 10 x 10 cm, you can choose up to 10 shades, and the cost is credited back against your tile order.
You can also see the range at our showroom at 20a Western Avenue, London W3 7TZ. Check opening hours and get free advice on our contact page, by phone or on WhatsApp.
Tiles are delivered in 1 to 3 days on a pallet. UK delivery is free on product orders over £349 and £89.95 below, and you can pay in 3 with Klarna. Ready to choose? Browse our travertine effect porcelain tiles.
Travertine vs porcelain: your questions
Does travertine effect porcelain need sealing?
No. Travertine effect porcelain is non-porous (BIa, water absorption 0.5% or less), so the tile needs no filling and no sealer. Our finishes are structured matt and satin matt, not polished, so there is no polished surface to protect either. The grout between the tiles is the porous part: keep it clean, and seal cement grout if your fitter recommends it.
Is travertine effect porcelain better than real travertine?
For most homes, it is more practical. It has the warm colour and veining of travertine, but it does not need filling or sealing, and acidic spills such as lemon juice or wine will not etch it. Natural travertine suits people who want a stone that changes with age and can be honed back when it wears.
Is travertine effect porcelain cheaper than real travertine?
Over the life of the floor it usually costs less to keep: there is no filling, no sealer and no resealing. Compare the price per m² of the tile you like, then add the upkeep the stone needs. Our current prices are on each tile.
Is travertine effect porcelain slippery?
It depends on the finish and where it goes. Matt and structured finishes give more grip than polished ones. For bathroom floors and wet areas, ask us for the slip figure of the exact tile before ordering.
Can travertine effect tiles be used in kitchens and bathrooms?
Yes. Our travertine effect porcelain tiles are made for indoor floors and walls, and they take water, oil and steam without sealing. For shower floors and other wet areas, ask us to confirm the format and finish for your project before you order.
Can travertine effect porcelain be used outside?
Our travertine range is 11 mm tile for indoor walls and floors. Outdoor paving needs thicker exterior porcelain, so ask us before using any tile outside.
What grout colour goes with travertine effect tiles?
Ivory, cream or light beige, close to the tile, so the floor reads as one surface.
Can I see the tiles before ordering?
Yes. Samples cost £1.99 each, credited back against your tile order, or visit our showroom in London W3. Full tile orders are delivered in 1 to 3 days.