---
title: "Grout vs. Caulk: What’s the Difference?"
description: "Both materials are used in tiling projects, but have very different functions. We explain how to choose between grout vs. caulk, and how to apply them."
date: "2019-02-27"
modified: "2026-02-17"
authors:
  - name: "Glenda Taylor"
    job_title: "Staff Writer"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/glenda-taylor/"
  - name: "Bob Vila"
    job_title: "Founder"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/grout-vs-caulk/"
categories:
  - "Bathrooms"
  - "DIY"
  - "Interior"
  - "Tools"
  - "Tubs & Showers"
tags:
  - "This Vs. That"
  - "tile"
---

# Grout vs. Caulk: What’s the Difference?

![A person applies grout to tiled flooring (left) and someone applies caulk to a bathroom seam.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/grout-vs-caulk.png>)
*Photo: Anselm Kempf via Shutterstock and New Africa via. Shutterstock.*

DIYers taking on their first tiling project often find themselves wondering whether to use grout or caulk. While most know to use grout to fill the gaps between flat tile on walls and floors, its use in other spots may not seem so obvious. What about that gap between tub and tile? Which one do you use to seal the corners where two tiled walls meet? While both products serve similar functions, caulk and grout have very specific uses that are not interchangeable. Choose the wrong one, and you may find yourself having to redo part of your project a few months down the line. Understanding the pros and cons of caulk vs. grout is key to completing a successful and watertight tiling project.

## What is grout?

![An open container of grout.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-to-grout-tile-_007-e1771348049784.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Grout is a masonry product that’s sold by the bag as a dry powder that you mix with water, or in ready-to-use form in plastic tubs. Once applied, it becomes rock-hard after it cures. There are three types of grout: sanded, unsanded, and epoxy.

- **Sanded grout** is used in joints between tiles that are more than ⅛-inch wide. The sand in the grout gives it a stronger structure that lets it bridge those wider gaps.
- **Unsanded grout** is used for narrow grout lines that are less than ⅛- inch wide. It has a smoother finish than sanded grout, and can fill joints as narrow as 1/16 inch. Unlike [sanded grout, unsanded grout](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/sanded-vs-unsanded-grout/>) won’t scratch softer materials, such as glass, marble, and natural stone.

- **Epoxy grout** is specially designed to resist water and is thus ideal for showers, pools, and other wet areas. Because it is nonporous, it is resistant to mold and mildew with no sealing necessary. It’s also easy to clean and more hygienic for food prep areas. On the downside, epoxy grout sets very quickly, making it harder to apply, and it’s significantly more expensive than traditional grout.

## What is caulk?

![Person uses caulk gun to lay a bead of caulk between rows of painter's tape above a baseboard.](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-to-caulk-baseboards_006.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Caulk is a flexible, semiliquid product made from latex, silicone, or acrylic. Unlike grout, caulk retains a measure of flexibility after it cures, allowing it to stretch slightly if any movement, such as the house settling, occurs.

There are two main types of caulk: silicone and acrylic/latex.

- **Silicone caulk** is flexible and waterproof, making it the ideal choice for high-moisture rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- **Acrylic/latex caulk** works well for caulking around trim and molding, since it's paintable and easy to apply.

## Differences Between Grout and Caulk

While caulk and grout serve a similar purpose, they do so in very different ways. Grout is rigid while caulk is soft and pliable. And whereas grout is used to fill the gaps between tiles, caulk is used as a seal between different types of materials. They also different in durability, maintenance, and how easy they are to clean.

| | **Grout** | **Caulk** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Packaging** | Tubs and bags | Tubes |
| **Mode of application** | Rubber float | Caulk gun |
| **Material** | Cement- or epoxy-based | Latex, silicone, or acrylic |
| **Uses** | Tiles | Tile, bathroom fixtures, windows, doors, baseboards |

### Uses

#### Grout

The purpose of grout is to fill the spaces between tiles after the tiles have been glued in place on a floor or wall. Grout prevents the tiles from shifting and protects the tile’s edges from chipping. It’s important to note that grout is used on a flat plane. Because it’s rigid, grout is not a good choice for “changes of plane”—in other words, where two tiled shower walls meet, or where a shower wall meets the floor.

#### Caulk

Unlike grout, caulk is a versatile material with many uses throughout the home.

- **Tubs and sinks:** Caulk provides a waterproof seal where tile abuts sinks, bathtubs, walls, or other materials. Caulk will adhere to different types of surfaces and is flexible enough to maintain a watertight seal when the house settles.

- **Tile:** Grout is generally the best choice for filling joints between tiles in showers or elsewhere. But at changes of plane—for instance, along vertical and horizontal corners— [waterproof silicone caulk](<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NCSN5AS?tag=bovi01-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&asc_source=browser&asc_refurl=&ascsubtag=0000BV0000102636O1536069520260211021021_8bYYx3JjgMtCxR%7E17707754%7E0%7E1u5gzrm%7E1rs6jtp>) comes in mighty handy. Grout in these seams would be more prone to crack due to settling.

- **Other areas:** Caulk can seal seams in many spots: You can [caulk along baseboards](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-caulk-baseboards/>) and crown molding, [on windows and doors to stop leaks and drafts](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/caulking-windows/>)—basically, anywhere two construction materials meet, even on outdoor concrete. This makes caulk the more versatile of the two products.

### Durability and Maintenance

#### Grout

![A person wearing yellow, rubber gloves uses a toothbrush to scrub the grout between tiles. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cleaning-grout_011.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

When [grout cures](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-does-grout-take-to-dry/>), it forms a solid masonry surface that won’t contract or pull away. Although movement can crack rigid grout lines, the grout itself won’t shrink.

While structurally stronger than caulk, grout is also porous, which makes it more likely to develop mildew and stains. [Sealing grout](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-seal-grout/>) can make it less susceptible to mold and mildew. Weekly use of a quality [grout cleaner](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-grout-cleaner/>) will also help grout stay stain-free.

#### Caulk

Caulk is known for shrinking over time and pulling away, which is why it must be removed and replaced about once every 3 to 5 years. Because it is soft, caulk can also be damaged by cleaning tools and heavy scrubbing.

Caulk does, however, resist mold and stains better than grout. You can wipe it clean with a damp rag, and it will look as good as new.

### Application

#### Grout

![An open container of tile grout sits next to a person spreading it on tiles. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-to-grout-tile-_010.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Grout is sold as a powder to be mixed with water just before applying, or it comes premixed in a tub. [Grout is spread over a newly tiled surface](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-grout-tile/>) and worked into the joints with a rubber float held at a 45-degree angle. This process leaves excess grout smeared over the tile face, which needs to be wiped off with a hard sponge before it dries.

#### Caulk

![A woman applies caulk to the seam of a bathtub. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-to-caulk-a-shower_010.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Caulk comes in cartridges that fit into a caulk gun. You [apply caulk with a caulk gun](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-a-caulk-gun/>) by squeezing out a bead over the seam you want to fill and then smoothing it with your finger. Caulk goes on neatly, but it requires a steady hand, experience, and skill to run a smooth, professional-looking bead of caulk.

### Replacement

When either product fails (grout by cracking or crumbling, caulk by pulling away), it must be replaced.

#### Caulk

![A person uses their fingers to pull back caulk from the seam of a bathroom countertop. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/caulking-the-bathroom_011.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

Replacing caulk is a relatively simple process of [scraping and pulling the old bead of caulk](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-caulk/>) out of the seam and then running a new bead.

#### Grout

![Someone uses a grout saw to remove the grout from tiled bathroom floors. ](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/grout-repair_010.jpg>)
*Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com*

[Replacing a grout line](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-grout-regrouting-tile/>) requires the use of a grout saw or a rotary tool to grind away the grout before you can [mix new grout](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-mix-grout/>) and [regrout](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/regrouting-tile/>) the joint.

## Choosing Between Grout and Caulk

Whether you go with grout or caulk depends on the application. Remember, the two are not interchangeable. Only grout should be used to fill joints between tiles, except for at change of plane angles, as noted above. Caulk is suitable for use virtually everywhere else you need to seal a seam between two materials.

## FAQs

## Author
Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries.