Discount Italian porcelain tiles straight from the Sassuolo district, the heart of Italian tile making. A real bargain, though, depends on what you buy: lot, grade and quantity. Here is how clearance tiles work and what to check before you order from abroad.
Limited quantities
In Italian, piastrella means tile and affari means deals or bargains: put together, "tile bargains". It is what builders and homeowners in Italy look for when a renovation has to look expensive without costing a fortune.
Most of Italy's ceramic tile industry is concentrated in one small area between Modena and Reggio Emilia, around the town of Sassuolo. Factories there change their collections every season, and each change leaves something behind: surplus lots, discontinued colours, sizes that are being replaced. That is where clearance tiles come from. Buying them close to the source, from a supplier based in the district, is the simplest way to get Italian quality at a lower price per square metre.
This guide is published by Ceramiche Sassuolo, an online tile supplier based in Castellarano, inside the district, selling porcelain tiles online since 2010 and delivering across Europe.
"Discount" does not always mean the same thing. Prices drop for different reasons, and each comes with its own advantages and limits. Knowing them is the first step towards a genuine bargain.
Quantities produced on top of orders, or what is left after a large supply contract. The tiles are identical to the catalogue version; the only difference is that, once that lot is gone, there is no more of it.
Series the factory has stopped making, usually because a newer range has replaced them. Style and performance are still current, but they will not be produced again.
Tiles from the same body that did not pass the strictest grading: a small share may have minor chips, slight differences in shade or small differences in size.
Selected items that Ceramiche Sassuolo offers on special terms for a limited time or until sold out. They change often, so check again as your project gets closer.
Ceramiche Sassuolo keeps stock tiles in six sizes, from wall-friendly rectangles to large square slabs. Availability changes all the time, so ask a consultant which lots are on hand for the size you need. The shapes below are drawn to scale.
Sizes are in centimetres. Ask which stock lots are available now.
Cuts and breakages always eat into the material. With a stock lot you cannot reorder, so add around 10% for straight laying and up to 15–20% for diagonal, herringbone or large formats.
Every firing has its own shade and calibre. Two lots of the same item can differ slightly in colour or size, so ask for the whole order to come from a single lot.
A very low price may mean second choice. That is fine, as long as you know it and use it in the right place. Always ask before you confirm.
A bargain for a bathroom is not necessarily right for a terrace. Outdoors you need frost-resistant tiles with suitable slip resistance, and shops need tiles that cope with heavy foot traffic. Rules on slip resistance also vary from country to country.
Before signing the delivery note, count the packages and check the pallets. If you spot any damage, write it on the delivery note straight away: it is much harder to claim afterwards.
Tick each point as you check it. Once the list is complete you can ask for a quote with all the right information, and the consultant will be able to answer faster. Our team speaks English, by phone or by email.
The checklist works on your device only: it does not save or send anything.
Second choice is the most direct way to bring the price per square metre down. The trick is to use it where small flaws go unnoticed or end up cut away anyway.
Tiles are heavy and travel on pallets, so delivery is part of the real price. When you compare a clearance offer with tiles from a local shop, always look at the full quote, transport to your door included.
with transport included: the cost depends on where you are and how much you order, so you know the total before you commit.
European countries reached with insured pallet delivery through Palletways; other destinations on request.
from the warehouse in Castellarano, near Sassuolo: you are told the weight and size in advance, so you can bring the right vehicle.
Delivery times depend on the destination country and on the quantity; the consultant confirms them with the order. More details on the shipping page.
Once laid, a floor from a stock lot looks no different from one bought at list price. What really counts is choosing the right material and getting it laid properly.
Because they are surplus production or collections that have left the catalogue, and the warehouse has to make room for new lines. The material is the same; what changes is availability, which is limited.
No. A stock lot can be first or second choice: the grading depends on the lot, not on the fact that it is surplus. Always ask which grade it is before you order.
In second-choice lots a small share of the tiles may have minor chips, slight differences in shade or small differences in size. The body is the same, but the selection is less strict and the price is lower.
Often not. Stock and end-of-line quantities are limited and, once a lot is sold out, it may never come back. Order the whole quantity in one go, spare tiles included.
Yes. Tiles travel on insured pallets with Palletways to 24 European countries; other destinations can be assessed on request. You can also collect the order from the warehouse in Italy.
It depends on the destination and on the quantity, so there is no flat rate. Your quote always shows the exact cost of the tiles and of the transport to your address.
It depends on the destination country and on the quantity. The consultant confirms the timing when you place the order.
More answers in the Ceramiche Sassuolo FAQ.