Lippage is the step between adjoining tile edges
Lippage is the height difference between the edges of adjoining tile modules. ANSI A108.02 section 4.3.7 uses that definition. The Tile Council FAQ fetched on 2026-10-11 says a common mistake is to add the manufacturing warpage allowance on top of the lippage table. The calculation uses the warpage the tile actually has, plus the table allowance, and that actual warpage still has to stay inside the manufacturing limit.
What changes how large the step looks
The same edge step can look abrupt or gradual. Spacing between modules, light angle, and a shiny surface all change the perception. Thickness variation and warpage of the modules matter too. A thinset installation over a substrate that is not flat often cannot meet the lippage limit, because the tile follows the plane under it.
Warpage limit for a paver
ANSI A137.1, measured by ASTM C485, limits paver warpage to 1.0 percent along an edge and 0.75 percent on a diagonal. That percentage is the cap on the tile itself. It is not a second number you add when you judge the finished floor.
Source
Fetched 2026-10-11 from Tile Council lippage FAQ. The sentences above follow that page. They are not a contractor promise.
Related notes
- Tile notes index
- The Tile Council lab named abrasion, absorption, and the Robinson floor test
- A hollow sound is not always a loose floor tile
- Floor photos
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