Plain tile spacers are cheap and easy to put in, and just as easy to forget. A spacer left in a joint shows through the grout, weakens it and can crack the joint later. Pulling spacers at the wrong moment causes its own problems, from tiles that shift to spacers that will not come out at all. This guide explains how to remove tile spacers: whether you need to, when to do it, the best way to get them out on floors and walls, and how to deal with stuck or broken spacers. If you used a leveling system rather than plain spacers, follow how to remove tile leveling clips instead; clips are removed differently.
Do you need to remove tile spacers before grouting?
Yes. Remove tile spacers before grouting. Grout makers such as LATICRETE and CUSTOM Building Products instruct installers to remove spacers and debris from the joints before grouting, so the grout fills the full depth of every joint at a uniform width.
A spacer left in the joint leaves the grout thin over it. That thin spot can crack, discolor or show the spacer’s outline, especially with light grout. CUSTOM’s sanded grout instructions also ask for joints uniform in depth and width and free of loose debris, contaminants and excess mortar, so removing spacers is part of a wider joint cleanup. A few products are sold as leave-in spacers; follow their own instructions and the grout maker’s, but the default answer is to take spacers out.
When do you remove tile spacers?
Remove tile spacers once the mortar has firmed enough to hold the tiles in place, but before it fully hardens around the spacers. Upright spacers can usually come out while the mortar is still workable; spacers set flat in mortar are easier to leave until the mortar has cured. The mortar bag’s times are the guide.
| Spacer placement | When to remove | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standing upright in the joint | Once tiles hold position, while mortar is still soft | They pull out easily before mortar grips them |
| Flat at corners, in mortar | After the mortar cures, before grouting | Pulling early can shift tiles; they come out with a pick |
| Wedge spacers on walls | After the mortar holds the tile without sliding | Early removal lets wall tile sag |
| Horseshoe shims under edges | After cure; trim or remove so nothing shows in the joint | They carry tile weight until the mortar does |
On walls, especially with heavy or large tile, wait until the mortar holds the tile by itself. Removing wedge spacers that are holding a row up too early lets tiles slide. Cure times vary with the mortar, temperature and humidity; CUSTOM, for example, calls for setting material to cure 24 to 48 hours before cement grout is applied, unless a rapid-setting mortar is used.
What is the best way to remove tile spacers?
The best way to remove tile spacers is to pull them straight out of the joint with your fingers, needle-nose pliers or a spacer removal tool, without levering against the tile edge. For spacers stuck in hardened mortar, use a thin pick or a utility knife to free them, then pull.
- Work in the direction of the joint, one spacer at a time.
- Grip the spacer by the leg that sticks up and pull straight up or straight out.
- If it resists, wiggle it gently along the joint, not against the tile face or edge.
- Clean mortar out of the joint at the same spot while you are there.
- Collect spacers in a bucket as you go so none end up in the grout.
Avoid screwdrivers and other tools that pry against the tile. Glazed edges chip easily, and a chipped edge on rectified tile is very visible next to a narrow grout line.
How do you remove tile spacers from a wall?
On a wall, remove spacers from the top rows down, after the mortar is firm enough that tiles do not slide. Pull wedge and T spacers straight out of the joint, and leave the bottom support or ledger in place until the whole wall has cured.
Wall tile tends to slip when spacers come out too soon, particularly large tile. For wall-specific setting and leveling tips, including how to keep tile from sliding, see using a tile leveling system on walls and showers, and for planning large tile on walls see large format wall tile.
How do you remove stuck or broken tile spacers?
For a stuck spacer, score the mortar around it with a utility knife or grout pick, then pull with needle-nose pliers. If a spacer breaks and part stays in the joint, dig it out or cut it well below the tile surface so grout can cover it fully. Never leave plastic near the top of the joint.
Spacers get stuck when they are laid flat at corners and buried in mortar, or when the mortar has fully cured around them. A multi-tool with a thin blade can cut a buried piece down, but keep it away from the tile edges. Then vacuum the joint so loose mortar and plastic do not end up in the grout.
Can you reuse tile spacers?
Plain plastic spacers can be reused if they come out clean and undamaged; scrape off mortar, rinse them and throw away any that are bent, crushed or worn thin, because a damaged spacer no longer sets an exact joint. Leveling clips are single-use, while leveling wedges are made to be reused.
Next Level wedges, for example, are designed to last job after job; see the Next Level reusable wedges. To compare spacer shapes and when each is used, read types of tile spacers.
What should you check after removing spacers?
After removing spacers, check that every joint is open to full depth, free of plastic, mortar and dust, and still the same width along its length. Run a hand over the joints to feel for edges that sit higher than their neighbors, and fix problems before you grout.
This is also where the choice of spacer shows. Plain spacers control width but not height, so any lippage set in the mortar stays. If you are seeing raised edges on rectified or large format tile, a tile leveling system sets the joint and holds edges flush in one step; Next Level makes leveling clips in 1/32, 1/16 and 1/8 inch for that job. When the joints are ready, follow how to grout tile, step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Can you leave tile spacers in?
Not under grout. Grout makers call for spacers to be removed so the joint fills fully.
How long should spacers stay in?
Until the mortar holds the tiles in place. Upright spacers often come out early; flat ones after the mortar cures.
What tool removes tile spacers?
Fingers or needle-nose pliers for most; a grout pick or utility knife for spacers stuck in mortar.
Key terms
- Leave-in spacer: a spacer sold to stay in the joint under grout; use only per its own instructions.
- Spacer removal tool: a small hooked or pronged tool that grips spacers so they come out without touching the tile.
- Buried spacer: a spacer laid flat and covered by mortar, which is hard to remove after cure.
- Grout pick: a narrow hand tool used to clean mortar and debris from joints.
- Full-depth joint: a joint cleared to the bottom so grout can fill it completely.
- Needle-nose pliers: pliers with long thin jaws for gripping spacers in narrow joints.
Sources
- CUSTOM Building Products, Polyblend Plus Sanded Grout data sheet (remove spacers; mortar cure before grouting)
- LATICRETE, Ready-to-Use Pre-Mixed Grout data sheet (remove spacers and debris before grouting)
Tired of chasing spacers? Next Level clips set the joint and keep edges flush, then snap off cleanly, and the wedges are reusable. The Next Level tile leveling system is sold nationwide by quote. Request a quote for Next Level clips and wedges.