Non-Slip Bathroom Flooring: The DCOF Rating Guide

Why DCOF is the number that actually matters

It's easy to assume a textured-looking or matte-finish tile is automatically "grippier" than a glossy one, but that's a guess, not a measurement. DCOF is a standardized, tested measurement of how much friction a tile surface provides when wet — and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI A137.1) sets 0.42 as the benchmark for a tile considered suitable for a level, interior wet area like a bathroom floor or shower floor. Reputable tile manufacturers publish this number for their products; if a tile's spec sheet doesn't list a DCOF rating, that's worth asking about directly before using it anywhere water regularly hits the floor.

Making a floor safer, beyond just tile choice

• Choose a tile with a DCOF of 0.42 or higher for any bathroom or shower floor — this is the single most important spec to check.
• Smaller tile with more grout lines tends to be more slip-resistant than one large slab, since the grout lines themselves add texture and friction breaks underfoot.
• Textured or matte finishes generally outperform high-gloss finishes for slip resistance, though texture alone isn't a substitute for checking the actual DCOF rating.
• Non-slip mats and strips are a low-cost supplemental safety layer, especially in a shower or tub, but shouldn't be relied on as the only safety measure on a floor that's otherwise slippery when wet.
• Grab bars near the shower/tub add a meaningful safety layer independent of flooring — see our grab bar installation guide for proper placement.

Pro tip from our network contractors

Ask to see the actual tile sample wet, not just dry, before finalizing your choice — a showroom floor is dry, and a tile that feels perfectly fine there can behave very differently once water and soap residue are involved.

Who this matters most for

Slip resistance matters for every bathroom, but it's especially important when planning for aging in place or accessibility needs, where a fall risk is a much bigger safety concern. If you're planning a curbless walk-in shower as part of an accessibility-focused remodel, pairing it with a properly rated non-slip floor is one of the highest-value safety decisions in the whole project.