Cheap Ceiling Tiles Options

Cheap ceiling Tiles are an easy way to give any room a quick update for less than $1.00 per square foot in many cases.

Inexpensive ceiling tiles are available in a variety of materials including fiberboard, mineral fiber, fiberglass, PVC, tin, and Styrofoam. You can find cheap ceiling tiles in all of these materials, but overall, fiberboard, mineral fiber, fiberglass, and Styrofoam are the least expensive.

Fiberboard Ceiling Tiles

Fiberboard is made from cellulose, a shredded wood product, combined with a binding agent, and then formed into tiles. The tiles are white or off-white, lightly textured and may contain small holes or perforations, which provide some acoustical properties, meaning they absorb sound to minimize echo. The material also offers a small amount of insulation value, though you shouldn’t count on them to keep heat in or out of a room. These tiles are often used in drop or grid ceilings in basements as an inexpensive solution to hide the ceiling infrastructure, such as ductwork, pipes, and electrical wiring.

Fiberboard is one of the least expensive types of ceiling tile. While fiberboard is the one of the cheapest ceiling tiles materials, it is not the most common because it is not durable and is susceptible to mold, mildew, sagging, staining, and water damage. Some fiberboard tiles have been treated to resist moisture damage and sagging but this will make the tiles slightly more expensive.

Fiberboard ceiling tiles would not be a good choice for a humid environment like a damp basement or bathroom.

Costs and Where to Purchase

USG makes a variety of fiberboard ceiling tiles in 2’ x 2’ and 2’ x 4’ sizes with costs between $.55 and $.65 per square foot for their Fifth Avenue and Radar profiles. Their Alpine profile features more acoustic properties and costs about $.95 per square foot, which is still pretty cheap – less than $200 for a 12x15 room. Fiberboard ceiling tiles can easily be painted. You can find these tiles, as well as other brands, at most big box home improvement stores.

Mineral Fiber Ceiling Tiles

Mineral fiber tiles are made from various recycled materials including paper, fiberglass, perlite, and mineral wool combined with binding agents and formed into tiles. The tiles are available in many textures from smooth to heavily textured. Because the tiles are wet-formed, they can be pressed to replicate the appearance of tin ceilings or heavy stucco. Many of the tiles are made with fissures or perforations to give them better acoustical properties.

Mineral Fiber tiles are not very durable and will absorb moisture in damp areas. When they do, they are  prone to mold, mildew and sagging. However, the tiles on the market today are generally treated with products  making them resistant to these issues – at least for a time.

Mineral Fiber tiles are very common and widely available. You can find them in 2’ x 2’ and 2’ x 4’ sizes for standard drop ceilings and in 12” x 12” sizes made to be mounted directly to the ceiling surface with an adhesive.

Mineral Fiber ceiling tiles can be used in almost any room, except a bathroom, as long as the tiles have been treated with a moisture protection product. These tiles can be painted with latex paints but paint will slightly reduce their sound absorbing abilities by filling some of the crevices.

Costs and Where to Purchase

USG makes a large variety of cheap Mineral Fiber ceiling tiles in 2’ x 2’, 2’ x 4’ and 12" x 12" sizes.  Costs for lightly textured tiles in their Budget Line, including the Stonehurst and Adobe profiles, range from $.50 to $1 per square foot.  Armstrong also offers a number of inexpensive Mineral Fiber ceiling tiles in all 3 sizes with costs from $1 to $2.50 per square foot.

Mineral Fiber ceiling tiles can cost more depending on the thickness of the tile, the texture, and level of moisture and stain protection that the tiles have been treated with. For instance, the Armstrong Tincraft profile tile, which has been embossed to replicate the look of an antique tin ceiling, costs around $6.50 per square foot.

You can find selections of USG, Armstrong, and other brands of Mineral Fiber ceiling tile at most home improvement stores.

Fiberglass Ceiling Tiles

Fiberglass ceiling tiles are another inexpensive choice and are made from glass fibers encased in resins and formed into tiles. Fiberglass tiles provide insulating properties and are very good at absorbing sound. They are maintenance-free and durable, but careful, or professional installation is necessary to prevent the fiberglass material from breaking loose.

Tin ceiling tiles are available in 2’ x 2’ and 2’ x 4’ sizes. These tiles are very durable and can be used anywhere in the home as well as outside.

Costs and Where to Purchase

Unfinished tin tiles are the cheapest and start at about $1.75 per square foot. Finished tiles start at about $3.50 per square foot.

You can find these tiles at most home improvement stores but American Tin Ceilings offers low prices and a wide variety of styles and finishes.

Styrofoam Ceiling Tiles

Styrofoam (or polystyrene) ceiling tiles are another good choice if you’re looking for cheap ceiling tiles. They are made of foam and are lightweight and waterproof. These tiles are usually available in a 20” x 20” or 19.5” x 19.5” size and are installed with an adhesive directly to the ceiling. They can easily be installed over a popcorn ceiling.