USG, aka United States Gypsum Corporation, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Chicago, primarily makes commercial building products for floors, walls, ceiling, and roofs. Their commercial products have been used in buildings all over the world. They also make residential ceiling tiles for use in grid or suspended ceilings and panels that are stapled directly to the ceiling using the stapling flange. USG is a 4 time winner of the Home Depot Supplier of the Year Award.
USG makes residential tiles or panels for suspended or grid ceilings in a variety of collections, each with different features including manufacturing processes, surface textures, thicknesses, and prices. Most of the USG tiles provide acoustic properties, meaning they control sound and reduce or eliminate echoing in the room. USG also makes a collection of ceiling tiles that can be stapled directly onto the ceiling. This video highlights some of USG tile features.
USG Ceiling Tiles Collections- Reviews and Costs
Here is a short overview for each line including size specifications and key features that will assist you in choosing the best USG ceiling tiles for your projects.
Collection
Material
Size
Thickness
Colors
NRC Rating
Cost
(sq.ft.)
High Durability
Mineral Fiber
2' x 2'
.75"
White
.65 to .70
$1.75-$2.50
Manila
Parchment
Sandstone
Elegant Fine Textured
Mineral Fiber
2' x 2'
.75"
White
.55 to .75
$1.90-$3.00
Attractive Medium Texture
Mineral Fiber
2' x 2'
5/8"
White
.50 to .55
$1.25-$2.25
2' x 4'
Classic Patterns - Fissured
Mineral Fiber
2' x 2'
5/8"
White
.50 to .55
$.75-$1.25
2' x 4'
Black
Classic Patterns -Illusion
Mineral Fiber
2' x 4'
.75"
White
.50 to .55
$1.25-$1.75
Budget
Mineral Fiber
2' x 4'
9/16"
White
N/A
$.50-$.75
Fiberglass
Fiberglass
2' x 4'
5/8"
White
0.7
$1.15-$1.50
Direct Mount
Wood Fiber Class C
12" x 12"
.5"
White
N/A
$1.00
High Durability
Designer Line:
The High Durability line includes Cheyenne, Sandrift, Arctic, Glacier, and Frost. These tiles are all made from cast mineral fiber and feature naturally formed textures. The tiles are all sized at 2’ x 2’ and are .75” thick. They all have been treated with ClimaPlus which makes them resistant to mold and mildew and the sagging that can be caused by moisture absorption. They all come with “through color”, meaning the color goes through the tile, making nicks or scratches less visible.
All tiles are available in white with Cheyenne and Sandrift also available in manila, parchment and sandstone.
The tiles in his collection include about 70% recycled material. They provide an NRC rating of .65 to .70, which is quite good considering the highest rating available is 1.0. A rating of .70 means that the tile absorbs 70% of the sound that hits it, reflecting just 30% back into the room.
The tiles are Class A fire rated, emit zero emissions or VOCs, and for the latter reasons, they are GreenGuard certified. Greenguard is an internationally recognized emissions certification ensuring products meet low emission standards.
Cost:
How much do USG ceiling tiles cost? Tiles in the High Durability collection are priced between $ 1.75 to $ 2.00 per sq. ft. for white and $2.25 to $2.50 per sq. ft. for colored tiles. Prices for other lines are included below.
Elegant Fine Textured
Designer Line:
The tiles in the Elegant Fine Textured collection include Astro, Galaxy, Mars, Millennia, Luna, and Eclipse. These tiles are made from wet formed mineral fiber with a process that creates a nearly smooth texture. All tiles are available in 2’ x 2’ and .75” thick. The line also includes Eclipse Illusion which features 2’ x 4’ tiles scored into four 48” x 6” strips and Luna Pedestals featuring 2’ x 2’ tiles scored into four 12” x 12” squares.
These tiles are all treated with ClimaPlus, feature NRC ratings from .55 to .75, are Greenguard certified, include 65 to 80% recycled materials and are Class A fire rated.
The primary difference between tiles in this collection is the appearance of the surface texture. All of the tiles all available in white.
Cost:
Tiles in the Elegant Fine Textured collection cost between $1.90 to $3.00 per sq. ft. with Eclipse Illusion and Luna Pedestals ranging from $2.75 to $3.50 per sq. ft.
Attractive Medium Texture
Designer Line:
The Attractive Medium Texture collection includes Alpine, Majestic, Olympic Micro, Moonscape, Saville Row with all of the tiles featuring round perforations in varying sizes and all made of wet formed mineral fiber. The perforations add to the acoustic abilities of the tiles. Most of these tiles are available in both 2’ x 2’ and 2’ x 4’ sizes and are 5/8” thick. All of the tiles are Greenguard certified, treated with ClimaPlus, provide a .50-.55 NRC rating, include 40-50% recycled material, and are Class A fire rated. The tiles are all available in white.
Cost:
These cheap ceiling tiles cost between $1.25 and $2.25 per sq. ft.
Classic Patterns – Fissured Panels and Illusion Fissured Panels
The Classic Patterns collection includes Fifth Avenue, Radar, Radar Illusion, Radar Basic, and Radar Basic Illusion. These tiles are wet formed mineral fiber and feature a fissured and perforated surface. Fifth Avenue and the Illusion profiles are available in white only with Radar and Radar Basic also available in flat black.
Fifth Avenue, Radar, and Radar Basic come in both 2’ x 2’ and 2’ x 4’ sizes with a thickness of 5/8”. The Illusion profiles come in 2’ x 4’ sizes with a thickness of .75” and are scored to create 2’ x 2’, 12” x 12”, or 6” x 6” squares. Smaller squares often work better in small rooms.
All Classic Patterns tiles are Greenguard certified. Their NRC ratings are from .50 to .55. The tiles include up to 50% recycled materials.
Cost:
Classic Patterns tiles cost $.75 to $ 1.25 per sq. ft. with the Illusion scored profiles running between $1.25 and $1.75 per sq. ft.
Budget Ceilings
The Budget Ceilings collection includes Adobe, Plateau, Sierra, and Stonehurst and are made of wet formed mineral fiber. The panels are all available in white and are sized at 2’ x 4’ and 9/16” thick. They all provide a Class A fire rating and low emissions. The tile texture varies from smooth to fissured and perforated.
Cost:
These are cheap ceiling tiles ranging from $.50 to $.75 per sq. ft.
Fiberglass Panels
The fiberglass panels include Chambray, Tabaret, and Taberet Perforated. They are lightweight and made with a moisture resistant vinyl face making them a good choice for high humidity areas. The tiles are all sized at 2’ x 4’ and 5/8” thick. These fiberglass panels all provide zero emissions, a Class A fire rating, include over 60% recycled materials, and are treated with ClimaPlus. Chambray and Taberet provide a .50 NRC rating, with Taberet Perforated providing a .70 NRC rating.
Cost:
The fiberglass tiles cost about $1.15 to $1.50 per sq. ft.
Direct Mount Ceiling Tiles
The Direct Mount collection features tiles that measure 12” x 12” and are .5” thick. They are made to be stapled directly to the ceiling and feature a stapling flange and tongue and groove edge to hide the staples. This line includes Custom White, Lace, Orleans, and Tivoli with the only difference being the surface texture.
Direct Mount tiles are all made from Class C wood fiber and provide low emissions.
USG indicates that these tiles are a good low cost solution where fire resistance, acoustical performance and ceiling infrastructure accessibility are not required.
Cost:
USG Direct Mount tiles cost around $1.00 per sq. ft.
There is more detail on all USG ceiling tile lines in the company’s catalog.
Where to Purchase USG Ceiling Tiles
USG Ceiling tiles are available at Menards and Home Depot. Some of the tiles can be found on Amazon. The USG website can match your location with retailers that sell their tiles. This page on the USG site shows all Residential Ceilings.
Maintenance
All USG ceiling tiles can be easily cleaned with a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment.
If tiles become discolored or stained, mineral and wood fiber tiles can be painted. Only fiberglass tiles can be cleaned using mild soap and a damp cloth. Other tile materials might be stained by using a damp cloth.
USG Ceiling Tiles Reviews
USG makes some of the highest-rated ceiling tiles available. The selection is wide ranging and versatile, so you’ll certainly find several attractive options to fit your home or office decor and the scope of the project.
Those who have installed USG ceiling tiles are generally very positive with comments noting affordability, exceptional value, and nice appearance. A few customers indicated that when they opened the cartons some of the tiles were chipped or cracked. If you are buying your tiles from Menards or Home Depot, we recommend that you open the cartons and inspect the tiles before purchase.
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