The three part types
A mosaic needs pieces with a footprint of exactly one stud. Three options are common:
- Round tile 1 × 1 (part number 98138): smooth top, perfectly round. The typical look of most boxed mosaic sets.
- Square tile 1 × 1 (part number 3070b): smooth and square, the pieces sit almost seamlessly next to each other.
- Plate 1 × 1 (part number 3024): square with a stud on top, which gives the mosaic a texture.
In the mosaic generator you switch the type in step 3 under “Part type”. Preview and parts list update straight away.
How different they look
A circle only covers π ÷ 4, just under 79 percent, of a square – about 75 percent once you allow for the gap between pieces. With round tiles, roughly a quarter of the baseplate shows through at every stud. The result is a dot pattern that recalls pop art or a halftone print. Up close you see dots, from two metres away you see a picture.
Square tiles are 7.8 mm wide on an 8 mm grid, so they cover about 95 percent of the area and only fine seams remain. The result is calmer and flatter, like pixel art. Gradients and large areas of one colour look cleanest this way.
Plates with studs sit in between: the surface is closed, but every stud casts a small shadow. That feels more tactile and hides small jumps in colour, because your eye reads the texture as well.
Side by side
| Round tile | Square tile | Plate 1 × 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | dot pattern | smooth pixels | studded texture |
| Area covered | approx. 75 % | approx. 95 % | approx. 95 % |
| Needs lining up | no | yes | yes |
| Baseplate visible | yes, in the corners | barely | barely |
| Colours in the catalogue | 67 | 66 | 77 |
The colour counts come from Rebrickable’s catalogue data (September 2026) and include every colour the part has ever appeared in within a set. In sets from 2024 onwards, 59 colours of the round tile, 55 of the square tile and 57 of the plate still turn up.
Building: speed and precision
Round tiles have one big advantage: you don’t have to line them up. Press down, done. A slightly twisted piece doesn’t show, so building is noticeably faster.
Square tiles and plates have to sit straight. A piece turned by just a few degrees later shows up as a kink in the seam. That takes time, especially on large areas of a single colour.
Tiles are easier to correct than plates, though: a brick separator or a fingernail at the edge lifts them off without a fight.
Which type suits your picture?
- Portraits and photos with soft transitions: round tiles. The dot pattern softens the jumps between colours.
- Logos, lettering, pixel art: square tiles. Crisp edges stay crisp.
- Kids’ rooms and pieces you want to build on: plates with studs. You can add something on top later, such as a frame or single bricks as 3D details.
The piece count is the same for all three types. To decide how big your mosaic should be, read Which mosaic size fits your wall?.
Frequently asked questions
Do round tiles need more pieces than square ones?
No. Every stud gets exactly one piece, whatever the type. A 48 × 48 mosaic always needs 2,304 pieces.
What colour should the baseplate be under round tiles?
Black or dark grey works almost every time, because the corners then read as shadows. For very light pictures a white or light grey plate can look good too.
Can I mix round and square tiles?
Yes, technically that is no problem. It looks best when the mix follows a system, for example square tiles for the background and round ones for the subject.
