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Quick answer

Our overall pick is the Roberts 1/4″ V-Notch trowel, which is specified for engineered and solid wood flooring adhesives. Other picks suit vinyl tile, large-format stone, carpet, and parquet installations, with different notch sizes and blade materials.

Choosing the right flooring trowel is critical for a successful adhesive installation, whether you’re laying wood, tile, or vinyl. The notch size and shape determine how much adhesive is applied, which directly affects the bond and longevity of your floor. We’ve compared manufacturer listings for 19 of the best flooring trowels to help you match the tool to your specific project.

Quick picks

19 Best Flooring Trowels compared

# Product Best for Notch Size & Type Blade Material Handle Type
1 Roberts 1/4″ V-Notch Wood Flooring Trowel Best overall for engineered wood 1/4″ Flat Top V-Notch Hardened, tempered steel Wood
2 Roberts 1/8″ Square-Notch Pro Trowel Best for parquet and carpet underlayment 1/8″ Square-Notch Hardened, tempered steel Wood
3 Roberts 1/16″ Square Notch Vinyl Trowel Best for sheet vinyl and VCT adhesive 1/16″ Square Notch Hardened, tempered steel Wood
4 ROBERTS 49601 Dual-Notch Trowel Best for luxury vinyl plank versatility 1/16″ SQ & 1/16″x1/32″ U-Notch Coated carbon steel Soft, non-slip grip
5 Capitol 115110 1/16″ Square-Notch Trowel Best for LVT and carpet adhesives 1/16″ Square-Notch Hardened, tempered steel Wood
6 Capitol 115111 1/8″ Flat-Top V-Notch Trowel Best for textured carpet backing 1/8″ x 1/8″ x 1/16″ Flat-Top V-Notch Hardened, tempered steel Wood
7 QEP 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-Notch Economy Trowel Best for small wall tile and mosaics 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-Notch Cold-rolled steel Plastic
8 QEP Euro Notch XL Stainless Steel Trowel Best for heavy-duty tile with cork grip Euro Notch (size not listed) Stainless steel Cork
9 QEP Euro Notch Comfort Grip Trowel Best for large format tile coverage Euro Notch (size not listed) Stainless steel Comfort Grip
10 QEP Comfort Grip 1/4″ Square Notch Trowel Best for professional tile with rustproof blade 1/4″ Square Notch Stainless steel Not listed
11 Goldblatt 1/8″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel Best for small ceramic tile with soft grip 1/8″ Square Notch Stainless steel Soft Grip
12 Goldblatt 1/4″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel Best for medium ceramic tile with soft grip 1/4″ Square Notch Stainless steel Soft Grip
13 Goldblatt 1/4″ x 3/8″ Square Notched Trowel Best for increased mortar coverage 1/4″ x 3/8″ x 1/4″ Square Notch Stainless steel Soft Grip
14 Goldblatt 1/2″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel Best for extra-large tile and pavers 1/2″ Square Notch Stainless steel Soft Grip
15 QEP Comfort Grip 3/16″ V-Notch Trowel Best for V-notch mortar application 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-Notch Not listed Comfort Grip
16 MARSHALLTOWN 1/8″ Flat V-Notch Trowel Best for economy flooring and tiling 1/8″ x 1/8″ x 7/16″ Flat V-Notch Steel Plastic
17 QEP 2437085 1/2″ Square Notch Trowel Best for wall tile with rubber handle 1/2″ Square Notch Stainless steel Rubber
18 QEP 1/2″ Square Notch Economy Trowel Best for large stone and quarry tile 1/2″ Square Notch Cold-rolled steel Plastic
19 DOSUNPRO 1/2″ Deep Notch Trowel Best for deep mortar beds on heavy tile 1/2″ Square Notch Stainless steel Not listed

How we chose

We selected these 19 best flooring trowels by comparing manufacturer listings and specifications on Amazon as of October 2026. We did not test or use any products hands-on. Our choices are based on the stated notch sizes, intended flooring applications, blade materials, and handle designs to suit different DIY and professional needs.

Best for Wood and Laminate Flooring

These trowels are specified for glue-down installation of wood flooring products.

1. Best overall for engineered wood: Roberts 1/4″ V-Notch Wood Flooring Trowel

This Roberts trowel has a 1/4″ flat top V-notch, which the listing states is for a very thin set of adhesive. It is manufactured for use with engineered and solid wood flooring adhesives. The blade is made of hardened, tempered steel for durability, and it features a wood handle.

Best for: Glue-down installation of engineered and solid wood flooring.

2. Best for parquet and carpet underlayment: Roberts 1/8″ Square-Notch Pro Trowel

The Roberts Pro trowel has a 1/8″ square notch. The listing states it is ideal for direct glue-down of prefinished parquet, cork or rubber underlayment, and secondary-backed carpets. It features a hardened, tempered steel blade and a wood handle.

Best for: Installing parquet, underlayment, and direct glue-down carpets.

Best for Vinyl and Resilient Flooring

Trowels designed for vinyl composition tile, luxury vinyl plank, and sheet vinyl adhesives.

3. Best for sheet vinyl and VCT adhesive: Roberts 1/16″ Square Notch Vinyl Trowel

This Roberts trowel has 1/16″ square notches, which the listing says provide increased space between adhesive rows. It is for use with vinyl composition tile, sheet vinyl, and resilient flooring adhesives. The blade is hardened, tempered steel, and it has a wood handle.

Best for: Applying adhesive for vinyl composition tile and sheet vinyl flooring.

4. Best for luxury vinyl plank versatility: ROBERTS 49601 Dual-Notch Trowel

The ROBERTS 49601 features a dual-notch design with both a 1/16″ square notch and a 1/16″ x 1/32″ U-notch. It is for installing vinyl composition tile, luxury vinyl plank, and luxury vinyl tile. The blade is made of hardened, tempered, coated carbon steel, and it has a soft, non-slip grip.

Best for: Switching between notch sizes for different vinyl flooring applications.

5. Best for LVT and carpet adhesives: Capitol 115110 1/16″ Square-Notch Trowel

The Capitol 115110 has 1/16″ square notches for increased space between adhesive rows. It is listed as ideal for use with carpet and LVT adhesives. It features a hardened, tempered steel blade and a large wood handle for a firm, comfortable grip.

Best for: Applying adhesive for luxury vinyl tile and carpet.

6. Best for textured carpet backing: Capitol 115111 1/8″ Flat-Top V-Notch Trowel

This Capitol trowel has a 1/8″ x 1/8″ x 1/16″ flat-top V-notch. The listing states it is ideal for use with textured or rough-back carpets. It has a hardened, tempered steel blade and a large wood handle for a firm, comfortable grip.

Best for: Installing textured or rough-back carpet.

Best for Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Trowels suited for thinset mortar application on wall and floor tile projects.

7. Best for small wall tile and mosaics: QEP 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-Notch Economy Trowel

This QEP economy trowel has a 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-notch. The listing states it is for application on wallbase, mosaics on drywall, and tile up to 6″ x 6″. It has a hard, cold-rolled steel blade and a high-impact black plastic handle. It is made in the USA.

Best for: Small tile, mosaic, and wallbase projects.

8. Best for heavy-duty tile with cork grip: QEP Euro Notch XL Stainless Steel Trowel

The QEP Euro Notch XL trowel has a 12″ x 4.5″ stainless steel blade, which the listing states is rust-resistant. It is for thinset application on natural stone, quarry tile, pavers, and large tiles. It features a special cork comfort grip for cushion and anti-slippage and a reinforced shank.

Best for: Heavy-duty tile and stone installations requiring a large blade.

9. Best for large format tile coverage: QEP Euro Notch Comfort Grip Trowel

9
QEP Euro Notch Comfort Grip Trowel

QEP Euro Notch Comfort Grip Trowel

QEP
View on Amazon.com
Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Euro Notch design for coverage.
  • Stainless steel blade.
  • Comfort grip handle.

Cons

  • The listing does not specify the exact notch size.
  • The 'Number Of Items' spec is listed as 12, which may be an error.

This QEP trowel features a unique Euro Notch design that the listing says maximizes tile coverage efficiently. It is for thinset application during large format tile installation. It has an 11″ x 4.5″ stainless steel blade and a comfort grip handle with extra hand clearance.

Best for: Efficient mortar coverage for large format tiles.

10. Best for professional tile with rustproof blade: QEP Comfort Grip 1/4″ Square Notch Trowel

This QEP trowel has a 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1/4″ square notch and is designed for the professional. It features a rustproof stainless steel blade, a longer shank with 9 rivets, and a durable aluminum die-cast shank. The listing does not specify the handle material.

Best for: General professional tile installation with a rust-resistant blade.

11. Best for small ceramic tile with soft grip: Goldblatt 1/8″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel

The Goldblatt trowel has a 1/8″ square notch design for consistent mortar ridges on wall and floor tile. It features a 0.7mm polished stainless steel blade that resists rust and an ergonomic soft-grip handle to reduce hand fatigue. The mounting is a heavy-duty aluminum.

Best for: Small ceramic tile on floors and walls.

12. Best for medium ceramic tile with soft grip: Goldblatt 1/4″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel

This Goldblatt trowel has a 1/4″ square notch for even thinset coverage on medium tile. It features a 0.7mm polished stainless steel blade that resists rust and corrosion and an ergonomic soft-grip handle with a heavy-duty aluminum mounting for reduced hand fatigue.

Best for: Medium ceramic tile on floors and walls.

13. Best for increased mortar coverage: Goldblatt 1/4″ x 3/8″ Square Notched Trowel

This Goldblatt trowel has a 1/4″ x 3/8″ x 1/4″ square notch and a large 16″ x 4″ blade for increased mortar coverage. It creates high mortar ridges for strong adhesion. It features a rust-resistant stainless steel blade and an ergonomic soft-grip handle with a welded aluminum shank.

Best for: Wall and floor tile installations requiring more mortar depth.

14. Best for extra-large tile and pavers: Goldblatt 1/2″ Square-Notch Tile Trowel

The Goldblatt trowel has a 1/2″ square notch for consistent mortar ridges on extra-large tile, pavers, and EIFS. It features a 0.7mm polished stainless steel blade that resists rust and an ergonomic soft-grip handle with a heavy-duty aluminum mounting.

Best for: Extra-large ceramic tile, pavers, and exterior insulation systems.

15. Best for V-notch mortar application: QEP Comfort Grip 3/16″ V-Notch Trowel

This QEP trowel has a 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-notch. It features a comfort grip, but the listing provides no other details on blade material or specific use. The specifications list it as having no color.

Best for: Projects requiring a 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-notch profile.

16. Best for economy flooring and tiling: MARSHALLTOWN 1/8″ Flat V-Notch Trowel

This MARSHALLTOWN economy trowel has a 1/8 x 1/8 x 7/16 flat V-notch on a 9 x 4 inch steel blade. It is designed for easy spreading of material in flooring and tiling projects. It has an ergonomic plastic handle and is assembled in the USA.

Best for: General flooring and tiling projects.

17. Best for wall tile with rubber handle: QEP 2437085 1/2″ Square Notch Trowel

The QEP 2437085 is a 1/2″ square notch trowel for use in floor or wall tile installation. It features a rustproof stainless steel blade and a rubber handle. The shank is a 9-1/8 inch zinc die-cast with 9 rivets.

Best for: Wall and floor tile installation with a rustproof blade.

Best for Large-Format Tile and Stone

Heavy-duty trowels with deep notches for maximum adhesive coverage under large, heavy tiles.

18. Best for large stone and quarry tile: QEP 1/2″ Square Notch Economy Trowel

This QEP trowel has a 1/2″ x 1/2″ x 1/2″ square notch for thinset or medium bed mortar. It is listed for natural stone, quarry tile, Saltillo, and large format tiles 12″ x 12″ or larger. It has a hard, cold-rolled steel blade and a high-impact black plastic handle. It is made in the USA.

Best for: Large-format ceramic, porcelain, stone, and quarry tile.

19. Best for deep mortar beds on heavy tile: DOSUNPRO 1/2″ Deep Notch Trowel

This heavy-duty trowel has a 1/2″ (12mm) square notch profile for creating a deeper mortar bed. The listing states it is purpose-built for large-format tiles, heavy floor tiles, and natural stone to improve bond strength. It features a thick 0.8mm stainless steel blade and a reinforced aluminum shank.

Best for: Maximum adhesive transfer under large, heavy, or uneven-backed tiles.

How to choose the best flooring trowel

The right flooring trowel ensures proper adhesive coverage, which is the foundation of a long-lasting floor. Your choice depends almost entirely on the type of flooring you’re installing and the specific adhesive or mortar recommended by the manufacturer. The notch size—the dimensions of the teeth on the trowel—controls the thickness and pattern of the adhesive layer. Using the wrong notch can lead to inadequate bonding, voids, or excessive adhesive squeeze-out.

What to look for

  • Notch Size and Type: This is the most critical factor. Square notches are common for tile mortar and many flooring adhesives. V-notches and U-notches are often specified for wood, vinyl, and carpet adhesives. Always check the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions for the required trowel notch.
  • Blade Material: Stainless steel blades resist rust, which is helpful for mortar work. Hardened or tempered steel is durable for general use. Coated blades offer extra wear resistance.
  • Handle and Grip: Look for features that reduce fatigue, like soft-grip, cork, or ergonomic rubber handles. A comfortable, non-slip grip provides better control during long spreading sessions.
  • Blade Size: A larger blade (e.g., 11″ or 16″ long) covers more area quickly, while a smaller blade (e.g., 9″ long) offers more maneuverability in tight spaces.

Before you start, proper subfloor preparation is essential. For a successful installation, you’ll also need to know how to measure a room for flooring accurately and plan for transition strips between different flooring materials.

FAQ

What happens if I use the wrong notch size trowel?

Using the wrong notch size can compromise your floor installation. A notch that’s too small will not deposit enough adhesive, leading to poor bonding and potential floor failure. A notch that’s too large will apply too much adhesive, which can be wasteful, cause uneven leveling, and lead to excessive squeeze-up between planks or tiles. Always follow the adhesive and flooring manufacturer’s recommendation for trowel notch size.

Can I use the same trowel for tile mortar and wood flooring adhesive?

Generally, no. The adhesives for tile (thinset mortar) and wood flooring are different, and they often require different notch types and sizes to achieve the correct spread rate and bond. Using a trowel specified for mortar on a wood adhesive, or vice versa, will likely not give you the correct adhesive bed. Always use the trowel specified for the specific adhesive product you are using.

What’s the difference between a square notch and a V-notch trowel?

The primary difference is the shape of the adhesive ridge they create. A square notch leaves a squared-off ridge of adhesive, which is standard for tile mortars and some flooring adhesives. A V-notch leaves a triangular ridge. V-notches are often specified for thinner adhesives used with engineered wood, vinyl, and carpet because they can help control the spread rate and reduce the chance of adhesive oozing between seams.

How do I clean and maintain my flooring trowel?

Clean the trowel immediately after use before the adhesive or mortar dries. Use water for water-based products or the appropriate solvent recommended by the adhesive manufacturer. For mortar, a stiff brush and water are usually sufficient. Dry the trowel completely before storing it to prevent rust, especially on non-stainless steel blades. Check the blade for any bent teeth or damage before your next project.

References

  1. Amazon product listings and manufacturer specifications (accessed October 2026)
  2. Flooring Installation Basics
  3. Subfloor Preparation and Flooring Underlayment Explained