How Much Does Tile Flooring Cost? (2024) (2024)

The average cost for professional installation of a ceramic, travertine, or porcelain tile floor is $8 to $44 per square foot but can range depending on tile type and installation costs. Tile is a durable, attractive, and easy-to-clean flooring material. Natural stone tiles cost more, as do specialty patterns or mosaics. We’ll break down the costs of each option to help you decide if tile is right for your floors.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, cost data in this article was sourced from Angi, Fixr, and HomeAdvisor.

Major Cost Factors of Tile Flooring

The following factors will determine the cost of your tile installation project:

• Tile material: Some materials are more expensive than others.
• Labor: Anything that increases the time a project takes will also increase labor costs.
• Room size: The larger the floor, the more it will cost to tile.
• Tile pattern and layout: More intricate patterns will take longer and have higher labor costs.
• Subfloor prep: If the floor beneath the tile needs substantial repair, this will increase the total cost.
• Grout and finishing: Certain types of grout are more expensive but less likely to require additional sealant.

Factor 1: Cost by Tile Material

You can find tiles in several solid materials with slightly different properties and price points. Ceramic and travertine are the least expensive options, while granite and glass are the most expensive.

Here’s how much different tile materials cost on average before installation:

Each of these materials has benefits and drawbacks.

• Ceramic tile: Ceramic tiles, which have long been the standard for tile floors, are made of kiln-fired clay and glazed to keep out moisture. Ceramic floor tiles should have a matte finish to minimize slipping, but otherwise, these cost-effective tiles come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and shapes.
• Travertine tile: A form of limestone, travertine is lightweight and strong. It’s one of the most cost-effective natural stone options and has an attractive, marble-like appearance.
• Porcelain tile: Porcelain is a denser type of ceramic that’s fired at a higher temperature for maximum water resistance, even without glazing. This makes it ideal for wet environments, such as bathrooms and kitchens, though it can be slippery.
• Marble tile: Marble is a luxurious and versatile flooring material that can be cut, textured, and shaped in several ways. It’s durable but also high-maintenance because it requires regular sealing to prevent stains and etching.
• Slate tile: Slate flooring holds up well to heavy foot traffic and can last for decades. However, it also requires regular sealing, and it’s so heavy that your floor will likely need reinforcement.
• Granite tile: You may often see granite in countertops, but as a flooring material, it’s still scratch-resistant and easy to clean. The trade-off is the expense, and like most natural stone tiles, it requires regular sealing.
• Glass tile: When using glass tiles as a flooring material, you can create colorful mosaics and patterns. Glass is eco-friendly and easy to clean but difficult to install and prone to scratching.

Factor 2: Cost of Tile Pattern and Layout

Complicated tile patterns and designs cost more because they require more tile cutting and take more time to install. The least expensive tile designs are straight-set (tile squares or rectangles installed in simple rows) and running-bond (rows offset by half the length of a tile). Patterns requiring multiple shapes or tile styles will cost 10% to 20% more to install. Here are some examples:

• Ashlar: An Ashlar pattern uses three sizes of tiles—a large square, a rectangle that’s half the size of the square, and a small square that’s half the size of the rectangle. These three shapes are installed in a repeating pattern.
• Cut corner: This pattern also uses larger and smaller square tiles. An installer clips the corners off of the larger tiles so that they can install the smaller squares in the gaps when they lay the tiles together. This requires a special tool called a tile clipper.
• Diagonal: For this pattern, square or rectangular tiles are installed at a 45-degree angle to the floor. It helps narrow spaces look wider, and it’s a good pattern for multiple colors of tiles.
• Herringbone: A herringbone is a V-shaped pattern that uses rectangular tiles. To make this intricate pattern look good, the installer must cut all tiles at the floor’s edges to shape.
• Mosaic: Mosaic tiles often combine different shapes to form a repeating pattern. This requires significant grout, which takes longer to install but creates a less slippery floor.
• Steps: To create a step pattern, a tile installer will use two sizes of square tiles, setting the small tile at one corner of the larger one. This creates offset diagonal rows, so it’s also good for narrow spaces.
• Versailles: This pattern is similar to the Ashlar but uses large and small squares and large and small rectangles.

Factor 3: Cost by Room Size

Because tile materials are priced by the square foot, larger areas will cost more to cover. They’ll also require more labor.

Here are some likely cost ranges for ceramic, travertine, and porcelain tile installed in various room sizes.

Factor 4: Cost of Subfloor Prep

If you install tile over a damaged or uneven surface, the finished product won’t look good or last long. You’ll need to prepare or repair subfloors before tile installation. Most subflooring is cement backer board, which costs about $5 to $8 per square foot. Repairing the wood or concrete underneath can cost up to $40 to $65 per square foot.

Factor 5: Cost for Grout and Finishing

All tile needs a substrate called grout to fill the space between tiles and create a stable, water-resistant surface. Unsanded grout is cost-effective and costs $5 to $6 per square foot on average, but high-end epoxy grout can cost $8 to $12 per square foot. One benefit of using epoxy or polymer grout is that it won’t require an additional coat of sealant, which costs $2 to $5 per square foot.

Factor 6: Cost of Labor

A substantial portion of tile installation costs goes toward labor since it is a slow and detail-oriented process. You can expect to pay $7 to $14 per square foot in labor costs depending on the complexity of installation. Alternatively, tilers may charge $60 to $120 per hour for their work. Midsize tiles in straight or running-bond rows will cost the least. Small and mosaic tiles take longer to install and cost more, but so do large-format tiles, which are much heavier and harder to work with.

Additional Factors Affecting Tile Flooring Cost

Depending on the specifics of your project, you may also encounter some of the following costs.

Water Absorption

If you opt for ceramic or porcelain, these tiles receive ratings based on how much water they absorb as a percentage of their dry weight. Tiles that don’t absorb as much water are denser and less prone to wear, but they may also be brittle and crack more easily. Water absorption (sometimes abbreviated W.A. on tile packaging) is most important when considering tile for bathrooms or outdoor areas such as patios.

Here’s how these W.A. ratings compare on price. The differences aren’t large, but typically, the lower the water absorption rate, the higher the cost.

• Nonvitreous: Nonvitreous tile is the softest and most porous type. It’s usually fired only once and at a lower temperature. Terra-cotta is an example of a nonvitreous tile. We only recommend non-vitreous tiles for wall use in low-moisture environments.
• Semivitreous: Most ceramic tile is semivitreous, meaning that it absorbs between 3% and 7% of its weight in water. These tiles are glazed to keep water out, but since glaze can crack, these tiles aren’t good for high-moisture or high-traffic areas.
• Vitreous: Floor-rated ceramic and porcelain tiles are vitreous and absorb no more than 3% of their weight in water. They’re perfect for kitchen and bathroom floors, and you can even install them outdoors in areas where freezing isn’t a concern.
• Impervious: Some types of porcelain are considered impervious. They’re so resistant to water that they don’t require glazing at all, and they can be installed indoors or outdoors in any environment.

Removing Old Flooring

If you’re replacing an existing floor, you’ll need to remove old flooring materials before laying tile. While you can tile over certain other materials, including old tile, the materials need to be in excellent condition without cracks or irregularities. In nearly all cases, removing old materials first is better to avoid trapping moisture or installing tile over an uneven surface. Most types of flooring cost $1 to $5 per square foot to remove, depending on how stubborn they are, plus another $150 to $200 for haul-away and disposal.

Floating Tile

If you don’t want to remove old flooring, you might consider installing floating tiles. These tiles connect to one another but not to the flooring beneath. This makes them useful for buildings with asbestos in the old flooring because they won’t dislodge hazardous materials. Vinyl is a common material for floating tiles, but you may find ceramic floating tiles as well, and they cost $2 to $10 per square foot for materials and another $4 to $7 per square foot for labor.

Tile Floor Maintenance and Repair

Over time, grout will degrade, finishes will dull, and tiles may even crack. Even under the best conditions, natural stone tiles will need to be resealed and polished every three to five years, which can cost $1 to $3 per square foot. Natural stone tile is also more expensive to repair than porcelain and ceramic tile, costing $5 to $50 per square foot compared to $0.50 to $15 per square foot. Grout repair can cost between $180 to $450 total, depending on the extensiveness, and total regrouting costs $6 to $8 per square foot.

Professional vs. DIY Tile Flooring Installation

Fortunately, tile installation is a project that most homeowners can take on themselves if they have the time to spare.

DIY Installation

Tile installation doesn’t require extensive expertise, but it is time-consuming. The only specialty tool required is a tile cutter, which costs about $30 to $80. We recommend hiring flooring contractors to repair or level the subfloor, but then you can arrange and lay the tile yourself for the cost of materials. Some tiles even have adhesive backings, so you won’t need to spread mortar first. You’ll have the easiest time if you lay medium to large tiles in simple rows. You’ll need to apply grout and sealant afterward.

Professional Installation

If you choose natural stone or glass tiles, want an elaborate pattern, or don’t have the time or skill to do the job yourself, tile floor contractors can do the work for you. You’ll pay labor costs, but experienced pros can get the job done quicker and more neatly than you can. Installing tile usually doesn’t require a permit, but flooring contractors will ensure that your subfloors are up to code and in good shape before tile installation begins.

How to Reduce Tile Flooring Costs

Here are some tips for reducing project costs:

• Lay the tile and grout yourself. It’s time-intensive and finicky, but you’ll save on labor.
• If you do hire professionals, buy materials in bulk from suppliers instead of going through a contractor. If possible, wait for discounts or sales.
• Only install high-end stone tiles in highly visible or high-traffic areas, such as entryways. Use more cost-effective materials for low-traffic areas.
• Opt for medium to large tiles laid in simple rows instead of small tiles in complex patterns.
• If you’re retiling a floor, save undamaged tiles for reuse.
• If the tiling project is part of a larger kitchen or bathroom remodel, act as your own general contractor to organize the project.
• Get quotes from at least three local contractors to gauge the cost in your specific area.

Extra Tile Flooring Options

One way to save money is to combine home improvement projects that use the same contractors or address the same area of the home. You’ll save time and labor costs by bundling projects like the following.

Backsplash Tile Cost

Another common household use for tile is as a decorative backsplash behind a kitchen or bathroom sink. Backsplashes often contain smaller tiles in more intricate designs, so the labor costs to install them are higher. The project cost will also depend on the type and quality of tile material. Here’s how these costs compare by the square foot:

Bathroom Tile Cost

Similarly, you may decide to replace the tile in your bathroom, notably the tub and shower surround. Material costs will vary, but labor to retile a shower or tub costs about $25 per square foot. You might choose the same material as the floor tile, or you can choose a different material that visually complements the floor.

Baseboard Replacement

You’ll have to remove baseboards when tiling your floor, so you can take the opportunity to replace and upgrade them. There are many different styles and sizes of baseboards, but material is the most relevant factor to price. Although wood is the traditional material, PVC, polystyrene, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are all more cost-effective options. Here’s how these options compare in terms of price per linear foot:

Floor Repairs

For durable results, you should install tile on a subfloor that’s level and in good repair. The price of floor repair will depend on the extent of the damage. Serious or widespread problems will cost more to fix, as will problems with the joists or foundation.

How To Hire a Professional Tile Installer

If you decide to hire a professional flooring contractor, here’s what to look for:

• Some states require tilers to have a special flooring license, others require a regular contractor’s license without specialization, and others have no license requirement at all. Find out your state’s requirements, and, if necessary, ask for proof of up-to-date licensure.
• Anyone you hire should be bonded and insured.
• Check each contractor’s Better Business Bureau webpage, which will have a rating, accreditation status, outstanding customer complaints, and customer reviews.
• Look for more customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Google Reviews, and ask the company for references.
• When possible, get an itemized estimate and a projected timeline. Ensure you understand what is included and what isn’t.
• Many professional contractors offer guarantees on workmanship. Get any guarantees or warranties in writing.

Our Recommendation

As a flooring material, tile is durable, versatile, and attractive. You can’t refinish tile like hardwood, but you can choose from an almost unlimited variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns. Tile does have high installation costs, but if you have the patience and the time, you can install it yourself. We recommend making this easier by choosing simple tiles and patterns. A skilled professional contractor may be a better choice if you’d like something more elaborate.