How Much Does Tile Installation Cost?
$7 – $20 / sq ft
National average: $12 / sq ft installed
Interactive worksheet
Tile installation cost calculator
Set the scope, size, and state — the tally updates as you go. Built from this guide's figures and BLS state wage data.
01 Quality & scope
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State figures apply BLS construction wages (2025) at a 60% labor weight — how we estimate.
Your estimate
- Labor ≈60%
- $3,600
- Materials & equipment
- $2,400
- Planning range
- $5,400 – $6,600
low $7.00/sq ft $20/sq ft high
U.S. construction trades average $65,360/yr (BLS 2025).
Get three written bids. One far under $4,800 usually means missing scope — ask what's not included. Far over $7,200, ask what's driving the number.
Tile is durable, waterproof, and endlessly varied — and the labor to set it is most of what you pay for. Tile installation costs $7 to $20 per square foot in 2026, averaging around $12 with labor included.
What you’re paying for
The tile itself can be cheap; setting it isn’t. You’re paying for skilled labor — leveling, backer board, precise cuts, spacing, and grouting — which often runs half the total or more. Material is the smaller, more variable half.
Tile type and pattern drive price
Ceramic and porcelain are the budget-friendly, durable choices. Natural stone costs more and needs sealing. And a complex layout — herringbone, mosaics, large-format — adds labor no matter the tile.
Don’t skip the prep
Backer board, leveling, and waterproofing (especially in showers) are what keep tile from cracking or leaking. It’s part of the cost for a reason.
How to save on tile installation
- Choose ceramic or porcelain over stone for the best value.
- Keep the layout simple — a straight grid sets faster than diagonal or mosaic.
- DIY a simple floor if you’re handy; leave showers to pros.
- Prep the subfloor properly so the tile lasts and doesn’t crack.
| Component | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tile material | $1 – $15 / sq ft | — |
| Installation labor | $4 – $10 / sq ft | — |
| Thinset, grout, supplies | $1 – $3 / sq ft | — |
| Subfloor / backer board prep | $1 – $4 / sq ft | — |
| Old flooring removal | $1 – $3 / sq ft | — |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | $7 – $14 / sq ft | Budget-friendly, easy to cut |
| Porcelain | $8 – $16 / sq ft | Harder, water-resistant |
| Natural stone (marble, slate) | $12 – $25 / sq ft | Premium; needs sealing |
| Mosaic / specialty | $15 – $30 / sq ft | Labor-intensive to set |
What affects the price
- Tile type & size Ceramic and porcelain are affordable; stone and mosaics cost more. Very large or very small tiles both add labor.
- Pattern complexity Diagonal, herringbone, and intricate layouts take longer to set than a simple grid.
- Surface prep Backer board, leveling, and waterproofing for showers and wet areas add to the base cost.
- Floor vs. wall Wall and shower tile is more labor-intensive than floor tile, raising the per-square-foot rate.
- Removal Tearing out old tile or flooring and prepping the subfloor are common add-ons.
Tile installation cost by state
Where you live moves the price as much as any option you pick, because labor is a big share of the bill and construction wages differ sharply by state. Adjusted with BLS wage data (2025), a typical tile installation job runs about $8.20 – $23/sq ft in Hawaii (+17%) versus $5.95 – $17/sq ft in Arkansas (−15%).
See the typical range in all 50 states + D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $6.10 – $17/sq ft |
| Alaska | $8.05 – $23/sq ft |
| Arizona | $6.65 – $19/sq ft |
| Arkansas | $5.95 – $17/sq ft |
| California | $7.85 – $22/sq ft |
| Colorado | $7 – $20/sq ft |
| Connecticut | $7.50 – $21/sq ft |
| Delaware | $6.85 – $20/sq ft |
| District of Columbia | $7.55 – $22/sq ft |
| Florida | $6.35 – $18/sq ft |
| Georgia | $6.45 – $18/sq ft |
| Hawaii | $8.20 – $23/sq ft |
| Idaho | $6.60 – $19/sq ft |
| Illinois | $8.05 – $23/sq ft |
| Indiana | $7.05 – $20/sq ft |
| Iowa | $6.80 – $19/sq ft |
| Kansas | $6.65 – $19/sq ft |
| Kentucky | $6.50 – $19/sq ft |
| Louisiana | $6.30 – $18/sq ft |
| Maine | $6.85 – $20/sq ft |
| Maryland | $7 – $20/sq ft |
| Massachusetts | $8.05 – $23/sq ft |
| Michigan | $7 – $20/sq ft |
| Minnesota | $7.65 – $22/sq ft |
| Mississippi | $6.10 – $17/sq ft |
| Missouri | $7.15 – $20/sq ft |
| Montana | $6.85 – $20/sq ft |
| Nebraska | $6.60 – $19/sq ft |
| Nevada | $7.20 – $21/sq ft |
| New Hampshire | $6.95 – $20/sq ft |
| New Jersey | $8 – $23/sq ft |
| New Mexico | $6.45 – $18/sq ft |
| New York | $7.70 – $22/sq ft |
| North Carolina | $6.30 – $18/sq ft |
| North Dakota | $7.05 – $20/sq ft |
| Ohio | $7 – $20/sq ft |
| Oklahoma | $6.35 – $18/sq ft |
| Oregon | $7.70 – $22/sq ft |
| Pennsylvania | $7.05 – $20/sq ft |
| Rhode Island | $7.30 – $21/sq ft |
| South Carolina | $6.35 – $18/sq ft |
| South Dakota | $6.30 – $18/sq ft |
| Tennessee | $6.45 – $18/sq ft |
| Texas | $6.35 – $18/sq ft |
| Utah | $6.60 – $19/sq ft |
| Vermont | $6.80 – $19/sq ft |
| Virginia | $6.65 – $19/sq ft |
| Washington | $8.10 – $23/sq ft |
| West Virginia | $6.65 – $19/sq ft |
| Wisconsin | $7.30 – $21/sq ft |
| Wyoming | $6.95 – $20/sq ft |
Estimates apply each state's BLS construction-wage multiplier to this guide's national range — a planning number, not a quote. Browse the full state cost guides or our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to tile a floor?
- Tile installation runs $7–$20 per square foot including labor, averaging about $12. A 200 sq ft floor totals roughly $1,400–$4,000 depending on tile type and prep.
- Why is tile labor so expensive?
- Setting tile is skilled, slow work — leveling, backer board, precise cuts, spacing, and grouting. Labor is often half or more of the total, and intricate patterns or small tiles push it higher.
- Is porcelain or ceramic tile cheaper?
- Ceramic is usually a bit cheaper and easier to cut; porcelain costs a little more but is harder and more water-resistant, making it the better pick for floors and wet areas.
- How much does it cost to tile a shower?
- Shower tiling runs higher than floor tile — often $2,000–$5,000 — because of waterproofing, niches, and the labor of setting wall and floor tile in a small, detailed space.
- Can I install tile myself?
- Simple floor tile is a doable DIY with patience and the right tools. Showers, large-format tile, and natural stone are where pros earn their fee — mistakes in waterproofing or layout are costly to fix.
How we estimate: ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for materials and professional installation, compiled and cross-checked against the current (2026) industry sources listed below (see our data & methodology). Your actual cost depends on your location, project size, material grade, and local labor rates — always get multiple written quotes before you commit.
Sources
Cost ranges on this page were checked against current (2026) data from these industry sources:
- Tile Installation Cost (2026) — HomeGuide
- How Much Does Tile Installation Cost? — Angi
- How Much Does Tile Installation Cost? — Bob Vila