Tile installation cost per square foot
| Tile grade | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Basic ceramic tile | $5–$15 | Ceramic in common sizes and plain layouts |
| Porcelain or mid-range tile | $8–$18 | The range most guides treat as typical |
| Natural stone or high-end tile | $15–$30 | Natural stone, glass and mosaic; labor rises with the pattern |
These are installed prices per square foot, covering tile, setting materials and labor, with the labor share adjusted for your state. Removing old flooring, preparing the surface and repairing the subfloor are separate lines in the calculator because they only apply to some jobs. Enter your floor area to get the project total.
What changes the price
The tile itself is only part of the bill. Large-format tile, mosaics and glass take more skill to set, and the guides we read price their labor higher than for common sizes. Natural stone also needs sealing. A pattern such as a diagonal or herringbone adds time, but none of the guides we read puts a dollar figure on it, so ask for it as its own line.
Extra costs to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Remove old tile | $2–$7 per sq ft | Replacing an existing tile floor |
| Remove other flooring | $1–$3.50 per sq ft | Carpet, vinyl or laminate |
| Cleaning and surface prep | $1–$5 per sq ft | Floors that are not ready to tile |
| Subfloor repair | $3–$10 per sq ft | Only where the subfloor is damaged |
| Disposal of old flooring | $150–$200 | If the crew hauls it away |
Order extra tile for breakage and later repairs, and ask whether the quote includes backer board, waterproofing in wet areas, grout and sealer. Shower and tub surrounds are priced differently from floors.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per square foot for labor only, or for tile and labor together?
- Does it include backer board, thinset, grout and sealer?
- Who removes the old floor, and who handles disposal?
- How will the installer check that the subfloor is flat enough for this tile size?
- Is there an extra charge for patterns, large-format tile or cuts around obstacles?
Methodology and sources
We price each tile grade as an installed price per square foot, adjust the labor share for your state's carpenter wages, and price removal, prep and subfloor repair separately. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeAdvisor: ceramic and porcelain tile — material and labor per square foot, removal
- Angi: tile installation cost — basic and high-end installed prices, removal, prep, subfloor, disposal
- Fixr: tile floor installation — installed price, labor by tile size, flooring removal
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2031, Carpenters) — state labor index, a building-trades proxy
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Angi |
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| Fixr |
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| HomeAdvisor |
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Common questions about tile installation costs
How much does tile installation cost?
A typical job (150 sq ft of porcelain or mid-range tile) comes to about $1,800 nationally, within a range of $1,200 to $2,700. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
What is the tile installation cost per square foot?
Installed, basic ceramic tile runs about $5–$15 per square foot, porcelain or mid-range tile $8–$18 and natural stone or high-end tile $15–$30.
How much does ceramic or porcelain tile installation cost?
For 150 sq ft, basic ceramic tile comes to about $750–$2,250 installed and porcelain or mid-range tile to about $1,200–$2,700.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 3 published cost pages from 3 publishers, last checked Oct 8, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 3 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.