Typical prices for tile installation
These are consumer-facing figures from 2026 cost guides, not rules. They show where the market sits so you can tell whether your price is far above or below it.
| What is priced | Published 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Tile installation labor, per sq ft (Angi) | $3 – $15 (hourly $60 – $120) |
| Tile installation labor, per sq ft (HomeGuide) | $8 – $20 |
| Tile installation labor, per sq ft (Rubi) | $5 – $22 |
| Installed total incl. tile, per sq ft (HomeGuide) | $10 – $50 |
| Backsplash labor, per sq ft (Angi) | $5 – $20 |
| Backsplash installed, per sq ft (Angi) | $15 – $40 |
| Old tile removal, per sq ft (Angi / HomeGuide) | $2 – $7 |
| Backsplash removal, per sq ft (Angi) | $3 – $6 |
| Subfloor repair, per sq ft (Angi) | $3 – $10 |
| Floor leveling, per sq ft (Rubi) | $2 – $5 |
| Shower waterproofing, average (Angi) | $450 – $750 |
| Disposal of old flooring (Angi) | $150 – $200 |
The sources disagree on the top end, and the gap between Angi's $3 to $15 and HomeGuide's $8 to $20 is large. Prices also run higher in urban and high-cost areas, so compare a few sources and check local competitors.
Measure the area and the cuts
Measure each surface in square feet, then add a waste allowance for cuts. Floors with many corners, diagonal or herringbone layouts and small rooms need more. Angi notes backsplashes cost more per foot where the tile is cut around outlets, switches and windows. Count outlets and corners on the walk-through and put the cutting effort in the price.
What moves the price
- Tile type and size. Angi lists labor at $4 to $8 per sq ft for ceramic and porcelain and $6 to $15 or more for natural stone. Mosaics and very large formats take longer.
- Layout. Straight-set is cheapest. Angi shows complex patterns such as herringbone priced higher, with some pros at about $100 per hour against $40 to $60 for straightforward work.
- Surface. Floors, walls, showers and backsplashes each have different prep. Wet areas need backer board and waterproofing.
- Removal. Taking out old tile is slow; Angi says about $5 per sq ft for floors including subfloor damage.
- Subfloor and leveling. A floor that is not flat will crack new tile. Price repairs and self-leveling compound as separate lines.
- Access and room size. Small bathrooms and multi-story jobs raise the per-foot cost.
Check the price against your costs
Estimate the days the job takes, multiply by your crew's hourly cost, then add materials, disposal and overhead. A per-square-foot price is only safe if it beats that number with margin. See how to calculate labor cost and your overhead rate.
Set a minimum charge
A 25 sq ft backsplash is still a day of setup, cutting and cure time. Set a minimum from your daily cost and show it as its own line so small jobs do not lose money.
A worked quote
One 100 sq ft bathroom floor, labor and prep only (the customer supplies the tile), using example rates (yours will differ):
| Tile installation labor, 100 sq ft × $12 | $1,200.00 |
| Old tile removal, 100 sq ft × $4 | $400.00 |
| Self-leveling compound and prep, 100 sq ft × $3 | $300.00 |
| Disposal of old tile | $175.00 |
| Total | $2,075.00 |
|---|
Check it against the market: $12 per sq ft labor is inside both Angi's $3 to $15 and HomeGuide's $8 to $20, $4 removal is inside $2 to $7, $3 leveling is inside Rubi's $2 to $5, and $175 disposal is inside Angi's $150 to $200. That works out to $20.75 per sq ft for labor and prep. These figures are examples, not recommended prices; the tile and setting materials are a separate line if you supply them.
Common mistakes
- Folding removal, leveling and waterproofing into one per-foot price and absorbing surprises.
- Using one rate for floors, walls and backsplashes.
- Forgetting the waste allowance and the cure and grout time.
- Skipping a written estimate. Read how to write a contractor estimate for what to include.
Turn the numbers into a quote
Build the quote with the free tile estimate maker: list labor, removal, leveling, waterproofing and disposal as separate lines and save a PDF. No sign-up.
Sources
- Angi, How Much Does Tile Installation Cost? [2026 Data] and the Angi backsplash and bathroom tile cost guides (angi.com).
- HomeGuide, Tile Installation Cost (homeguide.com), as summarized in the Zarla and TWU cost pages.
- Rubi, Tile Installation Cost in 2026 (rubi.com), for the labor range and leveling.
- HomeAdvisor, tile installation cost (homeadvisor.com), via Zarla.
Prices are published averages read in October 2026 and vary by region. For planning only. This is not accounting, tax or legal advice.