How Much Does Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile Installation Cost?

Cost Factors to Install Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Many variables make up the final project price, aside from the cost of materials and labor. Here are some of the most common factors.

Removing Old Tiles

If you're looking to remodel your bathroom or upgrade your kitchen, you'll likely need to replace old tiles rather than just add new ones. Ripping out old tiles and repairing any damage to the subsurface typically costs $5 per square foot. You may pay as little as $3 per square foot or as much as $7 per square foot.

When you receive a quote from a contractor, ask for an itemized estimate and whether it includes the price of removing tiles and installing new ones.

Challenging Installations

If the area you're tiling has a complex layout, has extensive damage to the base layer, or is in some other way more challenging, your labor cost for installing tiles will climb rapidly, so remember to leave some wiggle room in your budget. 

Overages

Make sure you order 10% to 15% more tiles than you think you need. This ensures you have enough to account for any damages during installation. Plus, if you keep your leftovers, you can have that one replaced from your existing stock when a tile gets cracked or damaged. 

Remember that the tiles you choose now may not still be in production in 10 years. Even if they are, it's likely the colors won't be an exact match, so having some backup tiles is smart.

Ongoing Maintenance

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are fairly low maintenance to upkeep, but they do need regular cleaning. Plus, the grout will periodically need cleaning, whitening, or replacing, as will any seals. While all these things are individually inexpensive, they’re ongoing costs you need to be aware of, even if minimal. And, if a tile breaks or cracks beyond repair, it needs replacing immediately—particularly in a damp environment like a shower. 

While hiring a tiler typically costs up to $15 per square foot or $60 to $120 per hour, they may charge a little more if you only have one or two tiles that need replacing, as the pro will usually have a minimum callout fee that's equal to at least a couple of hours of their time.

Prep Work

The amount of surface preparation required before the contractor can lay the tile significantly impacts the project price. A smooth surface that just requires adhesive takes minimal time, but a cracked, damaged, or uneven surface that requires substantial intervention to make it suitable for tile can add many hours of labor to your project price. Similarly, removing old tile, then prepping the underlying surface adds time and labor costs to your total.

If you're having tile laid over a wooden subfloor, you'll need to account for backer board installation during the preparatory phase. This costs an additional $5 to $8 per square foot. Subfloor repair is costly, at around $40 to $65 per square foot. In addition, you'll pay approximately $3 to $10 per square foot on top of any repair costs for a local tile repair pro to resurface a concrete subfloor.

Location

Where you're installing tile determines how much the project costs because the tile size, type, and prep work all differ based on location. Kitchens and bathrooms cost more to tile because they require vapor barriers and impervious, or very well-sealed tiles and grout resistant to moisture damage. Floors are generally less expensive to tile than walls because floor tiles are often larger, so they take less time to lay. 

Kitchen backsplashes cost an average of $300 to $1,000, while bathroom backsplashes cost $600 to $1,350. The cost to install tile floors made of porcelain or ceramic is typically $5 to $17 per square foot, with hallways and laundry rooms falling at the lower end of the budget, kitchens in the middle, and bathrooms at the upper end. 

Tile Rating

There are two types of tile rating: strength and porosity. Strength rating tells you what application the tiles are suited for, while porosity tells you their absorbency rating. 

Strength Classification

Porosity Rating

Project Size

Knowing the size of the area you have to tile and your upper budget limit helps you determine the type of tile that best meets your needs. Below are some common sizes for bathrooms, backsplashes, floors, walls, and more.

The table above includes the labor cost for installing new tiles but doesn't account for the cost of removing old ones. On average, removing old tiles cost around $5 per square foot. 

For ceramic tiles, you can pay anywhere from $1.25 to $100 per square foot. If you choose porcelain tiles, expect to pay between $3 and $30 per square foot. Custom, handmade, and mosaic tiles are more costly, while machine-made tiles with standard dimensions and plain, common glazes cost less. 

You'll also need to account for the cost of grout, tile adhesive, filler, tile spacers, sanitary sealant, and tile trim, which can all add $6 per square foot to the project total.

Cost to Install Porcelain and Ceramic Tile by Type

Tile prices vary considerably by type, with glazed ceramic being the most affordable and custom ceramic being the most costly because of the time-consuming creation process and the high degree of skill required to make it. 

In some instances, you may intersperse the occasional high-end, hand-carved tile with a more affordable type, letting you add little touches of luxury without breaking the bank.

Glazed

Glazed tiles cost between $4.25 and $33 per square foot, installed. Glazed tiles have a liquid glass or enamel coating with a glossy or matte finish. Glazing is common with ceramic, as it increases water resistance. However, the glaze isn't indestructible, so you'll need to reseal cracked glazed tiles before they absorb moisture.

Metallic

Metallic finish ceramic or porcelain tiles cost between $13 and $45 per square foot to install. This type of tile is usually porcelain with a glaze that incorporates several metal oxides to achieve the desired distressed look, and these tiles can mimic the look of any metal type. Ones that look like copper or corroded and distressed metal are popular options. You'll also find metal-look tiles with a luster glaze that helps to make the tile look just like the real thing.

Large-Format

Large-format tiles cost between $18 and $45 per square foot, installed. They measure above 12-by-12 inches per tile and cost more to install because they're heavy and require a completely level surface to adhere.

Mosaic

Mosaic tiles cost approximately $23 to $65 per square foot to install. These are popular as inlays or backsplashes due to their cost. Mosaic tiles are expensive because they’re small and extremely time-consuming to install. So, while the materials usually aren't that expensive, the labor to install them is. 

Labor Cost for Installing Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

Labor is the cost of the physical work required to complete the job and can include removing old tiles, repairing and prepping the area, and adding new tiles. If you hire a local tile installation pro, you'll pay anywhere from $3 to $15 per square foot for labor. This equates to $60 to $120 per hour. The range is so wide because some tiles, such as mosaic and custom ones, are more challenging and time-consuming to install. 

How to Save on Tile Installation Costs

There are a few ways you can save money on the cost of tile installation. A top tip to potentially save money on your tiling project is to shop around for tiles. Then, if you find a great price, you can buy them independently rather than purchasing from your contractor. 

Doing as much of the prep work as you can also reduce labor costs. For example, if you have the time and skill to remove old tiles and haul away the waste, you'll save $3 to $7 per square foot for the removal and between $150 and $200 for disposing of the waste.

Once the tile is installed, you can make further savings by doing some of the finish yourself, such as sealing around the edges and repainting the baseboards, walls, and any other areas marred during the installation.

DIY vs. Hiring a Tiler

You can save money by tiling yourself if you have the right tools and skills. However, the amount you save could be less than you think by the time you've hired or purchased tools and equipment, such as a tile cutter and a caulking gun. 

Plus, there's the time involved. If you're not a pro, it'll likely take you much longer to complete the project, and the finish will likely not be as good. Hiring a pro is a good idea than going the DIY route if you'd rather save time and get the best possible finish.