True Cost Guide Flooring Remove a Tile Floor

How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Tile Floor in 2025?

Typical Range:

$250 - $1,100

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated December 19, 2024

Written by HomeAdvisor.

Highlights

The cost to remove a tile floor from a 150-square-foot room averages around $600.
Total costs range between $250 to $1,100 for most homeowners.
Manual tile removal costs the least at $1 per square foot, but it is the most time-consuming.
Power tools and large machinery are more efficient removal methods but cost more at $2.50 to $7 per square foot.

The average cost to remove a tile floor is $600 for a 150-square-foot room, but tile removal costs may range between $250 and $1,100. The cost to demo tile floors may be lower if you do it yourself, but tile flooring professionals have access to tools that make the work faster and safer. Factors affecting the cost to remove tiles include the size of the floor, the type of tile you're removing, and whether you choose a dust-free removal method.

Average Cost of Removing Tile Floors

Average Cost	High Cost	Low Cost
$600	$1,100	$250

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Tile Floor Removal Cost Factors

The total square footage and the type of tile you need to remove are the main factors affecting the cost to demo tile flooring. Hiring a cleaning crew or experts to install new tile floors can add to your overall project cost.

Square Footage

Typical tile removal costs $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot. Removing tile floors can cost as much as $7 per square foot when opting for a dust-free process, including cleanup and disposal.

When you hire a tile flooring professional in your area, they will likely offer you a quote based on the total square footage. The table below breaks down the expected cost to demo tile floors by common room sizes, including kitchens and bathrooms.

Room Size in Sq. Ft.	Average Cost Range
50	$130–$280
75	$190–$420
100	$250–$550
125	$320–$690
150	$380–$830
175	$440–$970
200	$500–$1,100
225	$570–$1,240

For smaller bathrooms, floor repair contractors may charge on the higher end of the range. You may be able to reduce per-square-foot prices if the tile removal is part of a larger floor installation project or kitchen or bathroom remodel.

Installing new floors costs $1,530–$4,860
Bathroom remodels cost $6,640–$17,620
Kitchen remodels cost $14,600–$41,530

Type of Tile

The type of tile you're removing can also affect the overall cost. The cost to remove ceramic tile and porcelain tile floors is similar, though removing ceramic tile may be more affordable.

You'll pay about twice as much for stone and slate tile removal, as harder and denser tiles typically require more labor and specialized tools. Slate tiles have a higher potential for chipping or breaking during removal. Thicker tiles also cost more to remove.

Tile Type	Average Cost Range per Sq. Ft.
Ceramic	$2–$4
Porcelain	$2–$5
Stone	$3–$6
Slate	$4–$7

New Floor Replacement

Along with tile removal costs, you also need to invest in installing new flooring to replace it. If you choose to replace your flooring with new tile, regrouting tile costs anywhere from $250 to $1,000 for 100 square feet.

Laminate flooring repair costs $395–$2,120
Carpet installation costs $780–$2,810
Hardwood flooring installation costs $2,470–$7,030
Vinyl flooring installation costs $1,010–$4,120
Engineered hardwood flooring installation costs $2,000–$7,000
Tile installation costs $950–$3,430

Labor

Labor is the most significant tile removal cost factor, ranging from $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot. Prices can go as high as $7 per square foot, especially when paying for dustless tile removal. If you're remodeling your entire kitchen or bathroom, contractors may wrap the cost to remove tile floors in their total interior demo costs.

Removal Method	Hours to Remove 100 Sq. Ft.	Average Cost per Sq. Ft.
Manual removal	8–12	$1
Power tools	4–6	$4
Large machinery	1–2	$7

Manual Removal

While using hand tools may cost as little as $1 per square foot, it's slow, tedious work. It may take eight to 12 hours to remove 100 square feet of tile, which doesn't include cleanup and disposal.

Professionals will only use essential tools—like a hammer, chisel, and pry bar—for small projects, like bathroom floors, bathroom walls, tile showers, and tile backsplashes. They'll also need basic supplies like work gloves, dust masks, protective eye shields, plastic sheeting, drop cloths, and heavy-duty trash bags.

Tile Removal via Power Tools

Expect to pay around $2.50 to $5.50 per square foot. Most local tile contractors use power tools for moderate to large tile removal projects. Removing 100 square feet of tile flooring takes four to six hours using power tools.

Common tools for this type of work include:

Demo hammer
Powered cutting tool
Angle grinder
Heavy-duty vacuum
Shop-Vac

Large Machinery Removal

Some contractors have access to heavy-duty machinery, like dustless tile removal technology. These machines can cost more than $10,000 and aren’t typically available for rent. Removing tile floors with this method can cost as much as $7 per square foot.

With such a machine, a contractor can do in one hour what might take eight to 12 hours with hand tools, and you won’t have to worry about dangerous dust entering your ducts.

Pro Type

You can save some money on professional labor by hiring a local handyperson at roughly $2 to $3 per square foot, but they may not have some of the more expensive, specific tools required. They also don’t specialize in this type of work and could take longer to complete the job.

A proper tile flooring contractor is the most expensive option, anywhere from $2.50 to $7 per square foot. At this rate, you can expect quick but accurate work with your safety in mind.

Dustless Tile Removal Cost

Some contractors offer dustless tile removal. To provide this service, they utilize a heavy-duty vacuum system with their tools to clean up dust. This process takes more time and the equipment is expensive, so expect to pay a premium for this service, around $7 per square foot. For a 150-square-foot room, dustless tile removal costs about $1,050.

Asbestos Removal

Particularly in older homes built before 1980, the risk of asbestos exposure is something to consider when removing ceilings, walls, or flooring. The average cost to remove asbestos ranges from $1,190 to $3,260, or $5 to $20 per square foot.

Other Services

If a contractor doesn’t include cleanup in their rate, you may need to hire a cleaning service. Thorough cleaning is important to prevent dust from posing a health hazard. Deep cleaning costs approximately $200 to $400. If you opt for dustless tile removal, you won’t need to worry about deep cleaning after the tile removal.

Many contractors also include tile disposal in their costs or offer it for an additional fee. On average, junk removal costs between $130 and $380 after a tile removal project.

As you proceed with this project, you may encounter other issues and opportunities worth addressing. If you discover damage to the subfloor after removing the tile, you may need to repair or replace it. Subfloor replacement costs $1.30 to $12 per square foot. Ceramic or porcelain tile repair costs $10 to $65 per square foot, while typical tile reglazing costs $4 to $10 per square foot.

Tile Floor Removal vs. Repair

Deciding between removing or repairing your tile floor depends on the level of damage and the age of the flooring. Generally, consider repair when the damage is localized to no more than 25% of the total floor area, and the repair cost is well below 50% of the cost to remove the tile floor and replace it with new flooring.

If the damage is extensive, tiles are outdated, or the floor has significant underlying issues like damage to the subfloor, water damage, or uneven surfaces, full removal becomes a better long-term solution, even if it may be more costly upfront.

Budgeting for Tile Floor Removal

With careful planning, you can effectively manage the cost to demo tile floors. Follow these actionable steps to save money on your tile removal project:

Obtain at least three detailed quotes from professionals in your area to compare pricing and services.
Request estimates from both handypeople and tile removal specialists, comparing their experience and available tile removal methods.
Clear the area yourself before the professionals arrive to reduce their billable hours and minimize potential damage.
Ask contractors about their disposal methods and see if you can negotiate lower waste removal charges.
Sell or reuse intact tiles if they are still in good condition, offering them on online marketplaces or to architectural salvage stores.
Have a professional inspect the subfloor before full removal to anticipate potential additional repair costs.
Consider a partial removal if only some areas are damaged instead of paying for a full floor replacement.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.

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FAQs

How long does it take a professional to remove tile?

A professional can remove a 100-square-foot tile floor in one to two hours when they use heavy-duty machinery. With power tools, it may take them four to six hours. By contrast, homeowners who attempt the same tile removal project using manual tools like a hammer, chisel, and pry bar could spend eight to 12 hours or more, not including cleanup and disposal of the old tiles.

Does removing tile make a mess?

Removing tiles is a messy project. Tiles can chip or crack into small pieces, and the mortar can create a lot of dust. It’s crucial to utilize plastic sheets, drop cloths, safety goggles, and face masks to protect yourself and your home from the spread of dust. Professionals can offer dust-free tile removal with heavy-duty vacuums attached to their tools to prevent the spread of dust.

Is it better to remove old tile or tile over the existing flooring?

It's usually better to remove the old tile before installing new tile flooring. Old tile beneath new tile can become loose or cracked, leading to more problems for your new floor that rely on the subfloor's sturdy support. If your old tile isn't perfectly flat, you will also need to spend a lot of time releveling it before installing the new tile. Repairing and leveling a floor costs $2 to $30 per square foot.