Cost to Install Bathroom Tile Floor – 2023 Cost Estimator

How Much Does it Cost to Install Tile Flooring?

A few factors will impact the cost of a bathroom tile floor project. The bathroom size, material quality, and labor cost in your area all factor into the price of the project.

Since the average bathroom is 5′ x 8′ or 40 square feet,^[1] excluding showers, tubs, and cabinets, and the average cost of tile is $10 to $25 per square foot installed, the price range to tile a bathroom floor is $450 to $1,150. Of course, a larger bathroom will typically cost more due to the additional square footage, with master bathrooms costing between $1,000 and $5,000 on average. The average price to tile a bathroom floor is $875.

Size of the Bathroom

Typically, contractors will give you a price per square foot, and many require a minimum number of square feet. Often, installing larger areas can be more efficient, so the larger the area, the less it may cost per square foot.

Since the size of the room is a major factor in the price, the first thing you will need to do is find out how many square feet your bathroom floor is. Use our square footage calculator to determine the size of the floor in square feet.

Average Tile Prices

The cost to install tile can range dramatically depending on size and type. Large format tiles of more than 12″ in size can cost more both to purchase and to install because they require special techniques to ensure they are level.

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Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a clay tile covered in a glaze. Keep in mind that many types of ceramic tile are designed for wall use only. Look for ceramic floor tile with a rating of 3 or 4 on the hardness scale, ideally with a matte or textured surface.

All ceramic tiles may craze or develop cracks in the glaze over time. If this happens, they may stain, and sealing is required. Ceramic floor tile can cost $2 to $50 per square foot, depending on its size and how it’s made.

Porcelain Tile

Porcelain tiles cost anywhere from $3 to $30 per square foot. You might pay a dollar or two more per square foot for a slip-resistant tile. Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile that has a very low water absorption rate.

To be called porcelain, a tile must absorb less than 0.5%. They may be glazed or unglazed, textured or polished, and they can mimic the appearance of stone, wood, concrete, metal, or glass.

High-quality porcelain has also been rectified or shaped so that it has perfectly square edges and can give you a smaller grout joint. This type of porcelain will be more expensive than other materials.

Porcelain Wood Tile

Porcelain wood tiles offer the beauty of wood with the durability and moisture resistance of tile. They often come in rectangular dimensions to match the look of a wood floor. Expect to pay $10 to $30 per square foot for these rectangular blocks of tile.

Rectified Tile Cost

Rectified tiles will cost more than standard porcelain or ceramic tiles, often with costs well above the average rate. It’s not uncommon for costs to approach $50 per square foot in some cases. These get cut after firing to ensure a precise fit.

Marble Tile

Marble flooring offers a timeless, classic look to a bathroom floor. Marble is often available in pre-cut tiles suitable for flooring and wall applications. Marble generally costs about $3 to $50 per square foot.

An important consideration affecting the cost and labor is that marble must be sealed in wet areas to prevent staining. You will also need a waterproofing membrane beneath the tile on a shower floor.

White marbles that contain iron, like Bianco Carrara, may rust over time in the shower if a waterproofing membrane is not used. Do not use green marble in wet areas, as it is prone to spalling or flaking with prolonged water contact.

Slate & Other Stone Tile

There are many types of stone tile that can be used in the bathroom. Slate is one of the least expensive to purchase but one of the most expensive to install because it is often ungauged and requires care with laying.

All stone should be sealed in wet areas to prevent staining. Costs for stone tile will range from $3 to $100 per square foot. Expect installation costs for stone tile to be higher than other types.

Learn more about the cost of tile flooring.

Important Factors When Selecting Tile

There are a few critical features to consider when selecting bathroom tile that may impact how much the materials cost.

Mosaic Patterns

Mosaics or small tiles mounted on sheets can be inexpensive or cost hundreds of dollars per square foot, depending on the pattern, material, and how it’s made. When choosing the tiles for a bathroom floor, the homeowner has a wide variety of options, from inexpensive ceramic to cut stone and custom mosaic patterns.

Non-Slip Tile

It would be best if you choose durable, non-slip tiles for the bathroom floor, but that does not mean you are limited to stone or the usual porcelain or ceramic. Shop around and be sure the supplier knows you will use it for the bathroom floor.

Some tiles are too slippery or too brittle to use on the floor. If you are unsure, take a tile sample, wet your foot and try stepping on it. Stone tiles – evenly highly polished – tend to be less slick than polished or glazed porcelain tiles because they are porous.

Mosaic tiles have more grout lines, which can make them non-skid. All tiles can have a silicone-based sealant applied to their surface, which will increase their slip resistance.

Durability and Wear Rating

Tiles also have a wear rating from 1 to 5. This Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating will give you an indication of where you can install the tile.^[2]

Expert tile installers recommend using a tile with a 3 PEI or higher score on floors – these are generally tiles that are rated for moderate floor use. For very light use, such as accents and borders, tiles rated 2 can also be used.

Floor Preparation Costs

Tile flooring must be installed on a backer board or underlayment to prevent the tile and mortar from cracking as the wood subfloor expands and contracts with seasonal humidity changes. If the floor does not already have a good subfloor, backer board is about $5 to $6 per square foot, including material and labor.

Installing an underlayment is another excellent option, and usually costs a bit less than backer board, at about $4 to $5 per square foot.

Cost to Remove an Old Floor

The cost to install bathroom flooring goes up dramatically if you have an existing floor that needs to be removed. Removing an existing tile floor from a bathroom costs about $1 to $5 per square foot.

If the backer board or underlayment can be preserved during removal, that can save some costs in floor preparation, so do this if you can.

Tile Installation DIY Savings

You can save money when you DIY. Tiling the bathroom floor is a DIY project you can likely complete over the weekend with the right tools, talent, and technique. What’s more, there are hundreds of “How To” articles and videos online to assist with the technique.

DIY is a great option to save on the overall costs of a full bathroom renovation. However, without the right tools or time, you might want to hire a professional, as renting the tools to tile a small bathroom floor might cost more than hiring a professional.

Hiring a Professional Tile Installer

Some contractors will charge by the hour, although it is rare. The average hourly rate is between $25 and $100 per hour. Metropolitan areas usually have higher labor charges than suburban areas, but the cost of labor varies by region.

Most often, contractors will charge by the square foot or give a flat rate for the project. Adding professional installation costs about $5 – $10 per square foot on average.^[3]

Be sure to understand if the estimate includes things like grout and sealer.

Check out our flooring contractor locator to get several hassle-free estimates from professionals in your area.

All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.