How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace Tile?

April 8, 2024 by Team HomeServe

Tiles are durable, are easy to maintain and offer a wide array of design choices, so it’s no surprise they’re a common choice for floors, walls and other surfaces in homes. Tiling or retiling can also be a simple way to improve the look of a kitchen or bathroom.

This May Also Interest You: Tale of Tile: An Overview of Bathroom Tile Flooring

Thinking of replacing your current tiles or installing new ones? Costs can vary based on the type of tiles you want and where you plan to put them. Here’s a detailed guide on tile costs.

Tile Installation Costs

According to Forbes, the cost of tile installation includes the tiles, labor and additional materials. At the most basic level, you can expect to pay between $15 and $20 (CAD 20 to CAD 27) per square foot for a standard tile flooring — or about $4,200 (CAD 5,672) in total per project.

The price varies from there based on:

Contractor’s labor costs
Size and type of space to be tiled
Type of tile used

Labor Cost to Install Tile

According to HomeGuide, the labor cost for installing tiles is about $8 to $20 (CAD 11 to CAD 27) per square foot. The lower end of that price range is for floor tiling, while labor costs for a backsplash or countertop are on the upper end.

While most installers charge per square foot, some charge by the hour. Depending on the project's size and complexity, you can expect to pay about $40 to $120 (CAD 54 to CAD 162) per hour.

Request a written estimate from a reputable tile installation contractor to gauge the cost of completing the project.

Average Tile Installation Costs by Project

Tile installation cost depends on whether you're installing backsplash, countertop, floor or bathroom tiles. If you’re retiling, add about $200 to $1,400 (CAD 270 to CAD 1,890) for the removal and disposal of old tiles. Unglazed tile requires sealant can add $2 to $5 (CAD 2.70 to CAD 6.75) per square foot to the cost, according to Architectural Digest.

These are some of the most commonly tiled areas:

Cost to Tile a Shower

Shower tiles can cost anywhere from $8 to $40 (CAD 11 to CAD 54) per square foot, depending on the tiles selected. Including the cost of other materials and labor, you can expect the project to cost somewhere in the range of $800 to $10,000 (CAD 1,080 to CAD 13,505).

Cost to Tile a Bathroom

The cost for bathroom tiles varies based on square footage, the number of walls and the material you plan on using. According to data from HomeGuide, most homeowners pay an average of $7 to $25 (CAD 9.45 to CAD 34) per square foot.

Tiling a bathroom floor differs from tiling walls because working around sinks, toilets and other fixtures can make it a complicated job. Most homeowners pay an average of $400 to $8,000 (CAD 540 to CAD 10,804) to tile the floors of a standard bathroom measuring between 40 and 160 square feet.

Cost to Tile a Walk-in Shower

Most standard walk-in showers measure 84 square feet and typically cost $800 to $3,000 (CAD 1,080 to CAD 4,051) to tile, depending on your shower size and the type of tile.

Cost to Install a Kitchen Backsplash

Installing a kitchen backsplash typically costs around $10 to $50 (CAD 14 to CAD 68) per square foot. Some prefer glass tiles as a kitchen backsplash because they’re easy to clean and tile patterns come preassembled. Glass tile installation will cost around $20 to $100 (CAD 27 to CAD 135) per square foot.

The installation cost depends on the material you choose to use for the backsplash, with most homeowners paying about $200 to $2,000 (CAD 270 to CAD 2,701).

Cost to Tile a Floor

Project price varies based on the type and size of the area you’re tiling. For example, tiling the kitchen floor typically costs $1,300 to $9,200 (CAD 1,756 to CAD 12,425) for a standard kitchen of 130 square feet. Costs could exceed the average range for a larger space.

Cost to Tile a Kitchen Countertop

According to BankRate, kitchen countertop tiles range in price from about $1 to $100 (CAD 1.35 to CAD 135) per square foot, labor costs excluded.

Tile Replacement and Removal Costs

Before replacing tiles, a professional contractor will remove the existing tile first. Removal of existing tiles costs around $2 to $7 (CAD 2.70 to CAD 9.45) per square foot. The cement backer board underneath the tile costs roughly $5 to $8 (CAD 6.75 to CAD 11) per square foot to replace, based on data from Bob Vila.

More Related Articles:

Tile Costs by Type

Depending on the material used for tiling, the cost varies. (Pricing data is from This Old House.)

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are a common choice because they're similar in durability to porcelain but half the price. Ceramic tile costs $7 to $45 (CAD 9.45 to CAD 61) per square foot, including installation labor.

They're most often installed in high-traffic areas, like hallways. Even if exposed to direct sunlight repeatedly, they remain colorfast. Ceramic tiles are stain-resistant, robust, durable and moisture-resistant. Compared to porcelain, ceramic tiles don't score as easily.

Some of the key advantages of ceramic tiles:

You have a variety of colors, shapes and sizes to choose from
They're scratch- and stain-resistant
They're easy to install and pocketbook-friendly

The only disadvantage of ceramic tiles is that grout is prone to discoloration.

Porcelain

Porcelain tile averages around $12 to $40 (CAD 16 to CAD 54) per square foot. They come glazed or unglazed. Depending on where it’s installed, unglazed tile may require sealant for added moisture resistance, which can increase the total cost. Porcelain is among the most common tiling material choices because of its ability to resist stains and keep moisture at bay.

Porcelain is often installed in areas where there's a high moisture presence, like shower stalls, bathroom floors and walls, laundry rooms and kitchen backsplashes. It's also dense enough to withstand heavy traffic.

Some of the main features of porcelain tiles:

Are cost-effective
Withstand freezing temperatures
Come in various finishes like matte, textured, glazed, unglazed, gloss and semi-gloss
Are easy to clean

However, if porcelain tile chips, it can be difficult to repair.

Glass Tile

Glass tiles typically cost around $20 to $100 (CAD 27 to CAD 135) per square foot. However, glass tiles are fragile and aren't recommended for flooring as they dent or break easily. And when they do break, they’re not easy to repair. They're better for backsplashes, countertops and bathroom areas.

Some advantages of glass tiles:

Are easy to clean
Come in a variety of colors, patterns and shading options

Natural Stone

According to Forbes, the average price for natural stone tile is about $2 to $45 (CAD 2.70 to CAD 61) per square foot, plus installation labor. The tiles have a distinct look because each stone is slightly different. Most homeowners prefer the natural look for flooring, countertops, bathrooms and backsplashes.

One downside is that natural stone requires annual sealing. The tiles aren’t as durable as ceramic and are prone to scratches and dents.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.