Cost to tile a bathroom, and tiling cost per square metre

Tiles, per square metre

hipages tiling cost calculator, read 3 October 2026.

What a tiler charges

Cost to tile a bathroom

hipages puts bathroom tilers at $35 to $120 per square metre, about $60 on average, and waterproofing at $500 to $750 for an average bathroom. Ideas to spend it on: bathroom tile ideas.

Working out your tiling cost

1. Measure the area. Floors: length times width. Walls: length times height, minus doors and windows. Add the floor and wall areas together.
2. Add 10 per cent for cuts and breakages, or 15 per cent or more for herringbone, chevron or diagonal layouts.
3. Price the tiles at the per-square-metre price of the tile you want.
4. Price the labour at the tiler's per-square-metre rate for the tile size and pattern.
5. Add the extras: removing old tiles, preparing and levelling the surface, waterproofing in wet areas, trims, grout and sealing.

As a worked example, a 3 m by 2 m bathroom floor is 6 square metres. Walls tiled to 2.1 m high around a 10 m perimeter add about 21 square metres, less a doorway, so about 25 square metres of tiling in total before waste. At hipages' combined low and high ranges, that is a wide band, which is why itemised quotes matter.

What a tiler's quote includes

A good quote lists the area to be tiled, the tile size and pattern, surface preparation (screeding, levelling, sheeting), the adhesive and grout, trims, silicone, and cleaning up. Waterproofing is usually a separate line, done by a licensed waterproofer before the tiler starts. Removing old tiles and disposing of them is often extra. Ask whether the price assumes you supply the tiles.

What makes tiling cost more

• Large-format tiles, which need very flat surfaces and two people to lay.
• Small mosaics, which take longer per square metre.
• Patterns such as herringbone, chevron and diagonal layouts, with many cuts.
• Full-height walls and niches, with more cuts and corners.
• Poor surfaces that need levelling or new sheeting first.
• Stone, which needs sealing and careful handling.
• Access, such as upstairs bathrooms with no lift or parking nearby.

Re-grouting instead of re-tiling

If the tiles are sound and only the grout is stained or cracked, re-grouting is far cheaper than re-tiling. A tiler rakes out the old grout, regrouts, and replaces the silicone in corners. It will not fix tiles that are drummy (hollow when tapped) or leaking showers with failed waterproofing; those need the tiles off.

Tiling over old tiles

Tiling over existing tiles is sometimes possible on walls if the old tiles are firmly stuck, flat and clean, and the extra thickness does not cause problems with fittings, doors or trims. On a shower floor or anywhere the waterproofing is suspect, the old tiles should come off. Ask your tiler to check before you plan on it.

Tiling licences in NSW

In NSW, wall and floor tiling is licensed work: a tiler needs a licence for jobs over $5,000 including GST, and waterproofing needs its own licence whatever the price. Check the tiler's licence on the NSW Government licence check before you sign, and ask for a written contract for any job over $5,000.

How long tiling takes

A tiler can usually tile a standard bathroom in a few days once waterproofing has cured, longer for full-height walls, small mosaics or complex patterns. Grout needs time to cure before the shower is used, so check with your tiler how long to wait.

Doing it yourself

Tiling a splashback or a laundry wall is a reasonable weekend job for a careful owner with the right tools. Bathroom floors and showers are harder: falls to the drain, waterproofing and large tiles all go wrong easily, and a failed shower costs much more to fix than a tiler would have charged.

Floor tiling across the house

Tiling living areas, hallways and kitchens costs much the same per square metre as a bathroom floor, but the job is usually simpler: no waterproofing, few cuts and large open areas. The tile choice matters more: large-format porcelain looks seamless across open-plan rooms but needs a very flat slab, and grout colour changes how busy the floor looks. Allow for removing old flooring, levelling the slab, and new skirting where the floor meets the walls.

Outdoor tiling

Outdoor tiles on patios, alfresco areas and pool surrounds need a higher slip resistance than indoor tiles, frost and UV resistance in some areas, and falls so water drains away from the house. Thick outdoor pavers laid on pedestals or a bed of sand can be cheaper than tiling onto a concrete slab. Ask your tile shop for tiles rated for outdoor use and for wet barefoot areas around a pool.

Kitchen and laundry walls

Splashbacks and laundry walls are small areas, so the per-square-metre labour rate is often higher, and tilers may charge a minimum fee. Combining small tiling jobs into one visit, such as a splashback, a laundry wall and a powder room, usually costs less than booking each one separately.

Getting tiling quotes

Get at least three written quotes for the same tiles, pattern and areas. Check that each quote says who supplies the tiles, adhesive and grout, whether preparation and removal of old tiles are included, and when the tiler can start. A tiler who visits to measure and look at the surfaces will give a more accurate price than one quoting from a phone call. Ask to see photos of recent work with the same tile size and pattern as yours.

When to choose a cheaper tile, and when not to

The tile is often a smaller share of the cost than the labour, so a much cheaper tile saves less than you might expect, and a poor tile can cost more to lay if it is warped or uneven. Spend on tiles where they matter most: the floor, which takes the wear, and the one wall people see first. Choose plain, well-made tiles for the rest.

How tile size changes the price

Very small tiles and mosaics come on mesh sheets, which speeds laying but still means more grout lines to fill and clean. Standard sizes such as 300 by 600 mm are the quickest for most tilers. Very large tiles, 1200 mm long or more, need flat walls and floors, special levelling clips and often two people to lift and place, so the per-square-metre labour rate rises even though there are fewer tiles.

Tiling a shower

A shower is the most demanding area to tile. The floor must fall evenly to the drain, the waterproofing must be finished and cured, and the tiles must be laid with full adhesive coverage so water cannot sit behind them. Linear drains allow a single fall and larger tiles; centre drains need four falls and smaller tiles or careful cuts. Expect a tiler to charge more per square metre in the shower than on a dry wall.

Replacing a few broken tiles

If only a few tiles are cracked or loose, a tiler can usually cut out the damaged tiles and replace them, as long as you have spare tiles from the same batch. If you do not, take a tile to a tile shop to match it as closely as possible. Loose tiles in a shower can point to failed waterproofing underneath, so ask the tiler to check before simply sticking them back.

Preparing for the tiler

Clear the room, make sure the waterproofing is finished and certified, have the tiles, adhesive and grout on site if you are supplying them, and agree the layout and the starting point. A tiler who can start work without waiting will finish sooner and charge less for lost time.

What tiling adds to a renovation budget

In a bathroom renovation, tiles and tiling labour are one of the largest single costs after plumbing. Choosing a standard tile size, a simple layout and tiling only the wet zones to full height can cut the tiling bill noticeably without making the room look cheap.

Grout, adhesive and sealing costs

Adhesive, grout, trims and sealant are a small share of the bill but add up across a whole room, and a tiler will usually include them in the quote. Epoxy grout and specialist adhesives for large-format or stone tiles cost more. Natural stone and unglazed tiles need sealing after laying and again every few years.

Signs of a good tiling job

When the job is done, check that grout lines are straight and even, that tiles sit flat without edges sticking up (called lippage), that cuts are at the least visible edges and of a sensible size, that there are no hollow-sounding tiles when you tap them, that silicone is neat in corners and changes of plane, and that water runs to the drain in the shower without pooling. Raise any problem before final payment.

Tiling cost FAQs from readers

Readers most often ask whether tiling is cheaper per square metre on big jobs (usually yes, because set-up time is spread over more area), whether a tiler can start the day after waterproofing (no, the membrane needs time to cure, as set out by the product maker), and whether they can supply their own tiles (usually yes, but the tiler will not guarantee the tiles themselves). Ask your tiler about each of these when you get a quote.

Choosing between tilers

Price matters, but the cheapest quote is not always the best value. Choose a licensed tiler who visits to measure, explains how they will prepare the surfaces, shows photos of similar work, gives a clear written quote and start date, and answers your questions about layout and grout without hurry.

Removing old tiles

Removing old tiles adds labour and disposal to the job. Wall tiles on plasterboard often take the board with them, which then needs replacing; floor tiles on a concrete slab can be chipped off, but the slab may need grinding and levelling before new tiles go down. In homes built before 1990, the adhesive or sheeting under old tiles can contain asbestos, so have it tested before removal starts. Ask for removal to be priced as its own line, so you can compare quotes fairly and decide whether tiling over is an option.

Heated floors and tiles

Electric underfloor heating mats sit under the tiles and suit bathrooms in cooler parts of the state. The mat is laid on the prepared floor, covered with a thin layer of levelling compound or tile adhesive, and tiled over. An electrician connects it to a thermostat on a dedicated circuit. The tiler's rate may rise slightly for the extra care needed.

Paying a tiler

For small jobs, tilers often ask for payment on completion; for larger jobs, a deposit and progress payments are common. In NSW, a deposit for residential building work is capped by law, and any job over $5,000 needs a written contract. Pay by a traceable method and keep receipts.

Floors elsewhere

Laundry floor tiles are $35 to $50 per square metre in ceramic or porcelain; laundry ideas. For kitchens, splashback ideas.

Common questions