Home / Cost guides / What changes the cost of tiling?
What changes the cost of tiling?
Tiling costs depend on the area, the size and material of the tiles, what has to come off first, how much the walls or floor need preparing, waterproofing in wet areas, the layout and the trims. This guide prints no price, so compare quotes from tilers for the same tiles, the same preparation and the same finish.
Last reviewed:What a tiling job covers
Tiling is more than sticking tiles to a wall or floor. A tiler's day is often split between preparing the surface, setting out the layout, cutting, fixing, grouting and finishing. On some jobs, the preparation takes longer than the tiling itself.
A typical job includes:
- Removing old tiles, wallpaper, flooring or loose plaster.
- Preparing the surface: levelling, priming, boarding or waterproofing.
- Setting out the layout, so cuts fall in sensible places.
- Fixing the tiles with the right adhesive.
- Cutting around corners, pipes, sockets and windows.
- Grouting, sealing and fitting trims.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns. Anyone in the UK can post a job or register a business. This guide does not print a price. It explains what changes the cost of tiling and how to compare quotes fairly.
What changes the cost of tiling
| What is being priced | What makes it bigger or smaller | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Square metres of wall or floor | How the area was measured |
| Tiles | Supplied by you or by the tiler, size, material | Whether tiles are in the price |
| Tile size | Mosaics, standard, large format | How the size affects the time |
| Material | Ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass | Any extra cutting, sealing or care |
| Removal | Old tiles, flooring, adhesive residue | Whether removal and disposal are included |
| Surface preparation | Levelling, priming, boarding, crack repairs | What preparation is allowed for |
| Waterproofing | Showers, wet rooms, splashbacks | Which system and where it goes |
| Layout | Straight, brick bond, herringbone, diagonal | How the pattern affects cuts and waste |
| Trims and edges | Metal or plastic trims, mitred edges | Which trims are included |
| Underfloor heating | Mats under floor tiles | Whether the heating is part of the job |
| VAT | Whether the business is VAT registered | Whether the total includes VAT |
A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover goes over £90,000 [S5]. Ask whether every quote includes VAT.
Tile size, material and layout
The tiles you choose change both the materials and the labour.
- Ceramic wall tiles are light and easy to cut.
- Porcelain is denser and harder, and slower to cut and drill.
- Natural stone is heavy, varies from tile to tile, and often needs sealing.
- Large-format tiles need very flat surfaces and careful handling.
- Mosaics come on sheets, but every sheet has many joints to grout.
The pattern matters too. A straight lay is quickest. Brick bond, herringbone and diagonal layouts need more cuts and more spare tiles. Ask each tiler how much spare they would order for your layout, and who pays for any extra tiles.
Preparing walls and floors
Tiles are only as good as what they are stuck to. Before tiling, a tiler will check that the surface is sound, flat and suitable for the tile weight.
Walls may need:
- old tiles removed and the wall made good
- loose plaster patched
- plasterboard or tile backer boards fitted, especially in showers
- priming, depending on the surface and adhesive
Floors may need:
- old flooring and adhesive removed
- a levelling compound to flatten dips
- extra boarding over timber floors to stop movement
- a decoupling membrane in some cases
Ask each tiler what preparation they have allowed for, and what happens if they find more once the old surface is off.
Old tiles and asbestos
Removing old tiles makes dust and debris. In older buildings, some materials may contain asbestos. HSE lists asbestos vinyl floor tiles, asbestos bitumen adhesive used to stick floor tiles down, and asbestos paper-backed floor covering among floor coverings that can contain asbestos [S1]. It says asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000 [S2].
If your old floor tiles, or the adhesive under them, could be that old:
- do not break up, sand or grind them yourself
- ask for a sample to be tested before work starts
- tell every tiler quoting what the old floor is
- if asbestos is found, the removal will need to be done safely, which changes the method and the price
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Showers, wet rooms and waterproofing
In wet areas, tiles and grout are not fully waterproof on their own. Water can get through grout lines and soak into the wall or floor behind. In showers and wet rooms, tilers usually fit a waterproofing system first, such as a tanking membrane or waterproof backer boards.
A wet room is a bigger job than a standard shower. The floor has to fall to the drain, and the whole floor is waterproofed. Ask each tiler which system they would use, where it goes, and whether the price includes it. Many bathroom jobs also need a plumber, so ask who arranges the plumbing.
Grout, trims and finishing
Grout and trims are small items that change the look and the time.
- Grout. Cement-based grout suits most jobs. Epoxy grout is harder wearing but slower to use. Grout colour affects how staining shows.
- Trims. External corners and tile edges can be finished with metal or plastic trims, or mitred. Mitring takes much longer.
- Sealant. Joints at baths, trays, worktops and floors need flexible sealant.
Curing time affects when you can use the room. Mapei's data sheet for its Ultracolor Plus grout gives about 3 hours before light foot traffic and 24 hours before the surface is ready for use [S3]. Adhesives and other grouts differ, so ask the tiler what they are using.
Buying your own tiles
Many homeowners choose and buy their own tiles, then pay a tiler to fit them. That gives you control over the look, but it puts the ordering on you. Before you buy, ask the tiler to check the quantity, the adhesive and grout that suit the tile, and how much spare to allow for cuts and breakages. Keep a few spare tiles after the job for future repairs, because the same batch can be hard to find later.
Tiling in Cheshire
When you post a tiling job, include the rooms, rough measurements, photos of the walls or floor as they are now, and the tiles you have chosen if any. Say whether old tiles need removing and whether the house is older. A tiler covering Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the villages nearby can then judge the preparation and give a firmer price.
Some tilers prefer to see the job before quoting, especially for floors and wet rooms. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business on QuoteZila.
What to have ready before you ask for quotes
- the rooms and areas to be tiled, with rough sizes
- photos of the walls or floor as they are now
- the tiles you have chosen, with size and material, if known
- whether you are buying the tiles or want the tiler to supply them
- what has to come off first
- the layout you want
- whether a shower, wet room or underfloor heating is involved
- your postcode and when the work could be done
How to compare tiling quotes
Check each quote for:
- The areas included and their size.
- Whether tiles, adhesive, grout and trims are in the price.
- Removal of old tiles and disposal.
- Surface preparation and boarding.
- Waterproofing in wet areas.
- The layout, and how much spare is allowed.
- Sealant at baths, trays and worktops.
- Whether VAT is included, and whether the price is fixed.
Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least three different traders before you choose [S4]. It also says to be cautious if a price is a lot lower than other quotes [S4]. A low tiling quote may leave out preparation or waterproofing that another tiler has included.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Tile a kitchen splashback between worktop and wall units. Tiles bought already." Or: "Remove old tiles in a shower enclosure, fit backer boards and waterproofing, and retile floor to ceiling." Or: "Tile a hall floor in porcelain. Old vinyl to come up first. House is older, so happy to arrange a test."
Get quotes from tilers
Describe the rooms, the tiles and what is there now, with photos and your postcode. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See the tilers page, bathroom fitters, kitchen fitters or flooring fitters. For tired grout on existing tiles, see what changes the cost of regrouting.
Official and public sources
QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
- Asbestos in floor tiles: HSE: locations of asbestos, including floor coverings [S1].
- Where asbestos is found: HSE: why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found [S2].
- Grout curing times: Mapei technical data sheet for Ultracolor Plus grout [S3].
- Quotes: Citizens Advice [S4].
- VAT: GOV.UK on when to register [S5].
Questions about tiling costs
How much does tiling cost?
This guide does not print a price. The area, the tile size and material, removing old tiles, preparing the surface, waterproofing and the layout all change the total. Ask each tiler to quote for the same tiles and the same preparation, and to say whether tiles are included.
Do tilers charge by the square metre?
Some do, some price by the day and some by the job. A square-metre price may not include preparation, removing old tiles, trims or grout. Ask exactly what each quote covers before comparing.
Do large tiles cost more to fit?
Often, yes. Large-format tiles need a flatter surface, more adhesive coverage and careful handling, and cuts are harder. Very small tiles and mosaics take time too, because of the number of joints. Ask how the tile size affects each quote.
Could old floor tiles contain asbestos?
In older buildings, they might. HSE lists asbestos vinyl floor tiles, and the bitumen adhesive used to stick floor tiles down, among floor coverings that can contain asbestos. It also says asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000. Ask for a test before old floor tiles are lifted or broken up.
Can new tiles go over old ones?
Sometimes, if the old tiles are sound, well stuck and flat, and the extra thickness will not cause problems at doors, sockets or worktops. Many tilers prefer to remove old tiles. Ask each tiler what they recommend for your surface.
How soon can I use a tiled floor?
It depends on the adhesive and grout. Mapei's data sheet for its Ultracolor Plus grout gives about 3 hours before light foot traffic and 24 hours before the surface is ready for use. Ask the tiler what they used and follow its instructions.
Does QuoteZila check the tilers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Related guides
- Tilers: walls, floors, showers and splashbacks
- Bathroom fitters: full bathroom refits
- Kitchen fitters: splashbacks and kitchen floors
- Flooring fitters: other floor finishes
- All cost guides
Part of Cost guides. All services
Related trades
Related pages
- Cost to Tile a Bathroom: What Sets the Price. What sets the cost to tile a bathroom: area, tile choice, strip-out, wall and floor prep, waterproofing, trims and grout, plus FMB figures for labour and tiles.
- Regrout Tiles Cost: What Changes the Price. What changes the cost to regrout tiles: the area, joint width, raking out old grout, cement or epoxy grout, sealant lines, mould and loose tiles, and access.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ "How does getting quotes work?".
- S1: Locations of asbestos and taking the right action, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/location-materials.htm
- S2: Introduction to asbestos safety: Why asbestos is dangerous and where it can be found, HSE. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/introduction/why-and-where.htm
- S3: Ultracolor Plus technical data sheet (GB), Mapei. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.mapei.com/docs/librariesprovider26/products-documents/1_2801_ultracolorplus__gb_f3ca3cd73f6341819d68bd1c6526a116.pdf?sfvrsn=a8264edf_0
- S4: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-28. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat