Labour rates by tile type
Labour only, on a prepared and flat substrate. Tiles, adhesive and grout are extra.
| Standard ceramic or porcelain | £45 to £65 per m2 | Most bathroom walls and floors |
|---|---|---|
| Large format, over 600mm | £65 to £95 per m2 | Needs levelling clips and two fitters |
| Mosaic and small format | £90 to £140 per m2 | Far more setting out per metre |
| Patterned or herringbone layouts | £75 to £110 per m2 | More cuts and slower setting out |
| Natural stone | £70 to £100 per m2 | Plus sealing before and after grouting |
Preparation is not optional
Tiles do not straighten a wall, they reveal it. A wall that is out by 10mm over two metres shows as lipping between every large tile, so it gets battened, boarded or skimmed first. In wet areas the boarding is backer board, not plasterboard, and it is tanked before a tile goes near it.
- Backer boarding to wet areas, £22 to £35 per m2
- Tanking to shower zones, £18 to £30 per m2
- Removing old tiles and adhesive, £12 to £25 per m2
- Levelling an uneven floor, £15 to £40 per m2
What a typical job comes to
A fully tiled family bathroom of around 25 square metres, in standard porcelain with backer boarding and tanking, usually lands between £2,200 and £3,400 in labour and preparation, plus your tile choice. A kitchen splashback in metro tile is more often £350 to £700.
Details that separate good tiling from average
Set out from the centre so cuts land evenly at both ends rather than leaving a 20mm sliver in the corner. Mitre external corners instead of using a plastic trim where the tile allows. Keep grout lines continuous between the wall and the floor. Finish internal corners with silicone rather than grout, because grout in a movement corner always cracks.
Common questions
- How much does it cost to tile a bathroom?
- Around £2,200 to £3,400 in labour and preparation for a fully tiled family bathroom, plus the tiles themselves. Half height tiling is usually about 40 per cent less.
- Why are large tiles more expensive to fit?
- They need a genuinely flat substrate, levelling clips to prevent lipping and two people to place safely. The rate is higher per metre even though the metres go on faster.
- Can you tile over existing tiles?
- Sometimes, if the existing tiles are sound, well bonded and the extra thickness does not foul a door or a window reveal. We prefer to strip back in wet areas so we can tank properly behind.
- Does natural stone need sealing?
- Yes, usually before grouting and again afterwards, then periodically. That is factored into the rate and is one reason stone costs more to fit than porcelain.
- How long does a bathroom tiling job take?
- Three to four days for a full bathroom once the walls are prepared, including curing time between tiling and grouting.