Replacing a cracked or worn-out tile with one that’s modern, sleek, and chic adds a wow factor to your bathroom’s interior– and it can also be a part of a remodel plan that increases your home’s resale value.
Installing tiles in your bathroom makes it more attractive and resilient to the bathroom conditions– wet and moist. In addition, tiles prevent dampness and the spread and growth of moulds.
If your bathroom is beyond single tile repairs and needs a complete makeover, you need to develop a plan and a budget for your project. To do that, you need to understand the factors influencing the project’s total cost.
How Much Does it Cost to Tile a Bathroom?
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Photo Credit: Unsplash.comA bathroom with white tiles on the wall and patterned tiles on the floor
Tiling a bathroom is one of the most cost-effective ways of making your bathroom look more appealing and proportionately increase your property’s value.
The average cost of tiling a bathroom varies, but the price ranges between £500 and £800, including labour, waste removal, and the materials such as adhesives, grout, and tiles.
The material cost for tiling the bathroom varies depending on the space you desire to tile and the type of tile you shall settle on. Tile prices range from £0.50 to £20 per tile. For example, a ceramic tile for remodelling a medium-sized bathroom would be £800, including labour and materials.
After deciding on the type of tile, work out how many tiles you need by multiplying the width and the height of the area you wish to tile and add an extra 10% in case of accidental breakage, wastage, or errors during the installation process.
What are the Bathroom Tiling Prices?
Bathroom size | Tile Material | Area of Tiling | Average Cost |
Small | Granite Ceramic Granite Ceramic | Floor Floor Floor and Walls Floor and Walls | £250 – £400 £100 – £200 £1,500 – £3,000 £600 – £1,000 |
Medium | Granite Ceramic Granite Ceramic | Floor Floor Floor and Walls Floor and Walls | £500 – £700 £150 – £400 £2,500 – £3,500 £1,000 – £2,000 |
Both small and medium | Granite | Splashback above the sink | £150 – £250 |
Both small and medium | Ceramic | Splashback above the sink | £80 – £250 |
Labour cost depends on various factors such as:
- The tiler’s level of expertise
- The company size
- The length of the project
- Your property location
The table below shows the summarized estimated price of labour and supplies for large, medium, and small bathrooms.
Bathroom size | Average cost of supply | Estimated time frame | Labour | Total |
Large ( Walls and Floor) | £2,000 – £4,500 | One to three days | £200 – £250 | £2,200 – £4,750 |
Medium ( Walls and Floor) | £1,000 – £2,500 | One to three days | £100 – £200 | £1,100 – £2,700 |
Small (Walls and Floor) | £500 – £1,000 | One to three days | £100 – £150 | £600 – £1,150 |
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com A beautiful blue and white themed bathroom
What Factors Influence the Cost of Bathroom Tiling?
There is a multitude of different factors affecting the cost of bathroom tiling. Having a broad understanding of these factors will help you formulate a reasonable budget and choose the right tile for your bathroom that fits within your budget.
Size of the Bathroom
A larger bathroom will require more time and materials than a smaller bathroom. This makes the size of your bathroom a huge factor in determining the project’s final price.
However, if the bathroom is inaccessible due to space insufficiency, the cost will be different as it will require more time for the contractor to complete the job.
2. Type of Tile
There are numerous tiles in the market, and each type comes with a different price tag. In addition, the quality of the tiles differs depending on the design, shape, and size of the tile.
The table below compares the most popular tiles used across the UK and their estimated price.
Tile Material | Estimated price per M² |
Granite | £70 – £100 |
Ceramic | £15 – £50 |
Limestone | £45 – £85 |
Glass | £90 – £150 |
Marble | £30 – £60 |
Slate | £45 – £65 |
Porcelain | £60 – £90 |
3. Your Home’s Location
Prices for remodelling projects such as bathroom tiling vary depending on your location.
For instance, contractors charge higher for properties located in South East or Central London than properties in the Northern or Western regions. The difference in pricing can be attributed to factors such as high population in areas like Central London.
4. Your Project’s Scope:
Different parts in a bathroom may require tiles to make the space more beautiful. Tiling of the bathroom includes the floor, and walls behind and beneath the sink. It’s more expensive to tile both the wall and ground than to do each area separately.
However, during first-time installation or remodelling, the wall and floor combination is more popular as it leaves your bathroom with a new and finished look, ready for use.
What are the Additional Bathroom Tiling Costs?
A sink above an unrepaired wall Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Apart from the factors, we had mentioned earlier, below are some of the things you should consider during your remodelling plan:
The sealant – Not all tiles need to be sealed, such as porcelain and ceramic. However, tiles made from natural stones need to be sealed as they are porous. A spray bottle of a sealant typically goes for £20.
- Cost of removing old tiles – A contractor will charge you £30 per hour to remove and dispose of the old tiles.
- Installing underfloor heating – You could take this opportunity and install underfloor heating in your bathroom. A warm floor will be more than a pleasant feeling during the winter season. The price varies depending on the type of underfloor heating you shall choose, starting from £110 per m².
- Wall and sub-floor preparation – Before installing new tiles, your floor and wall may require some remedial work as they are usually uneven. This means laying plywood or installing new plasterboard. The moisture resistance for the plywood and plasterboard costs £15.
How to Save Money on Bathroom Tiling
For a project like bathroom tiling that mainly focuses on the aesthetic appearance of the bathroom, you should consider having a higher budget to achieve the desired look. You can opt for one or all of the following ways to save you money during bathroom tiling.
- Go for DIY Rather Than a Contractor
Installing tiles for the bathroom can be pretty easy for anyone with reasonable DIY skills. Depending on the project’s complexity, the length of the project will vary. Doing the task yourself can save you £30 per hour that a contractor would have charged you to rip out old tiles.
A fully tiled bathroom can take up to six hours for all the tiles to be removed– saving you £180 as the whole process can take four to six hours to be completed.
1. Source Your Materials
Get multiple quotes before settling and hiring a contractor for your bathroom tiling project. In addition, visit various stores to compare the price of each material.
Some contractors can charge you extra money for transportation; therefore, if you can buy and transport the materials, you may end up saving up to £100.
2. Dispose of the Old Tiles
A contractor will charge you £30 to gather and professionally dispose of the remaining wreckage and broken tiles. However, If you decide to perform the task, you will pay £5 to the disposing sites, saving £25
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Obtain a Planning Permission for Bathroom Renovation?
There’s no need to get planning permission for bathroom or kitchen remodelling projects. Planning permissions are only necessary for new bathroom installation or remodelling on a listed building.
A listed building is a building that has a historical interest or special architectural value to the government that they consider the structure of national importance worth protecting.
How Long will the new Tiles Last?
Tiles are a worthy investment in any property. A well-maintained natural stone tile can go for 100 years, while manufactured tiles can go up to 75 years.
What Maintenance Routine Do my Bathroom Tiles Need?
For your tiles to last, they require regular cleaning and care using gentle cleaning products. Avoid using very alkaline products as they can weaken the sealant layers from the tiles. If you have porous tiles, consider resealing them once every three to five years.
| Bathroom size | Tile Material | Area of Tiling | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Granite Ceramic Granite Ceramic | Floor Floor Floor and Walls Floor and Walls | £250 – £400 £100 – £200 £1,500 – £3,000 £600 – £1,000 |
| Medium | Granite Ceramic Granite Ceramic | Floor Floor Floor and Walls Floor and Walls | £500 – £700 £150 – £400 £2,500 – £3,500 £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Both small and medium | Granite | Splashback above the sink | £150 – £250 |
| Both small and medium | Ceramic | Splashback above the sink | £80 – £250 |
Labour cost depends on various factors such as:
- The tiler’s level of expertise
- The company size
- The length of the project
- Your property location
The table below shows the summarized estimated price of labour and supplies for large, medium, and small bathrooms.
| Bathroom size | Average cost of supply | Estimated time frame | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large ( Walls and Floor) | £2,000 – £4,500 | One to three days | £200 – £250 | £2,200 – £4,750 |
| Medium ( Walls and Floor) | £1,000 – £2,500 | One to three days | £100 – £200 | £1,100 – £2,700 |
| Small (Walls and Floor) | £500 – £1,000 | One to three days | £100 – £150 | £600 – £1,150 |
What Factors Influence the Cost of Bathroom Tiling?
There is a multitude of different factors affecting the cost of bathroom tiling. Having a broad understanding of these factors will help you formulate a reasonable budget and choose the right tile for your bathroom that fits within your budget. 1. Size of the Bathroom A larger bathroom will require more time and materials than a smaller bathroom. This makes the size of your bathroom a huge factor in determining the project’s final price. However, if the bathroom is inaccessible due to space insufficiency, the cost will be different as it will require more time for the contractor to complete the job. 2. Type of Tile There are numerous tiles in the market, and each type comes with a different price tag. In addition, the quality of the tiles differs depending on the design, shape, and size of the tile. The table below compares the most popular tiles used across the UK and their estimated price.| Tile Material | Estimated price per M² |
|---|---|
| Granite | £70 – £100 |
| Ceramic | £15 – £50 |
| Limestone | £45 – £85 |
| Glass | £90 – £150 |
| Marble | £30 – £60 |
| Slate | £45 – £65 |
| Porcelain | £60 – £90 |
Your Home’s Location
Prices for remodelling projects such as bathroom tiling vary depending on your location.
For instance, contractors charge higher for properties located in South East or Central London than properties in the Northern or Western regions. The difference in pricing can be attributed to factors such as high population in areas like Central London.
Your Project’s Scope:
Different parts in a bathroom may require tiles to make the space more beautiful. Tiling the bathroom includes the floor, walls behind and beneath the sink. It’s more expensive to tile both the wall and ground than doing each area separately.
However, during first-time installation or remodelling, the wall and floor combination is more popular as it leaves your bathroom with a new and finished look, ready for use.
What are the Additional Bathroom Tiling Costs?
Apart from the factors we had mentioned earlier, below are some of the things you should consider during your remodelling plan:
- The sealant – Not all tiles need to be sealed, such as porcelain and ceramic. However, tiles made from natural stones need to be sealed as they are porous. A spray bottle of a sealant typically goes for £20.
- Cost of removing old tiles – A contractor will charge you £30 per hour to remove and dispose of the old tiles.
- Installing underfloor heating – You could take this opportunity and install underfloor heating in your bathroom. A warm floor will be more than a pleasant feeling during the winter season. The price varies depending on the type of underfloor heating you shall choose, starting from £110 per m².
- Wall and sub-floor preparation – Before installing new tiles, your floor and wall may require some remedial work as they are usually uneven. This means laying plywood or installing new plasterboard. The moisture resistance for the plywood and plasterboard costs £15
How to Save Money on Bathroom Tiling
For a project like a bathroom tiling that mainly focuses on the aesthetic appearance of the bathroom, you should consider having a higher budget to achieve the desired look. You can opt for one or all of the following ways to save you money during bathroom tiling.
Go for DIY Rather Than a Contractor
Installing tiles for the bathroom can be pretty easy for anyone with reasonable DIY skills. Depending on the project’s complexity, the length of the project will vary. Doing the task yourself can save you £30 per hour that a contractor would have charged you to rip out old tiles.
A fully tiled bathroom can take up to six hours for all the tiles to be removed– saving you £180 as the whole process can take four to six hours to be completed.
Source Your Materials
Get multiple quotes before settling and hiring a contractor for your bathroom tiling project. In addition, visit various stores to compare the price of each material.
Some contractors can charge you extra money for transportation; therefore, if you can buy and transport the materials, you may end up saving up to £100.
Dispose of the Old Tiles
A contractor will charge you £30 to gather and professionally dispose of the remaining wreckage and broken tiles. However, If you decide to perform the task, you will pay £5 to the disposing sites, saving £25
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need to Obtain a Planning Permission for Bathroom Renovation?
There’s no need to get planning permission for bathroom or kitchen remodelling projects. Planning permissions are only necessary for new bathroom installation or remodelling on a listed building.
A listed building is a building that has a historical interest or special architectural value to the government that they consider the structure of national importance worth protecting.
How Long will the new Tiles Last?
Tiles are a worthy investment to any property. A well-maintained natural stone tile can go for 100 years, while manufactured tiles can go up to 75 years.
What Maintenance Routine Does my Bathroom Tiles Need?
For your tiles to last, they require regular cleaning and care using gentle cleaning products. Avoid using very alkaline products as they can weaken the sealant layers from the tiles. If you have porous tiles, consider resealing them once every three to five years.
