How much does tiling cost per m² in Australia?
Labour, tile supply, waterproofing and removal all stack up. Here's what tiling really costs per square metre in 2026, and how to price your own job.
Updated
Tiling is one of those jobs where the headline rate hides most of the real cost. A tiler might quote "$60 a metre", but that's usually labour only, and a finished bathroom involves tile supply, waterproofing, removal of the old surface, and sometimes floor levelling on top. This guide pulls those layers apart so you can read a quote properly and estimate your own job.
All figures are 2026 estimates for Australian residential work, GST inclusive.
Tiling cost per m²: the layers
| Cost layer | Typical rate (per m²) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labour, standard floor/wall | $45-$90 | Square tiles, straightforward layout |
| Labour, large-format / mosaic / pattern | $70-$150 | Slower set-out, more cuts |
| Tile supply (budget → premium) | $50-$120+ | Porcelain mid-band; natural stone higher |
| Waterproofing (wet areas, AS 3740) | $40-$70 | Mandatory before tiling wet areas |
| Tile removal + prep | ~$45 | Range ~$25-$65 depending on substrate |
These bands line up with current Australian guides putting fully-installed tiling broadly between $50 and $150/m² once labour and supply are combined (TradieVerify, Airtasker, Yellow Pages).
What drives the price
- Tile size and layout. Big tiles look great but are unforgiving. A 600×1200 large-format tile needs a dead-flat substrate, levelling clips and often two people to place. Mosaics are the other extreme: tiny pieces, huge set-out time. Both cost more to lay than a standard 300×300.
- Wall vs floor. Wall tiling generally costs a little more per m² than floor because of gravity, temporary support and cuts around fixtures.
- Waterproofing. Under AS 3740, showers, bathroom floors and laundries must be waterproofed before tiling. It's a code requirement and a building-inspection checkpoint, not an upsell.
- What's already there. Stripping old tiles, grinding off old adhesive, and levelling an uneven or sloping floor all add labour before a single new tile goes down.
- Job size. Small rooms cost more per m² than big open areas, because setup, cutting and clean-up time barely change whether it's a 4 m² laundry or a 60 m² living floor.
A worked example: a standard bathroom
A typical bathroom re-tile: 5 m² of floor and 20 m² of walls (25 m² total), mid-range porcelain, removing the existing tiles, with the wet area waterproofed to AS 3740.
| Line item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Remove old tiles + prep (25 m² @ ~$45) | $1,125 |
| Waterproofing wet area (~7 m² @ ~$60) | $420 |
| Tile supply (25 m² @ ~$80) | $2,000 |
| Labour (25 m² @ ~$70) | $1,750 |
| Total (inc GST) | ≈ $5,300 |
That's about $212/m² all-in for a mid-spec bathroom, a useful benchmark. Choose budget tiles and skip removal (tiling over a sound surface where allowed) and you'd come in lower; choose large-format stone with a feature wall and the same room can climb past $8,000.
How prices vary across Australia
Tiling labour follows the same broad pattern as most trades: Sydney and Melbourne sit at the top, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide a little lower, and regional rates depend on how busy local tilers are. Tile supply prices are more national. The same porcelain range costs much the same in any capital, so the regional swing mostly shows up in the labour line. A premium large-format bathroom in inner Sydney can cost noticeably more to lay than the identical job in suburban Adelaide, even though the tiles cost the same.
Lead times matter too. Imported stone and designer tiles can take weeks to arrive, and a tiler who has to come back for a second mobilisation because the tiles weren't on site will charge for it.
How to keep tiling costs down
- Standardise the tile size where you can, for fewer cuts, faster lay and lower labour.
- Don't cut waterproofing. It's cheap insurance against a four-figure leak and a failed inspection.
- Decide supply early. If you're supplying tiles, order ~10% extra for cuts and breakages and confirm lead times before the tiler starts.
Questions worth asking before you commit
- Is waterproofing included and who's licensed to do it? Confirm it's quoted and compliant with AS 3740, not assumed.
- Does the quote include removal, prep and levelling? These hidden lines are where "cheap" quotes balloon on the day.
- Who supplies the tiles, and how much wastage is allowed? Aim for ~10% extra on supply to cover cuts and breakages.
- Is the price per m² or a fixed job total? A fixed total for a defined scope is easiest to compare between tilers.
- What happens if the substrate isn't sound? Agree upfront how variations (rotten floor, hollow render) are priced.
The cheapest tiling quote is often the one that quietly leaves out waterproofing, removal or levelling. Compare like-for-like scopes, not just headline rates.
Get a real number
A per-m² average can't see your tile choice, your wet-area size, or what's hiding under the old floor. Get a written, itemised quote from a licensed local tradie once they have seen the job. If you are the tradie quoting it, Karven brings up common tiling items with starting prices as you type, and your customer can accept online. See how Karven works for tiling.
Common questions
- How much does a tiler charge per m² in Australia?
- For 2026, tiling labour typically runs $45-$90/m² for standard floor and wall tiles. Large-format tiles, mosaics and intricate patterns push labour to roughly $70-$150/m² because they're slower to set out, cut and level. That's labour only. Tiles, waterproofing and removal are separate.
- Why is wall tiling more expensive than floor tiling?
- Gravity works against the tiler on a wall, tiles need temporary support while the adhesive grabs, and cuts around taps, niches and corners are fiddly. The same tile usually costs a bit more per m² to lay on a wall than on a floor for those reasons.
- How much does waterproofing cost and is it required?
- Waterproofing wet areas (showers, bathroom and laundry floors) is mandatory under Australian Standard AS 3740 and must be done before tiling, generally by a licensed waterproofer. Budget roughly $40-$70/m² for the treated area. It's not optional. Skipping or under-doing it is the single most common cause of expensive leaks and failed building inspections.
- How much does it cost to remove old tiles?
- Tile removal and prep typically adds about $45/m² (commonly seen in the $25-$65/m² range depending on what's underneath and how well the old tiles are bonded). Old beds over timber floors or multiple layers of tile cost more to strip and make good.
- Should I supply my own tiles?
- You can, and on a tight budget customer-supplied tiles can save money. But you wear the risk of short-ordering, breakages and lead times. Many tilers prefer to supply so they control quality and quantity, and some charge a slightly higher labour rate on customer-supplied jobs to cover the extra handling.
- How do I get an accurate tiling quote?
- The total depends on your area, tile size, how much waterproofing and removal is involved, and your tile choice. For a firm price, get a written quote from a licensed local tradie once they have seen the job.
Get a firm price
Prices vary by state, access and spec. A licensed local tradie who's seen the job can give you a firm quote.
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