Tiling Cost per m² in Australia (2026 Prices)

Most tilers charge by the square metre, and the tiles cost extra. This guide prices both, with our tiles in whole boxes. It also shows what adds to the bill, and why small jobs cost more.

Want your own number now? Jump to the tiling cost calculator. Our prices are from 11 November 2026, with typical tiler rates across Australia.

Tiling cost per m² by job

Here's what tile installation costs across Australia, for labour only. The last column adds our tiles and adhesive, so you see the full price a m².

A splashback is a small job, so many tilers charge it by time, not by the m². See what tilers charge per day.

Large tiles cost more to lay. They're heavy and need a very flat floor. Long ones take two people to carry and place.

What do tiles cost on their own? It depends on the tile. Here are typical prices a m², before laying.

Not sure which kind you need? Our guide to porcelain vs ceramic tiles explains the difference.

Tiling cost calculator

Price your own job in three taps. The tool counts whole boxes the same way as our tile calculator.

Need grout too, or a room with odd shapes? Our tile calculator works out grout and adhesive. It also takes away windows and doors.

What real tiling jobs cost

Here are four common jobs, priced with our tiles in whole boxes. The tiler is at low, typical and high rates.

A 12 m² kitchen floor. In Brescia Earth, it needs 37 tiles, with 10% extra for cuts. They come 4 to a box, so you buy 10 boxes. At a typical $60 a m², the tiler costs $720.

A 35 m² open-plan floor. In Brescia Iconic, it takes 27 boxes of two big tiles each. Large tiles cost more to lay, about $85 a m². So the floor comes to about $5,330, or $152 a m².

A 6 m² laundry floor. It only needs 5 boxes. But small jobs are often charged by time. At a day's rate, the tiler costs about $630. Laid, the floor comes to about $165 a m².

Laundries have wet-area rules in the building code too. Ask your tiler what yours needs.

A 3 m² kitchen splashback. It takes 4 boxes of Chroma, at $38 a box. Most of the cost is the tiler's day. Expect about $710 to $1,010, laid.

A job costs more than its area times the rate. You buy whole boxes and bags, and small jobs are often charged by time.

How much do tilers charge per day?

Tilers charge about $500 to $800 for a full day on site. About $630 is typical. By the hour, it's about $50 to $100.

In Brisbane, one recent guide puts an experienced tiler's day at $550 to $900.

Small jobs don't suit a price per m². So many tilers charge them by the hour or the day, or set a minimum charge. That's why a small floor costs more per m² than a big one.

How much can a tiler lay in a day? It depends on the tiles, the cuts and the room. One cost guide says a single room takes a day or two.

A whole-house floor takes about 5 to 10 days. That's for a floor of about 100 m². So on a big, open floor, a tiler lays roughly 10 to 20 m² a day.

Bathrooms are slower. There are more cuts, and the wet-area membrane needs time to dry.

What changes the price of tiling?

The tiler's rate is only part of the bill. These are the things that change it most.

• Tile size. Large tiles cost $60 to $110 a m² to lay. That's tiles of 600 x 1200 mm and up. They need a flatter floor and more care.
• Small tiles and mosaics. More pieces mean more cuts and more grout lines. Mosaics and feature work cost $80 to $170 a m² to lay.
• The pattern. Herringbone, the zigzag pattern, needs 20% extra tiles, not 10%. A diagonal layout needs 15%. One Brisbane guide says a pattern adds $25 to $55 a m² to the laying rate.
• Lifting old tiles. It adds $20 to $55 a m², plus taking the rubbish away. See below.
• Levelling. An uneven floor costs $15 to $50 a m² to level, where it's needed. Large tiles need the flattest floor.
• The wet-area membrane. Showers and bathrooms need it under the tiles. It costs $35 to $80 a m², laid by a licensed tradie.
• Access. Lifts, stairs, parking and carrying tiles up from a basement all add hours.
• Where you live. Rates run higher in Sydney and Canberra, and lower in Adelaide and Hobart. See Brisbane rates below.
• Small jobs. Many tilers charge them by the hour or the day. So they cost more per m².

Lifting old tiles or tiling over them

Lifting old tiles is a job of its own. Tilers charge about $20 to $55 a m² for it. On our 12 m² kitchen floor, that adds about $420.

Tiles set in an old sand and cement bed cost more to lift, because the bed comes out too. One Brisbane guide puts that at $45 to $70 a m². Ask who takes the rubbish away, too.

Sometimes new tiles can go over the old ones, which saves the lifting. Our guide on tiling over tiles explains when that works. If they must come up, see how to remove tiles.

Changing to a different floor? Hybrid flooring can go over tiles that are flat and firmly stuck, so nothing comes up. See hybrid flooring over tiles, or compare hybrid flooring vs tiles.

Want the tiles gone before we lay your new floor? Our instant quote prices lifting them at $60 a m². That includes grinding the floor smooth.

Tiling cost per m² in Brisbane

A national cost guide puts Brisbane at about $40 to $100 a m² to lay tiles. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are close. Here's how the cities compare.

One Brisbane guide from November 2026 runs higher. It puts standard floor tiles at $55 to $110 a m². Large tiles are $80 to $150.

It also says Brisbane tilers charge small jobs by the hour or the day. Minimum call-out charges run about $250 to $450.

Outer suburbs sometimes pay a travel charge. Apartment towers add time for lifts, parking and carrying.

We supply tiles only, so you hire your own tiler. Our tiles are delivered across Brisbane and the rest of Australia.

Is it cheaper to tile yourself?

Yes, if you have the time and the skill. You save the tiler's labour, about $60 a m² on a floor. On our 12 m² kitchen floor, that's about $720.

But tiling is slow, careful work. A crooked row or a cracked tile costs you more tiles and more time.

What you'll need:

• A tile cutter, and a grinder with a diamond blade for curves and notches.
• Notched trowels, a bucket and a mixer for the adhesive.
• Spacers to keep the joints even, and levelling clips for big tiles.
• A spirit level and a long straightedge.
• A grout float and sponges. See how to grout tiles.

Large tiles are the hardest to lay well. They need a very flat floor, and long ones take two people to place.

Leave the wet-area membrane to a licensed tradie. Ask for its certificate when it's done.

Doing a big job yourself in Queensland? Work worth more than $11,000 needs an owner-builder permit. The value counts materials, plus labour at a licensed tradie's price.

Why bathrooms cost more per m²

Bathrooms cost more per m² than most rooms. The wet-area membrane goes on first, at $35 to $80 a m². The rooms are small, with lots of cuts around the shower, toilet and vanity.

See what it costs to tile a bathroom in our guide. It prices a real 2.5 x 2 m bathroom with our tiles. Tiled floor to ceiling, it comes to about $3,200 at typical rates. It also has a checker for tiling quotes.

Do you need a licensed tiler in Queensland?

Yes, for bigger jobs. In Queensland, tiling work worth more than $3,300 needs a wall and floor tiling licence.

That licence also covers the wet-area membrane for the tiling. Ask for the licence number, and check it on the QBCC's licensee register.

Other states have their own rules. Ask any tradie for their licence number, and check it with your state's building regulator.

How to read a tiling quote

Two quotes can look far apart because they price different work. Get more than one quote, and make sure each one covers the same job.

In Queensland, the law caps how much you pay up front. Here are the deposit limits for home building work.

After the deposit, stick to the payment schedule. Our bathroom guide also has a quote checker that lists what a quote can leave out.

How to keep tiling costs down

• Choose standard-size tiles. They cost about $60 a m² to lay. Large tiles cost about $85.
• Keep the layout simple. A straight lay or brick bond needs 10% extra tiles. Herringbone needs 20%, and it's slower to lay.
• Book small jobs together. Tilers often charge small jobs by the day. So have the splashback and the laundry floor done on one visit.
• Ask if the old tiles can stay. Lifting them adds $20 to $55 a m².
• Buy the tiles yourself. You see exactly what each box costs. Our porcelain floor tiles start at $42.08 a m².
• See a tile before you buy 20 boxes. A sample tile costs $7, and shipping is a flat $9.95.
• Get more than one quote. Then compare the lines, not just the totals.

Ready to choose? See our porcelain floor tiles, wall tiles and splashback tiles. Or browse all our tiles.

Tiling cost per m²: common questions