Cost to tile a bathroom
Tiling a bathroom can be an excellent DIY project. With thousands of tile options, each with unique charm and character, finding one to suit your tastes shouldn't be too challenging.
But how much does it cost to tile a bathroom, and how can you save yourself some extra cash when planning your tiling project?
Read on to determine what factors you will need to consider during the planning stage and how much you can expect to pay to tile your bathroom today.
How much does it cost to tile a bathroom?
Many factors will come into play when determining how much it will cost to lay tiles in your bathroom. Aspects such as the type of tile, the size of your tiles, and even where you are buying your tiles will need to be considered if you want to save money.
Below you can find some of the most important factors influencing how much it costs to finish a tiling project.
Check out our guide on how to spruce up your bathroom this spring for the complete bathroom look.
Factors that affect the cost of tiling a bathroom
The material that the tiles are made from
Depending on whether you are looking at buying floor or wall tiles, the material you choose will impact the cost. One of the cheapest and most popular options for tiling a bathroom or kitchen will be ceramic tiles - with an average cost of £25 per square metre.
If you are looking for a stronger tile and you don't mind spending a little more, marble tiles can look fantastic in a DIY bathroom tiling project. Marble options tend to cost around £50 per square metre, so keep this in mind.
Check out our guide on all things associated with how much a new bathroom costs.
Comparing tile materials is the best way to ensure you are paying the price in your budget. Whether you are tiling a kitchen wall or a bathroom floor, multiple options will surprise you by being low cost.
The size of the tiles
Generally, the larger your chosen kitchen or bathroom tiles are, the more money you will need to spend. As larger tiles require more materials, it makes sense to cost a little more.
However, using four larger tiles to fill a space that would require ten smaller tiles may work out cheaper - depending on the type of tiles you choose.
When comparing a few tile sizes, try to figure out how many of a specific tile you will need to tile your bathroom or kitchen. On average, smaller tiles will cost anywhere between £10 to £40 per square meter, whereas a larger tile will lean more towards £30 to £60.
Tile finishes
Once you have placed your tiles, you may want to coat them with a finish to enhance their design. Your choice of finish will mainly depend on your chosen tile; the finishes you use on a large ceramic tile will be different to the finishes used on glass tiles.
It can cost anywhere between £15 a square metre to £60, depending on your chosen finish. Gloss and satin finishes tend to be the cheapest options, with textured or matte options generally costing a little more.
The size of the area being tiled
How many tiles you use will depend entirely on the size of your bathroom and the space you are looking to tile. For example, a medium-sized bathroom will cost more to tile than a small shower section.
As the exact cost of your tile will depend on the material it is made from, it is hard to estimate an average tile cost per square metre. To figure out an exact price, check how much your chosen tile costs per square metre and times that by the size of the space you are looking to tile.
Your location
Floor tiling costs can differ depending on where you live in the UK. For example, tiles tend to cost more in cities, such as London, than in rural parts.
A great way to check the cost of tiling in your location is to get a quote from a few professional tilers. This will allow you to see the average cost of tiling in your area and whether or not you should consider buying your tiles from a location outside the city.
Labour costs
If you decide on hiring a tiler to tile your bathroom, you will need to consider labour costs. Alongside the cost of the tiles, professional tilers will also add an extra charge to cover the labour and installation of your tiles.
Much like finding the average cost of tiles in your area, a great way to check labour costs is to ask local tilers. If you decide that the price is too high, you may want to consider doing it yourself.
Additional bathroom tiling costs to consider
Alongside the price of your chosen tile, there are a few additional costs you may want to consider. Some of these are important, such as grouting and adhesive, whereas others are optional.
Take a look below to see what additional costs you may need to consider and how they will impact the cost of your DIY tiling project.
Are you on a budget? We've got you covered with ways to transform your bathroom on a budget.
Grouting and adhesive
Grouting and tile adhesive is required when installing any bathroom tiles, so you must include this in your budget. Ideally, you will want to check out options in the medium-price range as cheaper products may not offer the best durability.
Both grout and adhesive come in bags that offer you a specific amount of m^2 coverage. An average £20 bag of adhesive will cover roughly 5 to 6m2. In terms of grout, your typical £15 bag should offer you around 15m2.
Sealant
Sealant is used to help strengthen your chosen tiles and prevent dirt and stains from ruining your bathroom tiles. As grout is porous, you need to use a sealant to prevent water from leaking under your tile layout and ruining your hard work.
Fortunately, the sealant isn't too expensive. You shouldn't need to spend more than £20 on a decent sealant product.
However, keep in mind that not all tiles will require sealant as not all of them are porous. Natural stone tiles will require a sealant once placed, whereas ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles will not.
Walls and subfloor preparation
Ideally, before you lay down your tiles, you will need to make sure the surface has been prepared correctly. This can involve laying plasterboard or plywood, filling cracks and sanding down your chosen surface to be level.
The cost for this can largely depend on whether you do it yourself or choose to hire a professional to take care of it for you. Both plywood and plasterboard shouldn't set you back too much, costing around £13 per sheet.
In terms of sandpaper, you won't need to splash out on an expensive product as long as you can file down your bathroom or kitchen surface. The same applies to your chosen crack filler.
Removing old tiles
If your bathroom already features wall or floor tiles, then you will need to consider the cost of removing these. If you remove your old tiles yourself, you won't need to spend anything.
However, if you are looking to hire a tiler to take care of it for you, you can expect to spend between £25 and £40 an hour!
Installing underfloor heating
Typically, when tiling a bathroom, you will want to remove any old tiles from your bathroom's floor. This is why retiling a bathroom is a perfect time to consider adding underfloor heating to your bathroom.
Underfloor heating can effectively heat your entire bathroom and avoid cold feet when walking on your tiles. However, it can be expensive, with an average cost of anywhere between £100 to £150 per square metre.
Wetroom installation
If you consider tiling your bathroom, you may want to consider installing a wetroom. These tile-laden rooms provide waterproof space that acts much like a room-sized shower.
The installation cost of your wetroom will depend on a few factors, such as its size and the choice of tile you use. But they can truly add a whole new dimension to your home.
For more details on installation costs related to wet rooms, why not head on over to our guide on wet room costs
How long does it take to tile your bathroom?
As with the cost, a few factors will impact the length of time it takes to tile your bathroom. The most important factor is perhaps the size of your bathroom floor or wall, but the type of tile you are using can also have an impact.
Generally, if you know how to tile a bathroom or medium-sized bathroom, your tiling job can take 6 to 8 hours. Tiling is an excellent weekend job as you will usually be able to get the job done in a couple of days.
We have a range of different bathroom guides, from how much does a toilet cost to buy and install, to how much does it cost to install a shower so that you can plan out that dream bathroom today!