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How much does a tiler cost?

Tiling labour usually costs about $44 to $65 per square metre for a floor and $45 to $100 for walls, with tiles bought separately. A tiler charges about $50 to $85 an hour.

Floor tiling labour, standard tiles:$44–$65 per m²

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a tiler works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a tiler works out the price

A tiler usually quotes labour by the square metre, and charges extra for preparation, removing old tiles and waterproofing. The tiles, adhesive and grout are normally bought separately, either by you or by the tiler, so a quote must say who supplies them. Small jobs such as a splashback are often quoted as one price. The rate has to cover more than wages: the Fair Work Building and Construction General On-site Award sets minimum hourly rates from $26.67 to $30.38 for levels 1 to 4 (rates marked 1 July 2026), and the price also pays for tools, insurance and travel.

  1. Measure the area, with an allowance for cuts and waste
  2. Remove old tiles and dispose of them, if needed
  3. Prepare the surface, such as levelling the floor
  4. Waterproof wet areas, which may need a different licensed trade
  5. Lay the tiles, priced per square metre of labour
  6. Grout and seal
  7. Tiles, adhesive and grout supplied by you or the tiler
  8. GST on the total

Worked example: Small bathroom floor of 6 m²: remove old tiles, level the floor and lay new tiles, labour only (illustrative, not a quote)

Remove existing tiles, 6 m² at $35 per m²
$210
Level and prepare the floor, 6 m² at $30 per m²
$180
Lay new floor tiles, 6 m² at $55 per m²
$330
Total
$720 total, before tiles, adhesive, grout and waterproofing (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from four Airtasker pages, tilers' own published rates on ServiceSeeking, a compiled cost guide from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share. The sources do not state a GST basis, and several figures rest on one source.

  • Floor tiling labour, standard tiles (per m²)

    Airtasker's flooring guide gives $44 to $101 as a total installation cost, its services page gives $35 to $65, and a compiled guide gives $40 to $90 for labour. We use the range they share. Large-format tiles and tricky layouts cost more.

    Low
    $44
    Typical
    $55
    High
    $65

  • Wall tiling labour, standard tiles (per m²)

    Airtasker gives about $45 to $100 for general tiling and a compiled guide gives $40 to $100 for wall labour. Tilers on ServiceSeeking list $35 to $100 per square metre.

    Low
    $45
    Typical
    $60
    High
    $100

  • Kitchen splashback (per job)

    A compiled guide gives $400 to $1,200 supplied and installed. Airtasker's job average is $300 to $650 with a median of $486. We use where they overlap, so premium tiles or a large splashback can cost more.

    Low
    $400
    Typical
    $500
    High
    $650

  • Remove existing tiles (per m²)

    One compiled guide only. Customer-posted budgets on Airtasker run higher for small jobs, such as $400 to remove tiles and screed from a 6 m² room including disposal.

    Low
    $20
    Typical
    $35
    High
    $55

  • Tiling labour for a whole bathroom, floor and walls (per job)

    One compiled guide only, and labour only. Whole bathroom renovations that include tiles, plumbing and waterproofing cost much more.

    Low
    $1,500
    Typical
    $3,000
    High
    $4,500

  • Regrout a bathroom (per job)

    Airtasker's guide gives $100 to $200 for a bathroom and $25 to $40 per square metre. Customer-posted budgets are higher when mould and crack repair are included, for example $500. One source only.

    Low
    $100
    Typical
    $150
    High
    $200

  • Tiler hourly rate (per hour)

    A compiled guide gives $50 to $100, Airtasker $45 to $85 and ServiceSeeking $45 to $100. We use the range they share.

    Low
    $50
    Typical
    $70
    High
    $85
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Floor tiling labour, standard tiles (per m²)Airtasker's flooring guide gives $44 to $101 as a total installation cost, its services page gives $35 to $65, and a compiled guide gives $40 to $90 for labour. We use the range they share. Large-format tiles and tricky layouts cost more.$44$55$65
Wall tiling labour, standard tiles (per m²)Airtasker gives about $45 to $100 for general tiling and a compiled guide gives $40 to $100 for wall labour. Tilers on ServiceSeeking list $35 to $100 per square metre.$45$60$100
Kitchen splashback (per job)A compiled guide gives $400 to $1,200 supplied and installed. Airtasker's job average is $300 to $650 with a median of $486. We use where they overlap, so premium tiles or a large splashback can cost more.$400$500$650
Remove existing tiles (per m²)One compiled guide only. Customer-posted budgets on Airtasker run higher for small jobs, such as $400 to remove tiles and screed from a 6 m² room including disposal.$20$35$55
Tiling labour for a whole bathroom, floor and walls (per job)One compiled guide only, and labour only. Whole bathroom renovations that include tiles, plumbing and waterproofing cost much more.$1,500$3,000$4,500
Regrout a bathroom (per job)Airtasker's guide gives $100 to $200 for a bathroom and $25 to $40 per square metre. Customer-posted budgets are higher when mould and crack repair are included, for example $500. One source only.$100$150$200
Tiler hourly rate (per hour)A compiled guide gives $50 to $100, Airtasker $45 to $85 and ServiceSeeking $45 to $100. We use the range they share.$50$70$85

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What changes the price

  • Tile size and type. Large-format porcelain, mosaics and natural stone take more time and care, so labour rates rise.
  • Layout. Patterns, diagonal layouts and many cuts around fittings add time compared with a plain grid.
  • Surface preparation. An uneven floor or walls need levelling or patching first. A compiled guide puts floor levelling at $15 to $50 per square metre.
  • Waterproofing. Wet areas need waterproofing before tiling. A compiled guide puts it at $35 to $80 per square metre, and in some states it is a separate licensed trade.
  • Removing old tiles. Taking up old tiles, adhesive and screed is dusty, slow work and is usually charged on top of the laying price.
  • Access and floor level. Carrying heavy tiles up stairs or into a tight bathroom adds time.
  • Location. Airtasker's flooring guide lists higher averages in Sydney and Canberra than in Adelaide or Brisbane. See the metro and regional note below.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • Labour to lay the tiles on a prepared surface
  • Cutting tiles to fit around edges, fittings and corners
  • Grouting the finished tiles
  • Basic cleaning of tile dust and adhesive from the finished surface

Often extra

  • The tiles, adhesive, grout and trims, unless the quote says the tiler supplies them
  • Waterproofing, which may be a separate licensed trade
  • Removing and disposing of old tiles, adhesive and screed
  • Levelling or repairing the floor or wall before tiling
  • Plumbing, electrical or plastering work that the tiling job exposes

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more tilers, but higher wages, parking and travel time push rates up. Airtasker's flooring guide lists Sydney and Canberra at about $95 and $96 per square metre, against about $62 in Adelaide, although it treats those as total installation costs.

Regional: None of our sources gives separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive can add to the price, and tiles may take longer to arrive. Fewer tilers means fewer quotes to compare.

Licensing and compliance

Tiling is regulated differently in each state, and we could not confirm every state.

New South Wales: Fair Trading, part of the NSW Government, requires a contractor licence for residential building work, including general trade work, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST.

Wall and floor tiling and waterproofing are separate licence classes on its page.

Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission requires registration for domestic building work above $10,000, but a job involving only wall and floor tiling does not need registration (its page was last updated on 9 July 2025); combining tiling with other skills can.

We did not confirm the waterproofing rules in Victoria.

Queensland: the QBCC requires a licence for building work valued over $3,300; its Wall and floor tiling class includes applying waterproofing for tiling, and there is a separate Waterproofing class.

Western Australia: Building and Energy requires a registered building contractor when work needs a building permit and is valued at $20,000 or more, and its page does not name tiling.

South Australia: Consumer and Business Services requires a building work contractor's licence for building work done for others.

Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) licenses builders, but we could not open its pages, so we could not confirm whether tilers need a licence; check the register.

The ACT: Access Canberra and the Construction Occupations Registrar license builders, and its page does not mention tilers or waterproofers.

Northern Territory: the Building Practitioners Board requires registration for residential building work valued at $12,000 or more.

Ask the tiler for a licence number where one applies, and ask who is doing the waterproofing and whether they hold the right licence.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Does the price cover labour only, or tiles, adhesive and grout as well?
  • How many square metres are being priced, and is there a waste allowance?
  • Is waterproofing included, and who is licensed to do it in your state?
  • Is removal and disposal of old tiles included?
  • Is the floor or wall preparation included, or charged if needed?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tiler charge per square metre?

Our sources overlap at about $44 to $65 per square metre for floor labour and $45 to $100 for walls. Tiles, adhesive and grout are usually extra, and the total depends on the size and complexity of the job.

How much does it cost to retile a bathroom?

One compiled guide puts tiling labour for a whole bathroom, floor and walls, at $1,500 to $4,500. The same guide puts tiling supplied and installed at $2,800 to $7,500, excluding waterproofing. A full bathroom renovation costs much more.

How much does it cost to regrout tiles?

Airtasker gives $100 to $200 for a bathroom and $25 to $40 per square metre. Customer-posted budgets are higher where mould and crack repair are part of the job.

What does a tiler charge per hour?

Sources range from about $45 to $100 an hour. The range they share is $50 to $85, and many tilers quote per square metre instead of per hour.

Do I need a licensed tiler?

It depends on the state and the value of the job, as set out in the licensing section. Ask for a licence number where one applies, and ask who is waterproofing a wet area.

Should I buy the tiles myself?

Either can work, but the quote must say who supplies the tiles, how much extra is allowed for cuts and waste, and who is responsible if tiles are damaged or short.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from four Airtasker pages, tilers' own published rates on ServiceSeeking, a compiled cost guide from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share. The sources do not state a GST basis, and several figures rest on one source. How we calculate our guides.

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