Tiling Cost UK 2026: Prices Per m² and By Room

Tiling cost in the UK depends on three things more than anything else: the type of tile, the size of the area, and how much preparation the walls or floor need before a single tile goes down. This guide gives you clear 2026 prices per square metre and by room, so you know what a fair quote looks like before you book a tiler.

Average Tiling Cost Per m² — UK 2026

The biggest single factor in the cost of tiling is the tile itself. These figures include both labour and materials, fitted, for a standard area with reasonable access:

Tile Type	Cost Per m² (Fitted)	Best For
Ceramic	£60-£95	Walls, splashbacks and budget-friendly bathrooms
Porcelain	£70-£110	Floors, showers and high-traffic areas
Natural stone	£80-£120	Feature floors and premium bathrooms
Mosaic	£90-£140	Feature walls, shower niches and borders

Across all tile types, the average tiling cost per m² works out at roughly £80-£130 fitted. Ceramic is the cheapest to buy and the quickest to cut and lay. Porcelain is harder and denser, which makes it more durable but slower to cut. Natural stone needs sealing and careful handling, and mosaic takes the longest of all because of the number of small pieces and grout lines.

Typical Job Costs

Most people don't think in square metres — they want to know what their bathroom or kitchen will cost. Here are typical prices for common tiling jobs:

Job	Typical Cost
Bathroom (walls and floor)	£800-£1,200
Kitchen floor	Around £800
Kitchen splashback	Around £275
Shower area	£250-£900
Tiling around a bath	£200-£300

Bathroom Tiling Cost

Bathroom tiling cost varies with how much of the room is tiled. A floor plus the wet areas around the bath and shower sits at the lower end of the £800-£1,200 range; fully tiled walls, floor-to-ceiling, push it towards the top. Waterproofing around the shower adds to the price but is essential — it protects the walls and floor from water damage that no amount of grout can stop.

Kitchen Tiling Cost

Kitchen tiling cost is usually split between the floor and the splashback. A splashback, at around £275, is one of the quickest ways to refresh a kitchen. A kitchen floor, at around £800, costs more because floors need a flat, stable base, and the units and appliances have to be worked around or moved.

Shower Tiling Cost

The wide £250-£900 range for a shower area reflects how different showers are. A small tiled surround behind a shower tray sits at the bottom; a walk-in shower or wet room, with a fully waterproofed floor and walls, sits at the top.

What Affects Tiling Price?

Two jobs with the same area can be priced very differently. These are the factors that move the cost of tiling up or down:

• Tile type and size: Porcelain, natural stone and mosaic all cost more than ceramic to buy and take longer to fit. Large-format tiles also need a very flat surface and often two people to handle them.
• Room preparation and waterproofing: Removing old tiles, levelling an uneven floor, fitting backer board or tanking a shower area all add to the price before tiling begins.
• Wall vs floor: Floor tiling cost is often a little higher per m² than walls, because floors need levelling, stronger adhesive and heavier tiles, and the room is out of use while the adhesive and grout set.
• Pattern and layout: A straight grid is the quickest layout. Herringbone, brick bond, diagonal layouts and borders all involve more cutting and setting out, and cost more.
• Cuts and obstacles: A small bathroom full of pipes, a toilet, a basin and window reveals can take longer than a much larger, simpler floor.
• Access: Upstairs rooms, tight spaces, parking restrictions and occupied homes all add time.

Tiling Cost by Region — UK 2026

Tiling labour cost changes with location. As a guide to typical hourly rates:

Region	Typical Labour Rate
London & South East	£30-£40 per hour
Midlands & North England	£20-£30 per hour
Scotland & Wales	£18-£35 per hour

Material prices vary much less than labour across the UK, so regional differences mostly show up in the labour part of the quote. If you're a tiler looking for your own day rate by region, see our tiler day rate guide.

How to Keep Tiling Costs Down

You can lower the cost of tiling without cutting corners on the parts that matter:

• Choose standard-sized ceramic or porcelain for large areas, and save mosaic or natural stone for a small feature wall or shower niche.
• Stick to a straight grid layout — it needs far fewer cuts than herringbone or diagonal patterns.
• Buy the tiles yourself if you're confident choosing them, but order 10% extra for cuts and breakages, and check the batch numbers match.
• Clear the room before the tiler arrives, so you aren't paying for time spent moving furniture.
• Combine jobs — a splashback done at the same time as a kitchen floor usually costs less than two separate visits.

How Long Does Tiling Take?

As a rough guide, a tiler can typically cover 8-12m² of floor tiles or 10-15m² of wall tiles in a day on a straightforward job. That makes a small splashback a half-day job, and a typical bathroom around two to three days once preparation, waterproofing, grouting and sealing are included.

Allow extra time for:

• Removing old tiles and preparing the surface
• Tanking and waterproofing, which needs time to cure before tiling
• Levelling compound on uneven floors, which also needs to dry
• Mosaic, natural stone and pattern layouts, which are slower to fit

Floors usually need a day or so before they can take normal foot traffic, and you should follow the adhesive and grout manufacturer's guidance before using a newly tiled shower.

How Tilers Should Price the Job

For tilers, pricing by the job rather than purely by the day gives customers a clear total and protects your margin. A practical formula:

1. Measure each area separately: Walls and floors in m², deducting large openings. Note awkward areas such as window reveals and boxing.
2. Apply your rate per m²: Use a higher rate for floors, large-format tiles, natural stone and mosaic.
3. Add preparation: Strip-out, levelling, backer board and tanking as separate lines.
4. Add materials: Adhesive, grout, silicone and trims, plus the tiles if you're supplying them, with around 10% extra for cuts and breakages.
5. Add waste and clean-up: Disposal of old tiles and packaging.
6. Check the total against the time: Divide the labour element by the days the job will take. If it falls below your day rate, adjust the price.

Worked Example: Standard Bathroom

Item	Cost
Wall and floor tiling labour, 22m² at £30/m²	£660
Shower area waterproofing	£150
Adhesive, grout, silicone and trims	£120
Total (tiles supplied by customer)	£930

That sits comfortably inside the typical £800-£1,200 range for tiling a bathroom, and every line is clear enough for the customer to understand exactly what they are paying for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tiling cost per m2?

Tiling in the UK typically costs £80-£130 per m² for labour and materials together in 2026. By tile type, expect around £60-£95 per m² for ceramic, £70-£110 for porcelain, £80-£120 for natural stone and £90-£140 for mosaic.

How much do tilers charge?

Most UK tilers charge £20-£40 per hour, averaging about £30, or £150-£220 per day outside London and £220-£320 in London. Rates are highest in London and the South East, at around £30-£40 per hour.

How much does it cost to tile a bathroom?

Tiling a typical bathroom, walls and floor, costs around £800-£1,200. Smaller jobs, such as tiling around a bath, cost £200-£300, while a shower area ranges from £250 to £900 depending on its size and the waterproofing needed.

How long does tiling take?

A tiler can typically cover 8-12m² of floor tiles or 10-15m² of wall tiles per day on a straightforward job. A typical bathroom takes around two to three days once preparation, waterproofing, grouting and sealing are included.

How much does it cost to tile a kitchen?

Tiling a kitchen floor costs around £800, and a kitchen splashback around £275. Floors cost more because they need a flat, stable base and have to be worked around units and appliances.

Is floor tiling more expensive than wall tiling?

Often slightly, per square metre. Floors usually need levelling, stronger adhesive and heavier tiles, and a tiler typically covers less floor area in a day than wall area.

Related Guides

• Tiler Day Rate UK 2026 — What tilers charge per day and per hour, by region
• New Bathroom Cost UK 2026 — Full bathroom renovation prices
• New Kitchen Cost UK 2026 — Kitchen units, worktops and fitting costs

The Bottom Line

Tiling typically costs £80-£130 per m² fitted in the UK in 2026, and around £800-£1,200 for a typical bathroom. The tile type, the preparation needed and your location make the biggest difference. Get an itemised quote that shows labour, preparation and materials separately, so you can compare tilers fairly.