How Much Does It Cost To Tile A Bathroom?

We all want to stand back from a great tiling project and marvel at our pristine creation. Atlas Ceramics have given thousands of people like you the materials for a refit, paving the way to a DIY or professional project.

But how much does it cost to tile a bathroom?

This is a source of contention amongst many tiling services. If you look to outsource the job to save time and achieve superb results, contractors will all be jumping to offer the best deals. So, to ensure you aren’t shocked at the cost or taken for a ride, here’s our assessment of what will add to the bill.

Meterage is key

The average bathroom has roughly 20 square metres to play with. That doesn’t factor areas above the floor where you may want to include a mosaic or wall section. A tiler will measure parts of the room you want to treat. Then they will come back with a cost estimate, based on the total metres they’ll be working on.

Obviously the price of the materials used will change depending on what you want. Atlas Ceramics sell the Arun Dark tile at just £38.61 per m², for example, while the Atonia tile in Cement Grey is priced at £44.89/m². The price of laying them, however, is largely determined by the meterage policy.

Additionally, border measurements (such as a dado rail) will be subtracted from the calculation. Let’s say you have a 20m² floor, but a border will take it down to 19m² – this informs the final charge for the tiles themselves. Most services also charge 10% extra for waste, because a job is rarely faultless from beginning to end.

So check the price of laying each square metre. Compare estimates from prospective contractors, then, once you’ve found a tiler you trust, get them to survey what’s required in person.

Handy Tool: Use our tile & grout calculator.

What materials are you using?

We like to think of natural stone as a roster of star players, each with their own attributes on the playing field. Quartz, granite, marble and the rest of our tiling products are easier to lay in some areas than others, depending on the type you choose.

Sometimes this will impact the amount you pay for the refit. The strength and weight of the material can affect how much it costs to tile a bathroom. More effort equals more cash in the hands of the professional you’ll hire. By doing it yourself, you’ll erase these costs – but you may risk making mistakes if you aren’t a confident tiler.

It’s best to tile when you’ve just finished the initial plumbing treatment, and the toilet, bath/shower and sink units are yet to be installed. This will ensure the cuts on the tiles are as accurate as they can be.

Larger tiles may also incur a higher charge, being tougher to lay than small tiles covering the same surface area. Avoid picking a sizeable single-tile plan that can ramp up the cost unexpectedly.

See also: Our guide on tools and materials needed for tiling projects.

Arranging and sealing the tiles

Of course, you won’t just be paying for the task of getting the tiles in the room, cutting them, and placing them side by side. No – half the job is sealing and grouting the wall or floor area. Some services don’t charge any more for the sealant; it’s included in the package you’ll be offered. But this is by no means guaranteed, so always check whether sealing is part of the deal.

Remember too that tiling wet rooms comes with a whole other set of considerations. You’ll need a Tiling Tray, which stops the sealant from degrading. Tiling teams are likely to charge you more for setting the material on a wet room base. That’s because the sealing process itself is different: time must be taken to ensure the solution creates an even surface around the tray and the tiles are trimmed to match its dimensions.

Another question is whether you’ll be charged for the use of Levelling Spacer Clips. These keep the tiles apart as the sealant sets, without sticking to it. A small (but significant) portion of the quote you’ll receive rests on the time taken to space out the materials so they line up harmoniously.

The final elements you can’t gloss over

So, how much does it cost to tile a bathroom? The above should have given you an idea of what to expect. But, to round off our starter’s guide to bathroom tiling expenses, we’d like to list a few other factors that could bump up the bill. As ever, don’t be discouraged; good tiling services are more than happy to discuss everything with you in advance:

• Will there be door bars and/or threshold strips? We’ve mentioned the influence such features can have on your square-metre alignment. Despite the fact they may limit what you spend on the actual floor tiles, they’re often not free.
• Do you want a mosaic on the wall? They can deliver an awe-inspiring effect when used judiciously. The problem is that tiling services are probably going to ask for more money, since the cutting/laying process is quite unique compared to uniformly straight tiles.
• Is there a requirement for trimming finishes? Tiles are no strangers to damaging other materials if they have close contact with them. Natural stone and linoleum, for instance, aren’t great bedfellows; there has to be something between them, or else cracking will occur. Flexible Aluminium Trims are just one branch of the protective installations you’ll look to manipulate. Does the tiling team charge for these? Maybe they do, but only for plastic instead of steel. Clarity is essential.

We’ve compiled all the different elements that have an effect on how much it costs to tile a bathroom. A lot of them can be negated by learning how to it yourself – the DIY strategy is a massive cost-saver.

Atlas Ceramics have all the tiling tools, materials and setting compounds to equip your tiling task. Whether you just use us to source natural stone and ceramic tiles, or purchase more accessories in advance of getting your hands dirty, we’re always just a phone call away…