Kitchen tile cost depends on the type and size of the materials used, among other factors.
It can range from $1 to $26 a square foot, with the most number of homeowners spending $2 to $6 per sq. ft. on average.
Prices for Popular Tile Materials
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1. Natural Stone Tiles
Every type of natural stone has unique features that include exquisite patterns and color tones.
If you are looking for beauty and individuality, natural stone tiles would surely appeal to your aesthetic sense.
a. Marble
It is an attractive material that suits both walls and floors.
It comes in a large variety of colors and designs.
Prices begin from around $7 per sq. ft.
b. Limestone
These tiles likely cost around $6.20 per sq. ft.
They are suitable for tiling both your kitchen walls and floors.
This material has a rustic look, making it unique among other natural stones.
c. Granite
This material has a long life span and never goes out of fashion.
Granite countertops add value to your kitchen as they are scratch and stain-resistant.
Pricing starts at around $6.70 per sq. ft.
d. Sandstone
The natural shades and patterns of sandstone make it the best material for mimicking natural landscapes like deserts or beaches.
Sandstone tiles have an average cost of $6.70 per sq. ft.
2. Glass tiles
The cost of glass tiles ranges between $5 to $15 per sq. foot.
Due to their fragility, glass tiles are not recommended for tiling floors as they might break or get dented easily.
They’re better for kitchen backsplashes and countertops.
Glass tiles are easy to clean and offer various colors and shades.
3. Wall tiles
Ceramic tiles are most suited for tiling your bathroom and kitchen backsplash walls.
Because of their slippery quality, glazed ceramic tiles are not preferred for flooring and are best suited for wall paneling.
Ceramic tiles can be digitally printed to feature beautiful floral and geometrical patterns, adding to the wall’s elegance.
4. Ceramic tile flooring
Although not as hard as porcelain, ceramic tiles have a solid surface that does not allow dust or dirt to accumulate.
Ceramic floors are easy to clean with a sponge or a mop, so you can install them in areas where cleaning is frequently required, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Due to their heat-resistant quality, ceramic tiles are a good choice if you live in a hot climate zone.
Ceramic tile is easily one of the most affordable flooring materials. Its cost starts at below $5 per sq. foot for DIY installation.
If you are considering professional installation, keep a budget of at least $15 per sq. foot.
5. Porcelain tile flooring
Porcelain, denser and harder material than ordinary ceramic, has greater resistance to water infiltration.
Porcelain tiles are extremely good at imitating the look of natural stones or wood grains.
This quality makes porcelain tiles the best choice if you want to mimic the look of wooden tiles without wood’s vulnerability to water damage.
For porcelain tile flooring, you can expect to pay $5 to $25 per square foot, adding $10 to $25 per sq. foot for professional installation.
6. Quarry tiles
They are sometimes confused with ceramics or porcelain.
However, these tiles do not have a glazed surface and are distinctly rough in texture.
As they provide resistance to slip, quarry tiles are good for flooring exterior or interior walkways where people have to walk without slipping.
They are equally suitable for use in kitchen and dining rooms.
Depending on the color and quality, their prices can range from $4 to $12 per square foot, and the installation may cost you an additional $12 per square foot.
7. Slate tile
The inherent toughness of slate makes it resistant to scratches, cracks, or chips.
When regularly sealed, it works as an excellent flooring material for kitchens and bathrooms and may last for decades.
Slate can also be a good choice for flooring heavy-traffic areas in your house.
In addition to the original cost of the tile itself, which generally ranges from $4 to $10 per sq. foot.
You can expect to pay $10 to $15 per square foot for professional installation.
Prices of Tiles according to Location
Kitchen floor tiles
Installing the kitchen floor tiles typically costs as under:
- For a standard kitchen (about 130 sq. feet), the cost is between $975 to $1,950.
- For a larger kitchen (about 184 square feet), the cost lies between $1,380 to $2,760.
Kitchen tiled backsplash
In the US, tiling a kitchen backsplash typically costs about $23 to $35 per sq. foot.
The national average cost lies between $900 and $2,500 for installing a new 30-square-foot backsplash, with most people paying around $1,500.
Kitchen walls
According to the Homewyse.com website, for a basic project with 120 square feet of area.
The average cost of wall tiling is estimated to be between $9.53 and $19.13 per sq. foot.
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Prices of Tiles According To Size
Ceramic floor tiles have a thickness ranging from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and are available in sizes as small as 4×4 inches or as large as 24×24 inches.
Larger tiles
Thicker and stronger ceramic tiles cost about $4 – $8 per square foot.
Smaller tiles
Thinner ceramic tiles cost under $1 per square foot.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Kitchen Tile
1. Size of the tile
Different sizes of tile produce a different look, influencing the ambiance of a room.
Larger tiles mean fewer grout lines and less time to cut and fit the tiles into place.
While smaller tiles having more grout lines add to the job’s complexity and installation costs in terms of job supplies, labor hours, and waste overage.
2. Material type
The original cost of the material and installation depends on the tile you will use in your kitchen.
Some material types and their costs are given below.
- Ceramic tiles range between $2.5 to $3 per sq. ft.
- Natural stones such as marble, Granite, slate, etc., typically cost from $5 to $10 per sq. ft.
- Porcelain tiles’ costs range from $5 to $25 per sq. ft.
3. Labor costs
The labor cost for tile installation is around $4 to $32 per sq. foot.
Labor costs for floor tiling range from $4 to $14 per sq. ft.
While those for installing a countertop or a backsplash are about $25 to $32 per square foot.
Some professional installers charge by the hour instead of charging per square foot.
Depending on your project’s complexity and size, you can expect a figure between $30 and $120 per hour.
4. Heavy foot traffic
The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has standardized a traffic rating system called the PEI Rating.
Which determines the hardness of a tile and its abrasion resistance properties.
The ratings go from 1 to 5.
The larger the number, the heavier foot traffic the tile can withstand before any damage occurs that would cost reparation or replacement charges.
Therefore, tiling of different areas should be done keeping in mind the PEI wear ratings so that a tiled space should last long without needing remodeling.
5. The size of the area needs to be covered
The room size is an essential factor that directly affects the cost; the more material you require, the greater its total cost will be.
Tile installation cost also depends on the type of space.
For example, installing a countertop or a backsplash will generally cost more than tiling the floor or walls of your kitchen.
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6. Complex designs / complex patterns
Manufacturers use porcelain tiles to mimic natural stones or wooden looks using digital ink technology.
Today, not only can porcelain be digitally printed with beautiful patterns to mimic the texture, but three-dimensional options are also available.
These digitally printed tiles cost less than the original wood and stone tiles while offering similar features and looks.
7. The complexity of the installation
If the space to be tiled has many complex forms, like the boxes which conceal pipework or alcoves.
It will increase the cost in terms of waste material that will be produced as a result of cutting the tiles to fit in the available space.
Also, somebody would be required to remove and dispose of the old tiles (if you already have them) before installing the new ones.
This additional labor will cost extra depending on how difficult it is to remove the old tiles.
Which Type of Tile is best for a Kitchen
Depending on how you use your kitchen space, either natural stone tiles or porcelain tiles would be the best options for your kitchen.
Both materials are durable and hard-wearing, enabling them to resist scratches for extended periods.
Which color tile is good for the kitchen?
Considering the usage of the room, you should opt for a mid-toned color tile.
This means it will not show up as much grime and dirt as a light-colored tile and will better cover up grease marks, dust, or hair.
Moreover, darker grout colors should be used to keep your walls and floor looking fresh for a long.
How many sq. ft. of tile do I need?
For rectangular or square-shaped floors or walls, take the measurements for length and width in feet and then multiply them to get the area in square feet.
For areas with irregular shapes, such as the L-shape, distribute the shape into individual parts forming rectangles and squares.
Calculate the area of each part using the above formula, then add them together.
For example, the area of a floor 6-foot-9-inch wide and 11-foot long (6.75 x 11) is calculated as 74.25 sq. feet, approximately 75 sq. feet.
How long does it take to tile a kitchen?
Most people consider eight hours the standard amount of time for tiling a 40 square feet area.
Of course, many other factors make it difficult to estimate the time accurately.
But you will need around one hour of preparation time, one hour of layout time, and 3 to 4 hours for grouting.
Don’t forget to give 24 hours gap between the installation and grouting.
Using this general principle should give you a reasonable estimate of the time it will take to tile your kitchen completely.
How long does it take to tile a kitchen splashback?
Generally speaking, an experienced tile installer can lay 35 to 40 sq. feet of glass mosaic or natural stone in 5 to 6 hours.
An extra couple of hours will be necessary for applying grout and cleaning the worksite.
How much does it cost to remove tiles from floors?
As explained on the Costimates.com website, ceramic tile removal can cost between $1.50 and $4.15 per sq. foot.
If your kitchen floor is 100 sq. feet, you can expect to spend about $150 to $415 for the tile removal job.
Kitchen tile cost – FAQs
1. How do you price a tile job?
The labor cost for tile installation varies from $4 to $32 per sq. foot.
Backsplash and countertop installation is charged at $25 to $32 per sq. foot, whereas flooring costs from $4 to $14 per sq. foot.
Some professionals may charge you hourly, although tiling jobs are mostly charged by the square foot.
2. What is the cost of 2 * 2 tiles?
A simple 2×2 inch glass tile costs about $13.50 per sq. ft. in the US markets.
3. Is tile cheaper than laminate?
Tile flooring costs approximately $5 to $13 per sq. foot, whereas laminate flooring costs about $2 to $8 per sq. foot.
This means that tiling is more expensive as the process is very labor-intensive.
However, the high cost of tile flooring may be justified by the higher resale value of a house which is not the case with laminate flooring.
4. Can you tile over tile?
Tiling over tiles is possible so long as you work on a properly smooth surface, which should also be free of mildew and mold.
The old surface must be completely even, and there should be no warping that would hinder setting a new smooth layer.
5. How long does it take to tile 100 square feet?
In most cases, an expert tile installer can accomplish the job in roughly 10 hours.
While a person without prior experience can be expected to complete the project in approximately 16 hours.
6. How many square meters can a tiler lay in a day?
According to seniorcare2share.com, an average of 150 tiles of 12 x 12 size can be laid in one day.
7. How much does it cost to do a kitchen backsplash?
As per the Homeadvisor.com website, the average cost of a kitchen backsplash is $1,000.
8. Can you paint tiles?
Yes, wall tiles can be painted.
However, most paints only work over ceramic tiles.
9. What qualifications does a tiler need?
To become a qualified tiler in the US, you usually have to do an apprenticeship in tile laying, which takes three years of full-time study.
10. What are some cheaper ceramic tile variations
Ceramic tiles can be categorized into glazed and unglazed types, of which glazed ceramic tiles are cheaper.
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The Bottom line
Tiles add value to your kitchen in terms of protecting and personalizing your working space.
They are durable, mostly heat and water-resistant, and easy to maintain.
The stylish range of tiles can make any space look bigger and brighter, plus it proves to be a valuable investment in the long term.