How Much Does It Cost to Install Travertine Tiles? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $600 - $3,200
Travertine tiles cost between $600 and $3,200 on average for a 100-square-foot space. You'll pay about $2,000. depending on room size, tile quality, and labor.
If you want something that’s earthy and chic, you can’t beat travertine. This natural stone is found near mineral springs and will effortlessly upgrade your home. The uses for travertine in your home are pretty much endless, and with the wide range of colors and finishes, you’re likely to find the perfect tile for your project. The cost to install travertine tiles ranges from $600 to $3,200 for a 100-square-foot project.
- Average
- $2,000
- Low end
- $100
- high end
- $15,300
Travertine Tile Installation Cost Factors
Here are the major tile installation cost factors you should think about when planning your travertine project.
Size of Area
To get the best idea of how much your travertine project will cost, consider the square footage of the space you want to tile. You can expect the cost to range between $5 and $47 per square foot, depending on the tile quality you choose.
Tile Quality
There is a wide range of tile quality available. What you choose will depend on your budget and your vision for the project.
| Travertine Tile Quality | Average Cost (Per Square Foot) | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | $5–$30 | Highest quality, consistent color and thickness |
| Standard | $5–$15 | Consistent thickness, larger holes, may have striations and swirls |
| Commercial | $2–$4 | More discoloration and cracks, less uniform in cut and thickness |
Finishes
Tumbled: Tumbled travertine is textured and porous. It’s ideal for walkways because it offers plenty of traction and can handle heavy wear and tear.
Filled: Filled travertine has a smooth surface because any pits or holes are filled. These tiles have a sleek, finished look.
Honed: Honed tiles are sanded down on one side and have a matte finish.
Polished: Polished travertine is the easiest to clean and the most stain-resistant because of the smooth surface. It needs to be polished regularly and is extremely slippery.
Brushed: Brushed surfaces have a rough texture which adds dimension to the tile.
Appearance
The pattern and color of your travertine also impact the cost to install travertine tile. The French pattern uses four different tile sizes, and it’s the most popular travertine pattern. Difficult patterns can increase labor costs. Additionally, some travertine colors are more costly than others. For example, black travertine (which is more like a deep gray) and blue travertine are rarer colors that are more costly.
Location of Installation
Travertine is a very versatile material. You can install it indoors, outdoors, on floors, and on walls. You can even use travertine in high-moisture areas. Here are common costs based on the location of your project.
| Installation Location of Travertine Tile | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Foyers | $100–$3,600 |
| Kitchen countertops | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Kitchen flooring | $1,900–$10,800 |
| Bathrooms | $160–$4,500 |
| Pool decks | $5,400–$15,300 |
| Patios | $450–$2,900 |
Want more details about your dream travertine installation? Check out these facts:
Travertine foyers cost $100 to $3,600 and often range from 12 square feet to 120 square feet.
Travertine kitchen countertops cost $1,500 to $4,000, and many people are choosing travertine over marble or granite countertops.
Travertine kitchen flooring costs $1,900 to $10,800 for a 240- to 360-square-foot floor. This is a great pick for flooring in traditional spaces.
Travertine bathroom tile costs $160 to $4,500 if you’re updating a couple of small bathrooms between 20 and 150 square feet.
Travertine pool decks cost $5,400 to $15,300 for decks that are 600 to 900 square feet.
Travertine patios that are 50 to 170 square feet and will run you $450 to $2,900.
Materials
Your travertine tiles will cost $2 to $30 per square foot, depending on the quality and where you purchase them from. This wide range of cost options means there’s a good chance you can use travertine for your home.
Labor
Labor costs range between $3 to $17 per square foot for travertine tile installation. It’s a laborious job because the tiles are very heavy. Plus, if you make mistakes, it can be very costly to replace the damaged tiles. For most people, the best option is to hire a pro and get it done right the first time.
Existing Tile Removal
If you already have a tiled floor but are ready for something new, you may need to hire someone to get rid of the old flooring. Removing existing tile flooring costs $2 to $7 per square foot. It’s a labor-intensive job that typically requires sledgehammers, pry bars, and floor scrapers.
Some installers will include existing floor removal in their initial quote, so check and see whether it’s included before signing a contract.
Existing Flooring Removal
It costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot to remove carpet and $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot to remove other types of flooring like laminate and vinyl.
Flooring Repairs
After your contractor removes the existing flooring, they might discover damage to your subfloor. This happens when moisture seeps through the top flooring material and underlayment into the subfloor. It might be due to damaged grout and tiles or repeated heavy spills that weren’t properly cleaned.
Flooring repairs cost $2 to $10 per square foot.
Wall Repairs
You should always fix any damage to your walls before installing tile. Small holes and dents can be fixed for $60 to $200. Anything larger than five inches costs $50 to $75 per square foot.
DIY Travertine Tile Installation vs. Hiring a Pro
If you’re a DIY warrior and want to install travertine yourself, you can save a lot on the cost to install a tile floor or backsplash. Besides the cost of the tiles, which is the same whether you DIY or hire a pro, you’ll need to account for the following DIY expenses:
Subfloor repairs: $2 to $7 per square foot
Grout and mortar: $1 per square foot
Wet saw: $60 to $80 per day for rental
Sealers: $30 to $40 per quart
However, travertine is very heavy and fragile, so you’ll need to do a lot of heavy lifting while also making sure you’re being precise and careful in your cuts and movement. Additionally, complex installations, like kitchen countertops and pool decks, should always be a pro-only project. Pros have the right tiling tools for the job, so you won’t have to shell out to rent them if you hire a local tile pro. Hiring an expert also saves you a lot of labor time and helps you avoid the post-project achy back.
Frequently Asked Questions
As long as your travertine tiles are properly installed and maintained, they can last as long as 75 to 100 years. The best way to keep them in good shape is to learn how to clean floor tile and grout with the proper cleaning products. For travertine, you need to avoid anything acidic like vinegar. Also, take care when moving furniture around, because these tiles can scratch.
If your travertine tiles start to look worse for wear, you can always get them deep cleaned, honed, and polished to give them a new lease on life.
The first step to resealing is a thorough steam cleaning of the tile and grout. You can do this by renting a tile and grout cleaner for $80 a day. Once you’re done cleaning the floor, it’ll cost $30 to $40 per quart for sealant. Or, you can hire a pro who will charge $1 to $2 per square foot for cleaning and resealing services.
Generally speaking, tiles are for indoor use, while pavers are for outdoor use. The main difference between travertine tiles and pavers is their thickness. Tiles are around 1/2 inch thick, and pavers are 1 1/4 inches to 2 inches thick.
Pavers are more rugged and can handle different weather. The extra thickness on pavers also makes them ideal for high-traffic areas.
You may be wondering what travertine is. Travertine is a natural stone found in mineral spring deposits and mined from a rock quarry. Manufacturers cut the stone into slabs and then into tiles or pavers.
The stone is tumbled in rubber or plastic-coated barrels to give it a rustic look or brushed with a wire wheel to give it texture. Additionally, polished travertine is finished with glossy sealants. In most cases, holes or pits are filled with color-matched resin, epoxy fillers, cement, or sanded grout.
Travertine is a natural stone, while porcelain is ceramic. You can enjoy the best of both worlds with porcelain travertine tiles. Some people prefer porcelain to travertine because it doesn’t require regular maintenance and it’s easier to clean. Porcelain travertine looks like the real thing but only costs $3 to $6 per square foot.