Natural Stone Flooring Cost: A Homeowner’s Guide [2024 Data]
Normal range: $913 - $3,092
The average cost to install natural stone tile is $1,972, though it can cost as little as $450 or as much as $6,500. What you’ll pay in total depends on labor costs and the type of flooring material.
Are you itching to give your space a design upgrade, but can’t quite put your finger on what it needs? Well, the answer might be right under your nose, literally. Take a look at your flooring. After years of wear and tear, it may be time to replace it with something more resilient and refined.
With that in mind, look no further than natural stone flooring. Known for its durability and quality, stone tiles can also add an elegant, luxurious feel to any space in your home.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you should know about natural stone flooring and inspiring floor ideas a local tile installer can help you achieve.
- Average
- $1,972
- Low end
- $450
- high end
- $6,500
What Is Natural Stone Tile?
Natural stone flooring is tile cut from stone blocks that were formed in and extracted from the Earth.
Since natural stone is made with zero to few additives and is almost 100% recyclable, it’s a sustainable flooring option that helps reduce the amount of air pollutants in the home.
Stone tile is a classic and attractive flooring choice that works for both indoor and outdoor areas. Durable, hard-wearing tile like natural stone can withstand high humidity levels, making it ideal flooring for bathrooms and basements. Not only is the smooth surface quiet to the touch, but it also looks attractive with almost any theme.
Natural Stone Tile Cost Per Square Foot
The cost of stone flooring can run between $6 and $20 per square foot, but the total cost of a finished floor project depends on tile size, stone type, and floor prep prior to installation. Below are the average costs by material:
Stone Flooring Types
There are a variety of stone flooring types, all of which have a unique look that can add style and value to your home. Let’s explore a few different types and what they offer.
Marble
With creamy white color and gray veining, marble flooring is known for creating an upscale, luxurious look. This natural stone is scratch-resistant, has antimicrobial properties, and is available in both tile and slab forms.
Travertine
For a unique-looking alternative to marble, travertine tile is a popular choice. This dense, banded stone usually comes in beige, cream, and brown. Its warm color range can add a rustic, romantic feel to any room.
Limestone
The neutral, earthy tones of limestone range from warm beige to toasty brown, creating a cozy, rustic appearance. Limestone is also very stain-resistant, which is great for households with children and pets.
Granite
As a stone available in a wide range of colors, granite is the most commonly used natural stone tile for multiple rooms. Granite is scratch-resistant, making it excellent for high-traffic areas and wheelchair-accessible homes. Due to its speckling and veining nature, no two tiles have the same design.
Slate
Slate is a very versatile material, working well for indoor floors, outdoor patios, and even roofing. It’s also a more affordable alternative to marble and granite.
Soapstone
Soapstone has a creamy texture and comes in various shades of gray. This stone feels soft to the touch and is slip-resistant, making it an ideal choice for wet spaces such as bathrooms, pool areas, and outdoors.
Basalt
Basalt is a solid lava stone known for its attractive dark features. Its smooth texture also keeps cool in tropical heat and warm-weather climates, making it a great option for outdoor living spaces.
Sandstone
As its name suggests, sandstone comes in warm and earthy tones like sand and beige. Sandstone is popular among kitchen floors and outside walkways because it adds warmth to the space.
Quartzite
Quartzite has a natural sparkling texture and comes in a wide range of colors. This metamorphic rock is also very heat-resistant—another ideal option for outdoor areas in warmer climates.
Properties of Natural Stone Tiles
When it comes to natural stones, understanding the following performance properties will help you decide which is right for your home.
Absorption Rating
An absorption rating measures the porosity of a material, whereas a stone with high absorbance means it is more susceptible to staining.
Below are four absorption terms to know for natural stones:
| Absorption Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| Non-vitreous | The highest level of absorption, not recommended for damp environments |
| Semi-vitreous | Moderate absorption, requires maintenance when exposed to moisture |
| Vitreous | Standard absorption, ideal for most foot traffic areas both indoors and outdoors |
| Impervious | Most resistant to liquid absorption and easiest to maintain, ideal for high-traffic and commercial environments |
Grade
Many retailers rate the quality of natural stone tiles—covering factors like size, surface condition, thickness, and shape—with a grading system.
Most consist of three levels:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 | Of the highest quality and uniform |
| Grade 2 | Has minor defects such as scuffs, scratches, cracks, or irregular surfaces |
| Grade 3 | Has major defects in surface, shape, size, etc. |
Oxidation
Natural stone contains many elements from the Earth, including iron. In outdoor environments, iron can oxidize and cause the tile to rust and degenerate.
Coefficient of Friction
The coefficient of friction (COF) is also known as the surface traction or slipperiness of a floor tile. This is an important factor for moist environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Pros and Cons of Stone Floors
When choosing the best type of flooring, it’s best to first examine the pros and cons. Doing so allows you to weigh your options and decide what works best for your space.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Durability: Long-lasting, timeless quality | Expense: High cost due to its durability and versatility |
| Sustainable: Energy-efficient, recyclable, and no synthetic ingredients | Installation process: Time-consuming and requires sealing |
| Low-maintenance: Easy to clean and refinish | Susceptible to staining: Requires sealants and periodic refinishing |
| Versatility: Work well indoors and outdoors |
Natural Stone Flooring Ideas
For natural beauty and timeless design in any home, stone tiles are the way to go. There are many different textures and finishes for stones that can enhance the look and feel of a room style. Let’s explore a few.
Polished
To create an elegant, luxurious feel for your bathroom or living room, polished stone adds a glossy, reflective surface that brings out the best of the color.
Honed
Get the sleek, smooth surface of honed stone without shine for a more natural appearance. This matte finish creates a nice contemporary look for a kitchen or dining area.
Brushed
Brushed stone is smooth to the touch but visually worn, achieving a rustic, old-fashioned look. A little more textured than honed, this finish looks great with home bar designs and outdoor kitchens.
Tumbled
Tumbled stone is not completely smooth, creating more of a textured look. Its rustic, antique feel is perfect for an outdoor patio or walkway.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Installing flooring yourself can cost around $15 per square foot, not including preparation and labor time. On the other hand, hiring a local flooring contractor can cost around $22 per square foot, which typically includes materials and labor.
Keep in mind that natural stone tiles aren’t uniform, requiring extreme precision. Since the installation process is more intricate than other flooring types, an inexperienced DIY attempt may negatively impact your home’s value.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Natural stone is formed in deep layers of the Earth through natural processes over thousands of years. The solid composition formations become massive rock beds, or quarries, from which miners extract them.
Considering durability, water resistance, and range of colors, granite is considered the best natural stone flooring.
To clean stone tiles, first sweep or vacuum to remove dirt particles. Use a mild, pH-neutral detergent and warm water to mop. Be careful not to use acidic cleaning solutions, such as vinegar and lemon juice, which can damage the surface.
You can purchase natural stone tiles from your local home improvement store or stone distributor.
Simply put, natural stone flooring is a high-end style that outlasts its wood and carpet counterparts. After finding a style you love, a stone flooring company near you can help source and install them for a reliably clean look.