The average cost to install porcelain tile ranges from $880 to $3,000, with a national average of $1,930. The type of tile greatly impacts price.
You’ve finally started planning the kitchen remodel of your dreams, and now it’s time to decide on tile. Porcelain tile installation costs an average of $1,930, with costs ranging from $540 for a small area to $23,000 for a large garage. While porcelain tiles tend to cost more than ceramic, it’s because they are highly durable. Ceramic tile is a great option for areas with high traffic, as it stands up well to chipping and scratching, plus it’s water-resistant.
Porcelain tile installation costs primarily depend on the cost of the tiles themselves, plus the cost for professional installation.
The size of the area you want to tile will greatly affect your installation costs. You can expect your porcelain tiling to cost $9 to $50 per square foot for materials and labor. This means that an average bathroom that’s 60 square feet will cost $540 to $3,000, while an average kitchen of 160 square feet will run you $1,440 to $8,000.
The main porcelain tile types for you to choose from are unglazed, glazed, matte, polished, and mosaic. These tile types range in price between $2 to $30 per square foot for the materials. The differences between these types include how they’re manufactured and the way they look.
Some porcelain even mimics other popular and more costly materials like natural stone, wood, marble, and even metal. These tiles range between $3 to $30 per square foot.
Your tile size can affect your final pricing. Standard sizes include 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch tile squares. There are also larger tile squares that are 18-inch, 36-inch, and 48-inch. Rectangular porcelain tile is also available in 12-inch by 24-inch and 8-inch by 10-inch rectangles.
You can expect to pay $1 to $25 or more for 12-inch square tiles while bigger sizes like 18-inch squares can cost anywhere between $2 to $100 each.
Porcelain tiles are rated on the PEI scale, which stands for Porcelain Enamel Institute. Your tiles will fall on a scale between 0 to 5, and their rating helps you understand their durability. Grade 0 tiles cost less than Grade 5 tiles, and many tiles you find at hardware stores are Grade 1.
Grade 0: Use on walls only
Grade 1: Best for walls and light-traffic flooring
Grade 2: Lightly trafficked rooms, not for kitchens or entryways
Grade 3: Kitchens, halls, entryways
Grade 4: Good for any area, interior and exterior
Grade 5: Good for any area, interior and exterior
The most important material for a tile installation project is the tile itself, and porcelain tiles can cost $0.50 to $15 per square foot for indoor tiles, and $1 to $35 per square foot for outdoor tiles.
To lay the tiles, you’ll also need an adhesive to stick the tiles to the floor, counter, or wall surface as well as spacers, grout, and grout sealer. Together, these items will add about $6 to $9 per square foot.
Hiring a professional tiler costs $4 to $32 per square foot. Some contractors may prefer hourly rates, which will range from around $30 to $120. Experts will take about 10 hours to lay porcelain tiles, although this can range depending on the size of your project.
You can get a good idea of your cost to install a tile floor by considering the location. Unlike some tile types, porcelain is non-porous so you can install it both inside and outside without issue. So the biggest cost impact will be the actual square footage of the project.
Here are some general costs you can expect by location:
| Location | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | $540–$3,000 |
| Kitchen | $1,440–$8,000 |
| Hallway | $320–$2,200 |
| Patio | $1,900–$8,600 |
| Garage | $2,600–$23,000 |
Before a tile installer can install flooring tiles, the floor must be level. This process costs $2 to $30 per square foot for all types of subfloors. Even if your floor looks perfectly level, you should first have a pro assess it or check it yourself with a level.
Note that minor imperfections in the subfloor can cause uneven tile installation, which can later lead to serious damage to your tiles, grout, and subfloor.
Additionally, your installer will need to prep your walls before installing tiles. This prep work includes cleaning and fixing minor imperfections like holes and cracks. Depending on the existing damage, you might pay anywhere between $60 to $400 to fix your wall in preparation for a tile installation.
Porcelain tiles are offered in a variety of types and finishes. Whether you want a slip-resistant bathroom floor or a mosaic backsplash in the kitchen, you can make it happen with different porcelain tiles.
| Tile Type | Average Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Glazed | $3–$30 |
| Unglazed | $2–$15 |
| Mosaic | $20 |
| Polished | $5–$30 |
| Matte | $2–$30 |
There are a lot of different factors to consider when planning your porcelain tile installation.
| Additional Job | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Existing tile removal | $2 to $7 per square foot |
| Existing flooring removal | $1 to $3.50 per square foot |
| Subfloor repairs | $2 to $10 per square foot |
| Wall repairs | $50 to $400 |
In total, you’ll spend around $9 to $50 per square foot to install porcelain tiles yourself. You can save $4 to $32 per square foot on labor costs by going the DIY route, but these tiles can be harder to cut to size when filling in the gaps along a wall.
If you don’t know how to safely cut tiles, it’s best to hire a porcelain tile installer near you to make sure this is done properly. Plus, hiring a professional ensures the tiles will be laid correctly.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are made from clay, but porcelain tiles are fired in a kiln at a higher temperature. This makes them more durable, but it also means porcelain is more expensive than ceramic at $3 to $5 more per square foot.
Even with the higher price point, many people choose porcelain over ceramic because there are more color and design options.
To clean tile counters and backsplash, you can use a store-bought tile cleaner or a mixture of a one-half cup of dish soap, one-half cup of water, one and two-thirds cup of baking soda, and a couple tablespoons of vinegar. Wipe the surfaces clean, then dry them.
For floors, you can do daily sweeping to remove dirt. Once per month, clean the floors with a solution of one gallon of warm or hot water and one-fourth cup of vinegar.
Porcelain tiles can last 60 years or longer. With high-quality tiles and proper installation, your porcelain tiles may even outlive you, making them well worth the initial investment.
To help your porcelain tiles last longer, you should clean and maintain them regularly. You don’t need any harsh chemicals to get the job done. Rather, use a cloth, hot water, and mild detergent. And don’t forget to learn how to clean floor tile grout, as that’s just as important as tile maintenance.
