As of October 2026, tiling labour in Sydney costs about $46 to $105 per m² for standard floor tiles and $46 to $115 per m² for walls, with about $69 typical, according to What’s The Damage. Tiles are extra, from about $20 per m² for budget ceramic to $250 for premium stone. Nationally, Yellow Pages (2025) puts tiler fees at $45 to $150 per m². Removal, levelling and waterproofing add to the per-m² rate.
- Sydney tiling labour is about $46 to $105 per m² for standard floors and $46 to $115 for walls, typically $69 (What’s The Damage, October 2026).
- Large-format floor tiles cost about $69 to $125 per m² to lay in Sydney, and mosaics about $92 to $195.
- Tiling a standard Sydney bathroom costs about $3,225 to $8,600 supplied and installed, excluding waterproofing.
- Removing old tiles adds about $23 to $63 per m², and floor levelling about $17 to $57 per m².
- In NSW, tiling work over $5,000 including GST needs a wall and floor tiling licence.
How much does tiling cost per m² in Sydney?
As of October 2026, Sydney tilers typically charge about $46 to $105 per m² to lay standard floor tiles and $46 to $115 per m² for walls, labour only, according to What’s The Damage’s Sydney guide, which includes GST. Its typical figure for both is $69 per m².
| Type of tiling | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor, standard | $46 | $69 | $105 |
| Floor, large format | $69 | $98 | $125 |
| Wall, standard | $46 | $69 | $115 |
| Mosaic or feature | $92 | $140 | $195 |
| Outdoor or patio | $57 | $86 | $125 |
| Natural stone (marble, travertine, limestone) | $80 | $115 | $170 |
Source: What’s The Damage, tiling cost Sydney (verified October 2026, includes GST). Labour only; tiles are extra.
National guides are in the same range. Yellow Pages (2025) puts tiler fees at $45 to $150 per m², with bathroom tiles averaging about $60 per m² to lay. What’s The Damage’s Australian guide gives $40 to $90 per m² for standard floors, so Sydney sits towards the top.
How much do the tiles themselves cost?
Tile supply is usually a separate line, and it varies more than labour does.
| Tile | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget ceramic | $20 | $35 | $55 |
| Mid-range porcelain | $50 | $70 | $120 |
| Large-format porcelain (600 × 1200 and larger) | $57 | $98 | $185 |
| Outdoor non-slip porcelain | $46 | $75 | $140 |
| Subway or splashback ceramic | $34 | $57 | $115 |
| Premium natural stone | $100 | $150 | $250 |
| Mosaic sheets | $86 | $170 | $460 |
Source: What’s The Damage, tiling cost Sydney (verified October 2026). Indicative only.
Order extra tiles for cuts, breakages and future repairs. Your tiler can tell you how much extra to allow for your layout and tile size.
How much does it cost to tile a bathroom?
Tiling a standard Sydney bathroom costs about $3,225 to $8,600 supplied and installed, excluding waterproofing, with about $5,750 typical, according to What’s The Damage. Labour only is about $1,725 to $5,200.
- Small bathrooms: What’s The Damage’s worked example of a 3.2 m² Sydney apartment bathroom puts tiling at about $4,025, including floor and walls.
- Bathroom floor only: its Australian guide puts a 4 to 8 m² bathroom floor at about $520 to $1,040 all-in, plus waterproofing.
- Kitchen splashback: about $460 to $1,375 supplied and installed in Sydney.
Small rooms cost more per m² because of cuts, setting out and minimum charges. Bathroom tiling usually takes about 4 to 7 days, plus 1 to 2 days of grouting and silicone, according to What’s The Damage’s timeline guide. For the whole bathroom budget, see our guide Bathroom Renovation Cost Sydney: 2026 Price Guide.
What extra costs sit on top of the per-m² rate?
Preparation is often where quotes differ most. What’s The Damage gives these Sydney rates per m²:
- Removing existing tiles: $23 to $63, typically $40.
- Floor levelling and preparation: $17 to $57, typically $34.
- Wet-area waterproofing: $40 to $92, typically $63.
Other items to check:
- Minimum charges or day rates for small jobs. Sydney tilers charge about $575 to $920 a day, or $57 to $115 an hour (What’s The Damage).
- Trims, edge strips and sealing of natural stone.
- Waste removal and skip hire.
- Moving furniture, appliances and toilets.
Do not remove old tiles yourself in a home built before 1990 until the tiles, adhesive and sheeting have been tested for asbestos. In wet areas, removing tiles also destroys the waterproofing underneath, so the room will need a new membrane before it is re-tiled.
Why do large-format and outdoor tiles cost more?
Large-format tiles cost more to lay because they need a flatter surface, more adhesive coverage and often two people to handle each tile. A floor that is fine for small tiles may need levelling first, which is why prep costs rise.
Outdoor tiles cost more because the surface must fall away from the house, the tiles must be slip resistant, and balconies and terraces over rooms need waterproofing. What’s The Damage lists outdoor non-slip porcelain in the P4 to P5 and R11+ slip ratings. Ask your tiler which rating suits your area, especially around pools.
In an apartment, balcony tiles and the membrane under them often sit on common property. Under NSW strata rules, changes that involve waterproofing are major renovations that need owners corporation approval, so speak to your strata manager before booking a tiler.
How much does regrouting or retiling cost?
Regrouting is the cheaper fix when tiles are firm and the membrane is sound. Airtasker’s price data (updated 10 October 2026) puts a regrouting job at about $281 to $640, with a median of $449.
Retiling costs much more, because it combines removal, preparation, often new waterproofing, new tiles and labour. As a rough guide, add the Sydney removal, prep, waterproofing, supply and labour rates above for your area.
If tiles are only dated, not damaged, tiling over the old ones may be possible in some dry areas. Read our guide Can You Tile Over Existing Tiles? to see when it works. If a shower is leaking, read Leaking Shower Repair Sydney first.
How do tilers quote, and what should the quote include?
Tilers quote per m², by the day or as a fixed price for the room. Ask each tiler to quote the same scope so you can compare.
- Supply and lay, or labour only?
- Removal and disposal of old tiles.
- Levelling, screeding and preparation.
- Who does the waterproofing, which membrane, and is a certificate included?
- Adhesive, grout colour, trims, silicone and sealing.
- Allowance for patterns such as herringbone, which take longer.
NSW rules that apply:
- Licence: wall and floor tiling worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST, needs a contractor licence. The NSW Government says this licence also covers waterproofing wet areas to get them ready for tiling.
- Contract: jobs over $5,000 including GST need a written contract. Jobs over $20,000 need a more detailed contract and give you a cooling-off period of five clear business days.
- Deposit: the most you can be asked to pay as a deposit is 10 per cent of the contract price.
- Licence check: look up every trade on Verify NSW (verify.licence.nsw.gov.au). Check the name, licence class, expiry date and status match the business on your quote.
What does tiling cost for common Sydney jobs?
Multiplying the published Sydney rates by the area gives a rough budget. These worked examples use What’s The Damage’s Sydney figures (October 2026). They are illustrations, not quotes, and small jobs may attract a minimum charge.
| Job | Labour | Tiles | Extras to allow for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m² laundry or hallway floor, standard tiles | About $460 to $1,050 ($46 to $105 per m²) | About $200 to $550 in budget ceramic, or $500 to $1,200 in mid-range porcelain | Removal about $230 to $630; levelling about $170 to $570 if needed |
| 20 m² living area floor, large-format porcelain | About $1,380 to $2,500 ($69 to $125 per m²) | About $1,140 to $3,700 ($57 to $185 per m²) | Levelling is more likely with large tiles; skirting and trims |
| 15 m² outdoor patio, non-slip porcelain | About $855 to $1,875 ($57 to $125 per m²) | About $690 to $2,100 ($46 to $140 per m²) | Falls away from the house; waterproofing if over a room |
| 3 m² feature wall in mosaic | About $276 to $585 ($92 to $195 per m²) | About $258 to $1,380 ($86 to $460 per m²) | Minimum charge or day rate likely on a small job |
Calculated from What’s The Damage, tiling cost Sydney (verified October 2026). Rounded; your quote depends on the site.
The biggest swings come from the tile you choose and how much preparation the surface needs, not the area alone. That is why two quotes for the same room can be thousands of dollars apart.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a tiler charge per hour in Sydney?
What’s The Damage (October 2026) puts Sydney tilers at about $57 to $115 an hour, typically $80, or $575 to $920 a day. Nationally, Yellow Pages (2025) gives $40 to $120 an hour. Many tilers quote per m² or a fixed price instead, but small repairs often carry a minimum charge.
Is wall tiling more expensive than floor tiling?
In Sydney the typical labour rate is the same, about $69 per m² for both, according to What’s The Damage. Walls can cost more at the top end, up to $115 per m² against $105 for floors, because of cuts around windows, niches and fittings. Large-format floor tiles cost more than standard walls.
Does the tiler supply the tiles?
Some do, but many homeowners choose and buy their own tiles and pay the tiler for labour only. If you supply tiles, confirm the quantity, batch number and delivery date with your tiler before work starts. Ask whether adhesive, grout and trims are included in a labour-only quote.
Can I save money by removing old tiles myself?
Possibly, but there are risks. In homes built before 1990, old tiles, adhesive and sheeting may contain asbestos, so test first. In bathrooms, removing tiles damages the waterproofing, which then has to be replaced. Uneven demolition can also add levelling costs. Ask your tiler what condition they need the surface left in.
What is the cheapest way to update old tiles?
If the tiles are firm and only the grout is tired, regrouting is usually cheapest: Airtasker’s data (October 2026) shows about $281 to $640 a job. In some dry areas, tiling over sound old tiles avoids removal costs. Where tiles are drummy, cracked or leaking, replacement is usually the only lasting fix.
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