How much does it cost to tile a bathroom in the UK? (2026)

Prices checked 28 September 2026. Author: The Ark Tiles team

Tiling a typical UK bathroom costs about £1,000–£2,500 for labour on a full floor-to-ceiling job before tiles, or £1,500–£4,000 supply and fit for a family bathroom with 15–20 m² of tiling. Tilers charge about £20–£60 per m² or £150–£350 a day. Tiles themselves run from about £10 to £90+ per m² for ceramic and porcelain.

We work through a real 16 m² bathroom using products and prices from our own range, and finish with what tiling costs in Coventry and the wider Midlands. If you're still choosing tiles, our bathroom tile buying guide covers sizes, finishes and quantities.

What affects the cost of tiling a bathroom

Area

Tilers price by the square metre or by the day, so the tiled area drives almost everything. Measure each wall you're tiling (width × height) and the floor (length × width), add them together, then add about 10% for cuts and breakages. 12–15% for diagonal and herringbone layouts, and 15% or more for large-format tiles and natural stone.

Tile type and size

Material sets the tile budget. Ceramic at £10–£60 per m², standard porcelain at £20–£90, large-format porcelain at £40–£200+ and mosaic at £30–£300+. Size also changes the labour: a tiler typically lays 10–15 m² of wall or 8–12 m² of floor a day, but only 6–8 m² a day of large-format tiles and 3–5 m² of mosaic. Slower laying means more labour days. Browse our floor tiles and wall tiles to compare formats.

Pattern

Straight or stacked layouts are the quickest to set out. Herringbone, chevron and diagonal layouts add 15–30% to labour, and herringbone at £65–£85 per m². They also need more spare tiles for the extra cuts.

Removing old tiles

If the existing tiles have to come off first, removal at £20–£40 per m² and at £25–£40 per m². Waste removal adds £50–£200 depending on volume. Removal can also expose damaged plaster or boards that need repairing before tiling.

Wall and floor preparation

Tiles need a flat, sound surface. Subfloor preparation can add £10–£40 per m². Uneven floors are usually levelled first; our levelling calculator estimates how much compound you need.

Waterproofing in wet zones

Shower areas are usually tanked (waterproofed) before tiling. Liquid tanking systems at £20–£35 per m² supply, and tanking at £90–£180 per shower zone. Tanking is often left off quotes, so ask whether it's included.

Underfloor heating

Electric underfloor heating laid under the floor tiles adds about £400–£800.

Fixing materials

Adhesive and grout add about £10 per m². Adhesive £8–£15 per m², grout £4–£10 per m² and trims £8–£20 per linear metre. You can buy tile adhesive and grout and silicone with your tiles. For a dense epoxy joint in a shower, see GoPoxy epoxy grout.

Location

Day rates vary by region; London and the South East cost more. See the Coventry and Midlands section below for local figures.

Worked example: tiling a 16 m² family bathroom

Assumptions: floor 2.5 m × 2.0 m = 5 m²; about 11 m² of wall tiling (the bath/shower zone to full height, the rest half-height). That's 16 m² in total, inside 15–20 m² "family bathroom" band. We add 10% wastage and round up to whole packs. Ark prices at 28 Sep 2026.

• Adhesive coverage is for a 3 mm bed. Large-format floor tiles usually need a thicker bed, so more bags.
• Grout coverage is the maker's figure for 400×400 mm tiles with 5 mm joints. Small metro tiles have far more joint length per m², so budget extra.
• Trims, tanking, backer board and primer aren't included. Add them if your tiler specifies them (trims £8–£20 per linear metre).
• Prices at 28 Sep 2026. Sale prices can end.

As a sanity check, £1,171–£1,651 sits at or just below the low end of £1,200–£2,000 fitted range for a ~15 m² room and at the low end of £1,500–£4,000, so the maths is consistent with the market. For more wall tile options, see our metro wall tiles.

Bathroom tiling costs in Coventry and the Midlands

Midlands day rates sit around the UK outside-London band: £200–£300 a day outside London, and £190–£325 for the West Midlands.

If you're planning a bathroom in Coventry or Warwickshire, see the tiles in person first at our Coventry tile showroom: Unit B2, Stag Industrial Estate, Endemere Road, Coventry CV6 5PY. We're open Monday–Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 10am–5pm (closed Sunday), and you can take a free cut-size sample home. We also offer supply and fit across Coventry and Warwickshire. Areas covered: bathroom installs within about 1 hour of Coventry; flooring installs within about 2 hours. See supply and fit in Coventry.

DIY vs hiring a tiler

DIY makes sense for a splashback or a small wall of simple ceramic or metro tiles, where mistakes are cheap to fix and the only labour cost is your time. Showers and other wet zones, large-format porcelain, herringbone and uneven floors are where an experienced tiler earns their fee: the surface preparation, waterproofing and levelling matter as much as the tiles. Whichever route you choose, the materials list is the same, so you can price the tiles, adhesive and grout from the worked example above before you get quotes.

How to keep bathroom tiling costs down

• Order free cut-size samples first (samples are free; £4.99 delivery per order, up to 5; indoor tiles, laminate and LVT only) so you don't have to reorder.
• Where the budget suits, choose larger porcelain for floors (fewer grout lines), but remember large-format tiles lay slower.
• Fully tile only the wet zones and paint the rest.
• Buy adhesive, grout and silicone with the tiles. Free UK delivery over £499.
• Order about 10% extra from the same batch.

How long does it take to tile a bathroom?

Usually 2–5 days, or 3–4 days for walls and floor. A tiler typically completes 10–15 m² of wall tiles or 8–12 m² of floor tiles a day. Allow time for the adhesive to set before grouting: the maker's data for Larsen Fibreflex adhesive says grout after 18 hours (product page).

FAQs

How much does it cost to tile a bathroom in the UK?

About £1,000–£2,500 for labour on a full floor-to-ceiling job before tiles, or £1,500–£4,000 supply and fit for 15–20 m² of tiling. Small jobs such as a splashback plus floor cost about £400–£900 in labour.

How much do tilers charge per m² in the UK?

Usually £20–£40 per m², rising to £30–£60 for complex work. Large-format, mosaic and herringbone cost more because they're slower to lay.

What is a tiler's day rate in 2026?

£200–£300 outside London. £200–£350 (average £300). In the West Midlands, £190–£325.

How much does it cost to tile a bathroom in Coventry?

£450–£1,080 for walls only, £270–£720 for the floor and £630–£1,800 to remove and retile. For Ark supply and fit: Get a free supply-and-fit quote.

How many tiles do I need for a bathroom?

Measure each wall and the floor in m², add them up, then add about 10% for cuts and breakages. Buy all your tiles from one batch.

Is porcelain or ceramic better for a bathroom?

Both work on walls. Porcelain is denser and suits floors and wet areas; ceramic wall tiles are lighter and easy to cut. Our porcelain vs ceramic guide compares them in detail.

How long does it take to tile a bathroom?

Usually 2–5 days, or 3–4 days for walls and floor, plus drying and grouting time.

Can I see the tiles before I buy?

Yes. Order free cut-size samples (samples are free; £4.99 delivery per order, up to 5; indoor tiles, laminate and LVT only, no paving samples), or visit our Coventry showroom: Unit B2, Stag Industrial Estate, Endemere Road, CV6 5PY. Open Monday–Friday 9–6, Saturday 10–5, closed Sunday.

Get a quote or shop the tiles

• Get a free supply-and-fit quote in Coventry and Warwickshire: see supply and fit in Coventry
• Shop floor tiles and wall tiles
• Order free cut-size samples (£4.99 delivery, up to 5)
• Visit the Coventry tile showroom, open Saturday 10am–5pm