The cost to tile a bathroom in the UK usually falls between £800 and £2,000 for a standard room, with most homeowners paying around £1,200 once labour, tiles, adhesive and grout are all added up. Where you land inside that range comes down to the size of the room, the tiles you pick, how much of the walls you cover and where you live. A small cloakroom with one feature wall is a very different job from a family bathroom tiled floor to ceiling.
This guide breaks the price down properly: labour rates, material costs per square metre, the jobs that quietly push the bill up, and how to read a quote so you know exactly what you are paying for. The figures reflect 2026 UK rates. In Bromley, London and the wider South East you should expect to pay roughly 20 to 30 per cent more than the national average, so treat the higher end of each range as your local baseline.
Average cost to tile a bathroom
The clearest way to picture the cost to tile a bathroom is by room size and how much tiling you actually want. These are typical all-in totals covering both labour and mid-range tiles:
- Cloakroom or splashback only (2 to 4 m²): £300 to £650
- Small bathroom, walls and floor (up to 8 m²): £700 to £1,200
- Standard family bathroom (10 to 14 m²): £1,200 to £2,000
- Large or fully tiled bathroom (15 m² and over): £2,000 to £3,500 plus
Half-height wall tiling with a tiled floor is the most common brief, and it keeps the price towards the middle of the range. Tiling every wall from skirting to ceiling can add 40 to 60 per cent to the material and labour bill because there is simply more surface to cover and more cutting around fittings.
Labour costs: day rate versus price per square metre
Tilers price a job in one of two ways. A day rate runs from about £200 to £350 in and around London, with £250 a fair mid-point for a skilled tiler. A typical bathroom takes three to five working days once you include setting out, tiling, grouting and sealing, so labour alone often lands between £750 and £1,500.
The alternative is a price per square metre. Labour-only rates sit around £30 to £55 per m², with wall tiling costing a little more than floor tiling because there is more cutting, levelling and holding tiles in place while the adhesive grabs. Awkward layouts, small rooms and lots of cuts push the per-metre rate up, which is why a tiny ensuite can cost more per square metre than a large, simple floor.
Tile and material costs per square metre
Tiles themselves span a huge range. As a rough guide for 2026:
- Ceramic wall tiles: £15 to £30 per m²
- Porcelain tiles: £25 to £60 per m²
- Natural stone (marble, travertine, slate): £40 to £100 plus per m²
Beyond the tiles, budget for the consumables that any lasting job needs: flexible adhesive, grout, primer, silicone, tile trims and, in a wet area, a backer board or tanking kit. Together these usually add £8 to £15 per m². Always order around 10 per cent more tiles than the room measurement to cover cuts, breakages and future repairs, and keep a few spare boxes.
What pushes the price up
Several things reliably move a quote higher, and knowing them helps you judge whether a price is fair:
- Small format tiles. Mosaics, hexagons and metro tiles mean far more grout lines and cutting, so labour climbs.
- Large format tiles. Big slabs need a dead-flat substrate and often two people to set, which adds time.
- Patterns. Herringbone, brick bond and diagonal layouts waste more material and take longer, often 10 to 15 per cent more.
- Waterproofing. Tanking a shower enclosure or a full wet room is essential but adds materials and a day of work.
- Removal and making good. Stripping old tiles, repairing plaster and levelling floors all sit on top of the tiling itself.
Good waterproofing under the tiles is not the place to save money. The Tile Association sets out why background preparation and tanking matter for a bathroom that lasts, and cutting that corner is the most common reason tiled showers fail early.
Room shape plays a part too. A simple rectangular bathroom with long, unbroken walls tiles quickly, while a room full of recesses, a sloping ceiling, a window in the shower or an awkwardly boxed-in bath means far more measuring and cutting per square metre. Two rooms of the same floor area can differ by a day or more of labour purely because of how many cuts and edges the tiler has to work around, so do not assume price scales neatly with size alone.
How to read a tiling quote
A clear quote should separate supply from fit, so you can see the tile cost and the labour cost on their own. Check that it names the prep work (any tanking, priming or backer board), states a waste allowance, and says who removes and disposes of the old tiles. If a price looks unusually low, it often excludes preparation, which then reappears as an extra once the job starts. For a broad national benchmark you can sense-check any figure against an independent guide such as the Checkatrade tiling cost guide, then adjust upward for Bromley and London rates.
How to keep the cost down
You can trim the bill without cutting quality. Tile to a sensible height rather than floor to ceiling on every wall, since a tiled band around the bath and shower with paint above looks smart and costs far less. Larger tiles cover ground quickly and reduce labour on plain walls. Buying the tiles yourself and paying a tiler labour-only can save the retail markup, provided you order enough. Finally, get three written quotes from local tilers so you can compare like for like rather than a single headline number. If you want a hand planning a bathroom, the team at Bromley Tilers covers this daily across Bromley and south east London.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to tile a small bathroom?
A small bathroom with tiled walls and floor typically costs £700 to £1,200 all in, using mid-range ceramic or porcelain tiles. Splashback-only tiling or a single feature wall can be done for £300 to £650.
Is it cheaper to tile the walls or the floor?
Floor tiling is usually slightly cheaper per square metre for labour because there is less cutting and no need to hold tiles in place while they set. Walls take longer, especially around windows, pipework and fittings.
How long does it take to tile a bathroom?
Most bathrooms take three to five days, allowing time for setting out, tiling, letting the adhesive cure, then grouting and sealing. Rushing the curing stage is a common cause of loose tiles and cracked grout later.
Should I supply my own tiles?
Buying your own tiles can save money and gives you full control of the finish, but order about 10 per cent extra for cuts and spares. Ask your tiler which adhesive and grout suit your chosen tiles before you buy.
Do I need to tank the bathroom before tiling?
Any area that gets wet, especially a shower or a wet room, should be tanked or fitted with a waterproof backer board before tiling. It adds a little to the cost but protects the wall behind and stops long-term water damage.