What should I charge for tile work?

Tile and stone setting is precise, prep-heavy work priced per square foot or per job — and the price has to carry saws, a truck, consumables, and the substrate prep and waterproofing that decide whether the job lasts. Build each bid from your labor and materials plus a markup that covers that overhead, and price the prep and waterproofing as their own lines.

Price a job the way contractors actually do it: add up what the job costs you, then add a markup for your overhead and profit. Fill in your numbers — your bid updates as you type.

What this job costs you

Materials & supplies ($) — your cost for everything you'll buy for this job

Other direct costs ($) — fuel, equipment rental, disposal fees, permits

Your labor

Not sure what to charge for your time? Employed tile & stone setters earn a median of about $26.77/hr (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A self-employed labor rate is typically higher — roughly $40–$55/hr (about 1.5–2×) — because it also has to cover self-employment tax, the benefits an employer would otherwise pay, and the hours that cannot be billed.

Hours this job will take

Your hourly labor rate ($) — what your time is worth per hour; e.g. $40–$55

Hired help ($) — paid to a helper or subcontractor; leave blank if solo

Your markup — overhead & profit

This is where your business actually makes money. Industry standard is roughly 20–30% overall for contractors; solo operators often need the higher end to cover insurance, tools, truck, admin time, and slow weeks. Adjust to fit your business.

Markup on your costs (%)

Materials & supplies	$0
Your labor (0 hrs × $0)	$0
Hired help	$0
Other direct costs	$0
Your costs (subtotal)	$0
Markup (30% — overhead & profit)	$0
Bid price	$0

Pricing method and standard percentages from contractor-industry sources (Angi, Buildern, NAHB): overall contractor markup 20–30%, materials markup 7.5–35%, labor markup 25–50%, recommended profit margin 15–25%. A markup is a percentage of your costs; the resulting margin (share of the bid that's profit) is lower — both are shown above. These are general benchmarks, not a guarantee for your market.

What your markup has to cover

The markup in your bid covers the costs no single job shows. For tile work, your overhead typically includes wet saws and blades, the truck and fuel, consumables (thinset, grout, membrane, spacers), leveling and layout tools, liability insurance, and dump fees. None of that appears on one job, but all of it is paid out of the markup added to every job. Published contractor guidance (Angi, NAHB) puts a typical overall markup at 20–30%.

Be realistic about your hours

Substrate prep, waterproofing, layout, and intricate patterns are where the hours go — the visible tile is the last step. Per-square-foot pricing only works if you have priced the prep and the pattern; a herringbone or a mosaic is not the same job as a straight lay.

Tile Setter pricing FAQs

How is tile work priced?

Usually per square foot of labor, adjusted for tile size, pattern, and prep, or per job. Estimate the square footage and your hours, apply your hourly labor rate, and price prep, waterproofing, and complex patterns as their own line items.

Why do patterns and small tile cost more?

Diagonal, herringbone, and mosaic layouts mean more cuts, more waste, and far more time per square foot than a straight lay, so they bill higher. Quote the pattern, not just the area.

Should waterproofing and prep be separate line items?

Yes — substrate repair, backer board, and waterproofing (especially in showers) are critical, time-consuming, and easy to under-quote. Listing them separately protects your price and shows the customer why a proper install costs more than a quick one.