Getting tiling done well: briefing a tiler and comparing labour quotes
Why tiling is priced per square metre of labour, how prep hides in the quote, and what to confirm before the first tile goes down.
Tiling is deceptively skilled work — the finished wall or floor either looks crisp and level or it doesn't, and there's no hiding a bad job once the grout is in. Tilers charge for their labour on top of the tiles you supply, which makes their quotes look simple until you notice how much sits in the preparation nobody sees.
Understanding what goes into the labour rate, and what happens before the first tile is laid, is the key to comparing quotes that are actually for the same job.
What tiling involves
Tilers are priced per square metre laid, separate from the cost of the tiles. Straightforward floor tiling with standard-format ceramic sits at the low end of the rate; walls are slower than floors, and large-format, natural stone and mosaic tiles push the rate up because of the extra cutting, levelling and careful handling they demand. Feature layouts like herringbone or diagonal add cutting time and wastage on top.
The hidden line item is preparation. Removing old tiles, screeding an uneven floor flat, and waterproofing wet areas all happen before a single new tile goes down, and together they can add as much as the laying itself. A quote that's silent on prep isn't cheaper — it's incomplete.
Waterproofing deserves its own mention because it's not optional in wet areas: it has to meet the Australian Standard and, in several states, is licensed as its own trade. It should be done and certified before tiling starts, because a waterproofing failure behind finished tiles is one of the most expensive things to put right.
How the cost works
The band on this page is labour-only and runs from a small splashback at the low end to large-format living areas at the top. The estimate here adjusts for the area, the tile type and whether you're doing floors or walls — but remember the tiles themselves, and any prep, sit on top of these labour figures.
When quotes differ, the gap is usually prep and inclusions. Confirm who supplies glue, grout and trims, and whether tile removal, screeding and waterproofing are in the price or extra — a 'labour only' quote can mean quite different things. Ordering about ten per cent more tiles than the bare area covers cuts and future repairs, since matching a discontinued tile later is nearly impossible.
Choosing the right tiler
Tiling itself is generally unlicensed, but the waterproofing within a wet-area job may need a licensed waterproofer depending on your state — ask who's doing it and insist on a certificate for it wherever you live. That certificate is your protection on the one part of the job you can never see again once the tiles are on.
Beyond that, judge on evidence: ask to see recent work and look at grout lines, corners and cuts around fixtures, where a tiler's care shows. A good tiler talks about surface prep and falls to the drain unprompted, and gives you a quote that's clear about what's labour, what's materials and what's preparation, so you can compare it honestly against others.
Mistakes to avoid
Tiling mistakes are permanent in a way most trades aren't — you can't tweak a laid floor — so the care goes in before and during, not after.
- Comparing labour quotes without checking prep, removal and waterproofing are included
- Skipping or not certifying waterproofing in wet areas, the costliest failure to fix later
- Not agreeing who supplies glue, grout and trims on a 'labour only' quote
- Ordering tiles to the exact area with no allowance for cuts and future repairs
- Choosing a feature layout without pricing the extra cutting time and wastage
- Judging on rate alone rather than looking at the tiler's grout lines and cuts on past jobs
Indicative range only, not a quote — see the full guide for worked scenarios and what moves the price.
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