How much does a small bathroom cost to tile in Sydney?

We haven't found a dated, credited figure for small bathrooms specifically, so we won't guess. The best way to find out is to get quotes on your own room with measurements and photos.

Is waterproofing included in a tiling quote?

Not always. Ask every tiler directly whether waterproofing is included, who does it, and whether you'll get a certificate. It's required for wet areas under the National Construction Code and AS 3740.

Do I need a licensed tiler in NSW?

It depends on the value and type of work, and waterproofing is licensed work on its own. Check the current rules on NSW Fair Trading and check any licence number on their public register.

How much does tile removal add?

Our sources don't publish a separate removal price, so we're not going to make one up. Ask each tiler to list removal and disposal as its own line so you can compare.

Do tilers charge per square metre or per hour?

Many price floors per square metre. What's The Damage lists $46 to $105 per sqm for floor tiling labour in Sydney (What's The Damage, read 20 Oct 2026). Whole bathrooms are often quoted as one fixed price.

Homeowners Tradies

How much does it cost to tile a bathroom in Sydney? (2026 guide)

I've been on the tools for years, and bathroom tiling is one of those jobs where two quotes for the "same" room can be thousands apart. Usually that's not because one tiler is greedy. It's because they've priced different jobs. This guide gives you the Sydney numbers that are published, tells you where each one comes from, and shows you how to line quotes up so you're comparing like with like.

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Quick answer

Standard bathroom, labour only: Sydney tiler Leerberg Tiling puts a standard bathroom at $3,500 to $7,000, not including the tiles (Leerberg Tiling, read 20 Oct 2026).
Floor tiling labour per square metre: What's The Damage lists $46 to $105 per sqm for floor tiling labour in Sydney (What's The Damage, tiling cost Sydney, read 20 Oct 2026).

Neither source says clearly whether its figures include GST, so check that on every quote you get. Your tiles, waterproofing, removal of the old tiles and access all move the final number, so treat these as a starting point, not a price.

What a Sydney bathroom tiling quote should include

A good quote spells out each stage. If a stage is missing, ask whether it's left out or just not written down.

Removal and disposal. Taking out old tiles, screed and fixtures, and getting rid of the rubbish. On older Sydney homes this can uncover surprises underneath.
Prep and levelling. Floors and walls need to be flat and sound before tiles go on. Uneven floors take extra time and material.
Waterproofing and certificate. Wet areas must be waterproofed to the standard (more below). Ask who does it and whether you get a certificate at the end.
Tiling. Floor, walls, niches, and any feature tiles.
Grout and silicone. The finish around the shower, bath and joins. Ask what grout is being used.
Clean up. Whether the room is left ready to use.

What pushes the price up or down

Tile size and format. Large format tiles look great but are heavy and need a very flat surface. Small mosaics and herringbone patterns take far longer to lay. Both can cost more in labour than a standard tile.

Wall vs floor. Wall tiling to the ceiling covers a lot more area than a floor alone, and the per sqm floor figure above won't cover walls. Ask for each to be priced separately.

Apartment access. Plenty of Sydney bathrooms sit in strata buildings. Lifts that need booking, limited parking, and strata rules on work hours and noise all add time. Tell tilers about these up front so they can price for them.

Removal. Pulling out an old bathroom is real work, especially when tiles were laid on a thick mortar bed. Some quotes include it, some don't.

Your tiles. The Leerberg range above excludes tiles. Tile prices vary hugely, so budget for them on top.

Licensing and waterproofing rules in NSW

In NSW, residential building work above a set value needs a licensed tradie, and waterproofing is its own licensed category of work. The thresholds and categories are set by NSW Fair Trading and they do change, so check the current rules on NSW Fair Trading's home building licence pages rather than trusting a figure you read somewhere else, including here.

Waterproofing of wet areas is covered by the National Construction Code and Australian Standard AS 3740. You can read about the code at the Australian Building Codes Board. The practical upshot: ask every tiler who will do the waterproofing, whether they're licensed for it, and whether you'll get a certificate. If one quote is much cheaper, check it isn't because waterproofing was left out.

How to compare quotes for the same job

Here's the checklist I'd use if I were comparing quotes for my own bathroom:

Same scope? Floor only, or floor and walls? Full height or half?
Removal included? And disposal of the rubbish?
Waterproofing included? Who does it, and do you get the certificate?
Tiles included or excluded? Most labour quotes exclude them.
Prep and levelling? Included, or charged extra if needed?
GST? Is the price inclusive or exclusive?
Licence details? Check them against the NSW Fair Trading register.
Timeline? How many days, and when can they start?
Payment terms? What's due when.

Once those answers line up, the price comparison actually means something.

What to put in your job post

Include the room's rough measurements, whether walls are tiled to the ceiling, photos of the current room, whether old tiles need removing, if you've bought tiles yet, and any strata or access rules.

A note on the numbers in this guide

Every price on this page comes from a business or website that published it, and we've credited each one and the date we read it. We haven't changed or averaged them. Prices change, and businesses update their own pages, so click through to check the latest before you rely on a figure. We've also left out any price we couldn't find a dated, credited source for, rather than guessing. If you're not sure whether a figure includes GST, ask the tradie before you accept a quote. The surest way to know what your job costs is to get real quotes on it.

FAQ

Sydney tiler Leerberg Tiling quotes a standard bathroom at $3,500 to $7,000, not including tiles (Leerberg Tiling, read 20 Oct 2026). Size, tile choice, removal and waterproofing all change the final figure, so get quotes for your actual room.

Ready for real Sydney prices?

A guide gets you in the ballpark. A quote gets you the real number for your place. Describe the job once, add a few photos, and local tradies who do this work can quote on it.

Prices from other businesses are credited on this page. They are a guide only, not a quote. Last updated 20 October 2026.