How to Quote a Tiling Job: Australian Tiler's Pricing Guide

Tiling quotes hinge on two things most tradies underprice: the prep underneath the tiles and the waterproofing behind them. Quote on tiled area alone and you'll lose money every time the substrate needs work. Here's how to price tiling work accurately for the Australian market, plus a template you can reuse on every job.

What a tiling quote should include

• Business name, ABN and contact details — plus your waterproofing licence number where wet-area work requires one
• Quote number, date and expiry — 14–30 days; tile and adhesive prices move
• Client name and site address
• Itemised scope — prep, waterproofing, tiling and grout as separate lines
• Tile type, size and finish specified — "600×600 porcelain" vs "mosaic feature" is a major labour difference
• Materials and labour shown separately
• GST as a separate line, plus payment terms and exclusions

Tiling labour and job rates (2025 Australian market)

Most tilers price per square metre for laying, then add prep and wet-area work as separate items:

• Floor tiling — lay only (standard format): $45–$70/m²
• Wall tiling — lay only: $55–$90/m²
• Mosaic, herringbone or large-format: $90–$140/m² (slower, more cuts)
• Waterproofing wet areas: $40–$70/m², or $500–$900 per bathroom
• Screed / floor levelling: $25–$45/m²
• Tile and adhesive removal: $25–$45/m²
• Full bathroom retile (supply and lay, mid-spec): $2,500–$6,000

These are guide ranges. Cuts, niches, hobs, and small or awkward rooms slow you down — a tiny bathroom often costs more per m² than a large open floor.

How to price tiles and materials

Charge tiles, adhesive, grout, waterproofing membrane and trims at cost plus 15–25% markup. The markup covers sourcing, delivery and the breakage every tiling job produces — always order 10% extra for cuts and wastage, and 15% on diagonal or patterned layouts. Specify who supplies the tiles: if the client buys their own, state that shortfalls or breakages are at their cost.

Exclusions that protect you

• "Assumes substrate is level, sound and ready to tile — repairs or screeding quoted separately"
• "Waterproofing to AS 3740; certificate provided on request"
• "Does not include removal of existing tiles unless listed"
• "Price assumes tiles on site before commencement"
• "Price held for 30 days subject to supplier pricing"

A free tiling quote structure you can reuse

Every tiling quote can follow the same skeleton: business details → job description and tile spec → line items (split into Prep, Waterproofing, Materials and Labour) → subtotal → GST → total → payment terms → exclusions. Nail that structure once and every future quote is a fill-in-the-blanks job — and the tiler whose quote arrives first, itemised and professional, wins more work than the cheapest one.

Related guides

• How to Write a Trade Quote in Australia
• What to Include in a Trade Quote: Australian Checklist
• Why Tradies Who Quote Fast Win More Work

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