How to Price Tiling Jobs in Australia: A 2026 Guide for Tilers

Pricing a tiling job wrong costs you in two ways: too low and you're working for below your actual hourly rate; too high without the right framing and you lose the quote to a cheaper competitor. This guide gives Australian tilers the rate benchmarks, pricing framework, and quote follow-up strategy to price confidently and win more work in 2026.

The most common mistake tilers make isn't charging too much or too little — it's failing to follow up after quoting. You can price perfectly and still lose the job. We'll cover both.

Understanding How to Price Tiling Jobs

Tiling pricing in Australia is typically structured on a per-square-metre rate, with variations based on:

• Tile type and size — larger format tiles, mosaics, and natural stone require different skill and time
• Substrate condition — whether walls or floors need levelling, waterproofing, or demo work
• Pattern complexity — straight lay vs herringbone vs diagonal vs feature patterns
• Location on site — floor vs wall vs outdoor vs wet area
• Access and logistics — renovation vs new build, ground floor vs multi-storey

Your base rate is just the starting point. The factors above can add 20-100% to a basic rate.

Tiling Price Guide: Typical Rates Per Square Metre in Australia (2026)

These are typical market rates. Actual pricing varies by state, city vs regional, and business positioning.

Job Type	Price Range (per m²)	Notes
Floor tiles — standard straight lay	$35 – $55	300x300 to 600x600, simple layout
Floor tiles — large format (600x600+)	$50 – $75	More skill, levelling clips required
Floor tiles — herringbone or diagonal	$55 – $80	15-25% more time than straight lay
Wall tiles — bathroom/laundry	$45 – $70	Includes standard wet area prep
Shower recess (full)	$600 – $1,200	Per job, includes waterproofing
Feature wall — mosaic or pattern	$80 – $150+	Highly variable by complexity
Outdoor pavers — large format	$55 – $90	Depends on bed prep and falls
Outdoor pavers — natural stone	$70 – $120	Irregular sizing adds time
Pool surrounds	$70 – $110	Salt-rated products, precision required
Splashback — standard	$150 – $350	Per job, small area premium applies

Important: These rates are labour only. Materials (tiles, adhesive, grout, waterproofing membrane) are typically quoted separately or added to the total with a supply margin.

Pricing by Difficulty Factor

Beyond the base rate, build these adjustments into your quotes:

Substrate Preparation

This is where tilers most often under-quote. If a floor needs levelling, a wall needs moisture treatment, or old tiles need to be removed, that's labour that needs to be priced.

• Basic floor prep: $8–$15/m² added
• Self-levelling compound application: $15–$30/m² added (product + labour)
• Tile removal and disposal: $20–$40/m² added
• Waterproofing (wet areas): $20–$35/m² or $300–$600 per shower

Large Format Tiles

Tiles above 800x800mm require levelling clips, more precise substrate preparation, and more careful handling. Factor in at least a 20-30% uplift on base labour rates.

Complex Patterns

Herringbone, diagonal, and custom patterns require more cuts, more time, and more skill. Price at 20-40% above your standard straight-lay rate depending on pattern complexity.

Material Handling and Access

Working on multi-storey homes, tight bathroom access, or sites where materials need to be carried significant distances adds time. Build this into your quote — don't absorb it.

Grouting and Sealing

Many tilers include grout in their m² rate. If you're quoting separately, grouting typically runs $8–$15/m² depending on joint size. Sealing natural stone or porous pavers is $3–$8/m² additional.

How to Structure Your Quote

A strong tiling quote doesn't just list a price — it builds confidence in your work before the customer talks to anyone else.

Include:

1. Breakdown of scope (floor area, wall area, shower, feature wall — itemised)

2. Labour rate and total labour cost

3. Materials list with allowance or supply quote

4. Substrate preparation notes (what you found, what you'll do)

5. Waterproofing specification for wet areas

6. Tile and grout specifications (or "supply by client" if applicable)

7. Warranty statement — your workmanship guarantee

8. Timeline — when you can start, estimated completion

9. Payment terms

Itemised quotes win more work in the mid-to-high market. When a customer can see exactly what's included and why it costs what it costs, they're less likely to compare purely on price.

Handling Customers Who Only Compare on Price

Every tiler deals with this. You quote $4,200 for a bathroom retile. Someone else quotes $2,800. The customer shows you the lower quote and asks if you can match it.

Here's how to handle it without discounting your margin to zero.

Don't panic. Don't immediately discount.

First, find out what's in the cheaper quote. Ask: "Can I see what's included in their quote?" Often the cheaper quote is missing waterproofing, leaving substrate prep to the customer, or using inferior products.

If the cheaper quote is genuinely comparable work at a lower price, you have three options:

1. Stand on your quality and warranty. "I can't match that price, but I can tell you exactly why my price is what it is." Walk them through your waterproofing spec, your tile preparation standard, your workmanship warranty. Some customers will pay more for peace of mind.

2. Scope reduction. Can you remove something from the scope to hit a lower price? Maybe they do their own tile removal. Maybe you tile the shower and they do the floor themselves later.

3. Walk away with your head up. Not every job is worth having. A customer who hires the cheapest option will often call you 18 months later when they have problems. Sometimes being too expensive is the right result.

What you should never do is drop your price without changing the scope. Discounting devalues your work and trains customers to negotiate every time.

The Conversion Lever Most Tilers Ignore: Follow-Up

You did the measure-up. You sent the quote. Now what?

Most tilers send the quote and wait. They assume if the customer wants them, they'll call. That's not how it works.

The customer is comparing 2-3 quotes. They get busy. Life happens. A week passes. If no one has followed up, they default to whoever is easiest to reach — which is often the next tiler who happened to call or text.

The tilers winning more work in 2026 are the ones following up every quote, every time:

• Day 1: "Hi [Name], just checking you received the quote for the bathroom retile. Happy to walk you through it if any questions."
• Day 3: "Hi [Name], still happy to answer any questions on the quote. We can usually start within [timeframe] of confirming."
• Day 7: "Hi [Name], just wanted to touch base — our schedule fills up fast in this area. Wanted to check if you're ready to lock in a date."

This three-touch sequence converts significantly more quotes than one-and-done. The challenge is remembering to do it for every quote when you're on-site every day.

The solution is automation. Kabooyaa sends these follow-up messages automatically after you send a quote. You mark the job as "quoted", and Kabooyaa handles the follow-up sequence — no manual reminders required.

Tilers using automated follow-up sequences consistently report converting 20-35% more quotes compared to manual follow-up alone.

When to Raise Your Rates

Most tilers undercharge relative to the market for years before adjusting. Signs it's time to raise your rates:

• You're booked out 6+ weeks in advance consistently
• You're winning almost every quote (80%+ win rate means you're under-priced)
• Your costs have increased but your rates haven't changed in 2+ years
• Customers rarely question your price (you want some price sensitivity — none at all means you're too cheap)

Raising rates by 10-15% typically costs you 1-2 jobs but increases your margin on everything else. The net result is almost always positive.

FAQ: How to Price Tiling Jobs Australia 2026

What is the average cost to tile a bathroom in Australia in 2026?

A standard bathroom retile (floor + shower + partial walls) typically costs $2,500–$5,000 in labour, plus materials. Premium bathrooms with large format tiles, complex patterns, and full waterproofing can run $6,000–$12,000+ in labour.

How do I price tiling by the square metre in Australia?

Start with your base labour rate for the tile type (see the rate table above), add difficulty factors for substrate prep, pattern complexity, and large format tiles, then add materials as a separate line item. Always price substrate preparation separately — it's where under-quoted jobs lose their margin.

Should I charge for a tiling quote?

For simple jobs, free quotes are standard. For complex projects (full bathrooms, large outdoor areas, custom tile work), a paid measure-and-quote — $100-$200 credited back on job confirmation — is reasonable and filters out tyre-kickers.

How do I deal with customers comparing me to a cheaper competitor?

Ask to see what the cheaper quote includes. Often it's missing waterproofing, substrate prep, or warranty coverage. If the scope is genuinely comparable and they want to go cheaper, stand on your quality and walk away if needed. Discounting without scope reduction devalues your work.

How often should I follow up after sending a tiling quote?

Follow up at Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7. Most tilers don't follow up at all — which means three touchpoints already puts you ahead of the majority of your competitors. Use Kabooyaa to automate this so it happens for every quote without manual effort.

What's the best way to increase my tiling revenue without working more hours?

Two levers: increase your per-m² rate (especially for complexity uplifts) and increase your quote conversion rate through systematic follow-up. Improving quote conversion from 40% to 55% means 37% more revenue from the same number of leads.

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Pricing confidence comes from knowing your market rates, understanding your cost base, and presenting your value clearly in every quote. Follow-up discipline is what converts that confident pricing into booked jobs.

If you want to automate your quote follow-up and stop losing tiling jobs to competitors who just happened to follow up faster, start your free trial at kabooyaa.com.au.