Cost guide · Tile
How much does it cost to tile a bathroom floor?
Tile, thinset and grout for a standard 5 × 8 ft bathroom with a tub come to about $143.00. A 60 × 30 in tub takes up 5 × 2.5 ft, leaving 27.5 sq ft of floor. With 24 × 12 in porcelain at $3.00 a square foot and 15% waste for cuts, that is 2 boxes of tile, 1 bag of thinset and 1 bag of grout. Backer board or membrane, trim and sealer are extra.
Prices Ballpark U.S. home-center figures, not quotes. Default price list reviewed . Enter local prices in the calculator for a tighter number.
Materials takeoff
How much does it cost to tile a bathroom floor? · https://estimahome.com/guides/bathroom-floor-tile-cost/
Area length: 5.5 ftArea width (or wall height): 5 ftTile length: 24 inTile width: 12 in
- Area
- 27.5 sq ft
- Tiles
- 16
- Boxes
- 2
- Grout
- 1.7 lb
| No. | Item | Qty | Unit | Unit cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tile 24 × 12 in, 2 boxes | 32 | sq ft | $3.00 | $96.00 |
| 2 | Thinset mortar, 50 lb | 1 | bag | $22.00 | $22.00 |
| 3 | Sanded grout, 25 lb | 1 | bag | $25.00 | $25.00 |
- Subtotal
- $143.00
- Likely range
- $121.55 – $164.45
- Buy all tile from the same lot and keep a box for future repairs.
- Not included: backer board, membrane, spacers, trim pieces, sealer.
Buy these materials
- 2 boxes of 24 × 12 in tileAmazon search for boxes of 24 × 12 in tile (opens in new tab)
- 1 50 lb bag of thinsetAmazon search for 50 lb bags of thinset (opens in new tab)
- 1 bag of sanded groutAmazon search for bags of sanded grout (opens in new tab)
Links open a store search for each item. Check sizes and grades against your plan.
Open the tile calculator with these inputsChange any measurement, assumption or price and the takeoff updates.
How the numbers work
- Floor: 5 ft wide × (8 ft − 2.5 ft of tub) = 5 × 5.5 = 27.5 sq ft.
- Tiles: 27.5 × 144 ÷ ((24 + 0.125) × (12 + 0.125)) = 13.54; with 15% waste, 16 tiles.
- Boxes: 27.5 × 1.15 ÷ 16 sq ft per box, rounded up = 2 boxes, 32 sq ft.
- Thinset: 27.5 ÷ 45 sq ft per bag, rounded up = 1 bag.
- Grout: 1.73 lb for 0.125 in joints on 0.375 in tile, so 1 bag of 25 lb.
- Cost: 32 × $3.00 + 1 × $22.00 + 1 × $25.00 = $143.00.
Comparison
| Floor | Area | Boxes | Thinset | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 5.5 ft | 27.5 sq ft | 2 | 1 | $143.00 |
| 5 × 8 ft | 40 sq ft | 3 | 1 | $191.00 |
| 8 × 10 ft | 80 sq ft | 6 | 2 | $357.00 |
| 10 × 12 ft | 120 sq ft | 9 | 3 | $523.00 |
Each row is a separate run of the Tile Calculator at default prices. The highlighted row is the project above.
What changes the cost
- Tile choice
- Tile is 67% of this list at $3.00 a square foot. Ceramic, porcelain, natural stone and mosaic sheets span a wide price range; enter the price of the tile you pick.
- Underlayment
- Tile over a wood subfloor needs cement backer board or an uncoupling membrane, plus the screws or thinset to set it. Neither is counted here, and on a floor this small they can cost as much as the tile.
- Waste in small rooms
- A small floor is mostly cuts around the toilet, tub and door. 15% is used here instead of the 10% calculator default. Large-format tile breaks more often, so lean high.
- Demolition and prep
- Pulling the toilet, removing the old floor and flattening the subfloor take time and a few supplies: a new wax ring, a transition strip and floor leveler if the subfloor needs it.
- Labor versus DIY
- These are register prices for doing the work yourself. A contractor's bid adds labor, equipment, overhead, permit fees where they apply, and markup on materials, so it will run well above this figure. Get two or three written bids against the same plan and compare the material lists line by line. Tile setters often have a minimum charge, so a small bathroom floor costs more per square foot to hire out than a large one.
- Regional prices
- Default prices are ballpark U.S. home-center figures. Expect them to differ by region, season, brand and grade. Enter your store's prices in the calculator and every quantity on this page reprices.
Questions
How many square feet is a 5x8 bathroom floor?
40 sq ft wall to wall. With a standard 60 × 30 in tub, 27.5 sq ft is left to tile.
How much thinset for a bathroom floor?
Coverage depends on the trowel notch; 45 sq ft per 50 lb bag is a planning figure, so 1 bag here. Large tile needs a bigger notch and more thinset. Read the coverage chart on the bag.
Sanded or unsanded grout?
Sanded for joints 1/8 in and wider; unsanded for narrower joints and for tile that scratches easily, such as polished stone or glass.
Figures computed with the Tile Calculator and the default price list (/api/prices.json, reviewed October 20, 2026). Quantities are rounded up to what stores sell. Updated 2026-10-20.