How Much to Install Tiles in the Shower

While giving your bathroom a new catchy appearance is a great way to increase its value and efficiency, installing tiles in the shower is among the top ways to achieve it. Tiles are easy to clean, aesthetically appealing, and a satisfying project for your home. But how much does it cost to install a tile shower?

The average installation cost for tiles in the shower is around $450 to $1,000. This amount will vary depending on the extent of your project, the kind of tile you choose, and the total surface area you require to cover. You can expect to pay about $25 per square foot to install a new tile shower.

This post will answer how much to install a tile shower. You can use it to determine the tile shower installation cost in your bathroom and other cost factors.

What is the Cost of Installing Tiles in the Shower?

The total cost of tiling a shower differs from one type of tile shower based on new installation or replacement. Here is a cost breakdown of each one of them:

1. Ceramic Tiles

Installing ceramic tiles to give your bathroom a new appearance has better benefits than other projects. It also has the most beautiful outcomes you can ever have in your bathroom. Further, it is easy to clean and offers maximum satisfaction in your home.

You can complete installing ceramic tiles in your shower within a few days. However, it comes with huge costs based on factors such as the size of your shower, the type of tile you choose, the appropriate materials, and the complexity of the pattern you choose. You can install this tile shower within 10 sq. ft – 100 sq. ft.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot0.50 – 85
Base 100 – 1,000
Materials 400
Labor 10 – 20 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles400 – 500
Total Replacement: 650 – 9,100
New: 1,050 – 9,600

2. Vinyl Tiles

It will cost you a national average of $4.97 per square foot to install vinyl tiles in your shower. Depending on your location, this price may range between $4.29 and $5.64. 

The total cost of materials and labor per square foot is $6.84 and may be as low as $5.76 and as high as $7.91. Your actual cost of installing these tiles will vary depending on the job’s size, location, and the finish and conditions you choose.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot4.97
Base 90 – 900
Materials 300
Labor 80 per hour
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 339 – 661
New: 839 – 1,161

3. Linoleum Floor Tiles

Linoleum floor tiles are made from renewable and natural materials. These tiles offer a low-maintenance and stylish appearance when installed on floors. 

It will cost you an average cost of $1,000 – $ 3,200. However, the average cost of this project will vary depending on the amount of flooring you need.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot2 – 6.50
Base 78 – 870
Materials 2.93 per square foot
Labor 30 per hour
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 500 – 2,700
New: 1,000 – 3,200

4. Glass Tiles

It will cost you an average cost of $20-$30 per square foot to install glass tiles. Glass is not a suitable flooring material, and it’s not recommended you use it outdoors. 

However, you can use it as a backsplash or countertop in your shower. You can easily get various glass tiles in different colors, such as red, blue, gray, yellow, brown, and green. 

These tiles are commonly available as 12″ by 12″ tiles and are composed of different shapes resembling a brick wall.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot20 – 30
Base 80 – 780
Materials 300
Labor 4 – 12 per hour
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 500 – 1,500
New: 1,000 – 2,000

5. Cement-bodied Tiles

Cement-bodied tiles are a perfect alternative to other types of tiles since they’re uniquely coated to prevent stains. You can install these tiles on your bathroom floor since they cannot stain. 

It will cost you an average of $2 to $10 per square foot to install these tiles, while higher-quality materials may be more expensive.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot2 – 10
Base 100 – 1,000
Materials 400
Labor 10 – 20 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 550 – 9,100
New:1,050 – 9,600

6. Porcelain Tiles

Almost similar to ceramic, porcelain tiles are made from fired clay dust. They offer a low-maintenance, durable, low water absorption, and durable flooring option. Its non-porous nature makes it ideal for bathrooms. 

It is also costly and may cost you $3 to $10 per square foot to install it.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot3 – 10
Base 150 – 950
Materials 400
Labor 14 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 1,000 – 2,500
New: 1,500 – 3,000

7. Terracotta Tiles

It will cost you $5 to $15 per square foot to install terracotta tiles, depending on the size or finish. The average cost of this material is $10 to $30 per square foot.

This type of tile comes glazed or unglazed. The most common, the unglazed type, comes in various shades and sizes. 

It also needs a sealant in wet areas like the bathroom since the tile’s clay body is porous. It is thicker compared to other machine-made tiles, making the installation quite difficult.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot5 – 15
Base 100 – 900
Materials 10 – 15 per square foot
Labor 7 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 500 – 2,000
New: 1,000 – 2,500

8. Stone Tiles

Some of the most common stones tiles include the following:

  1. Granite Tiles

It will cost you about $5 to $7 to purchase a square foot of granite tiles. These tiles are labor-intensive to install, and most contractors will charge you $35 to $45 per hour

The total cost of installing these tiles will differ based on the size of your bathroom, grade, and the required additional designs and colors.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot2- 6
Base 600 – 2,500
Materials 5 – 8
Labor 35 – 45 per hour
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 700 – 2,400
New: 400 – 5,000
  1. Marble Tiles

To install marble tiles will cost you between $3 and $50 per square foot. This material ranges between $3 to $65 per square foot

Typically, marble is a metamorphic stone that can be cut, shaped, and polished. Some marbles will produce excellent results on a wet surface, while others have problems with surfaces like your shower.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot3 – 50
Base 150 – 800
Materials 3 – 65
Labor 3- 7 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 1,300 – 4,500
New: 1,800 – 5,000
  1. Limestone Tiles

It will cost you an average of $5 to $30 per square foot to install limestone tiles. The total price of installed limestone tiles ranges between $13 to $45 per square foot

Although some limestone tiles can be used in wet areas such as showers, most shouldn’t be used in such conditions. 

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot5- 30
Base 365 – 510
Materials 240 – 375
Labor 6 – 13 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 400 – 4,000
New: 900 – 4,500

9. Metal Tiles

Installing metal tiles will cost you $13 to $45 per square foot. These tiles are generally porcelain with a glaze that uses various metal oxides to produce the desired look of any metal.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot13 – 45
Base 200 – 750
Materials per square foot11 – 55 
Labor 10 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 700 – 3,100
New: 1,200 – 3,600

10. Slate Tiles

It will cost you between $3 to $15 per square foot to install slate tiles. On the other hand, the average cost of installed materials will be between $13 and $27 per square foot

Slate tiles are made from metamorphic stones that are effective in the shower. These tiles are inexpensive but costly to install. However, they offer a rustic and natural appearance which is nice to have.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot3 – 15
Base 200 – 960
Materials per square foot13 – 27
Labor 90 – 134
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 1,124 – 1,786
New:1,624 – 2,286

11. Pebble tiles

Installing pebble tiles costs $30 to $40 per square foot. The material installation costs vary between $42 to $70 per square foot. Typically, pebble tiles are made from rocks collected from beaches. 

These tiles can be installed underfoot as a massage or to cover the complete wall. They guarantee a beautiful complement to various natural material-inspired bathrooms.

Cost BaseCost ($)
Tiles per square foot30 – 40
Base 200 – 800
Materials 42 – 70
Labor 12 per square foot
Removal and disposal of old tiles500
Total Replacement: 1,000 – 3,500
New: 1,500 – 4,000

Other Tiles Installation Costs and Considerations

When installing tiles, the other factors to consider include the following:

  • It will increase the cost if you choose hard-to-reach or a unique pattern of backsplash features.
  • If you have installed an electrical outlet within the backsplash location, cutting your tiles to ensure the material functions on the surface will increase the cost.
  • The labor cost will vary depending on your location.
  • If you opt for unique patterns such as herringbone and diagonal, it will cost you more.

Together with the basic cost units of labor and materials, these considerations can greatly increase your tile installation costs.

DIY Considerations

When thinking of installing the tiles yourself, consider the following aspect:

  • You can install tiles using helpful DIY, but you may spend more on the tools.
  • It can be difficult to cut some materials, such as porcelain. This can increase the risk of damaging such materials. However, some materials are easy to cut.

Summary

Installing a tile shower is a great investment with incredible returns. It will increase the value of your property while increasing its functionality. However, these benefits will come at a cost. 

You will pay various prices for installing different types of tiles based on your location, the size of the shower, and the preferable design. Thus, it would help if you carefully choose a shower tile within your budget and desired design.

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