The average cost to install pool tile ranges from $2,000 to $70,000, with most homeowners paying an average of $15,000. These costs vary depending on several factors, such as the pool size and the chosen tile type, but the most common swimming pool tiles will cost between $2 and $25 per square foot.
Tiles are an essential feature of a swimming pool, as they provide much-needed color that adds to the appearance and gives function to the water space. They’re also easy to clean and maintain. However, tiling your new pool or retiling your existing pool can be an extensive project.
In this article:
- Average Costs
- Cost Estimator by Type of Tile
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Services
- Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
- Cost by Location
- FAQ
Average Pool Tile Costs
| National Average Installation Cost | $15,000 |
| Typical Installation Price Range | $2,000 – $70,000 |
| Pool Tile Average Cost (Tile Only) | $2 – $25 per square foot |
| Pool Tile Price Range (Tile Only) | $1 – $100 per square foot |
On average, pool tile costs between $2 and $25 per square foot, which is the cost for standard-quality tiles, such as ceramic and porcelain. However, you can get low-quality pool tiles for as low as $1 per square foot and pay as high as $100 per square foot for premium tiles, like glass and mosaic tiles.
As for installation, the costs range between $2,000 and $70,000, including labor and materials. Prices will be closer to the lower end if you use standard-quality tiles or if it’s a small pool. Projects will cost closer to the higher end if it’s a large pool with mosaic or glass tiles.
Pool Tile Cost Estimator by Type of Tile
The price of pool tile per square foot can vary depending on which type you choose to install. The prices vary a lot, so choose carefully, considering the features you want and your budget.
The table below shows the costs for different types of pool tiles considering only the materials. Professionals charge, on average, between $4 and $32 per square foot for installing tiles (on top of the material costs listed here).
Natural Stone
Natural stone tiles can give your pool a rustic and earthy look while being durable and slip-resistant. However, they are less comfortable to walk on than other tile types due to their rough texture.
Natural stone tiles cost between $4 and $17 per square foot; the most common types are travertine, limestone, granite, and marble.
Travertine
Travertine tiles cost between $2 and $30 per square foot, not including the installation. They are very durable and ideal for the area surrounding your pool, as they are porous and absorb the water that splashes onto them. However, you may need to seal them every three to five years.
Limestone
Limestone tiles are an excellent choice for pool coping and decks. Their costs range from $2 to $11 per square foot, making them a budget-friendly option. Limestone tiles are also slip- and mold-resistant.
Granite
Granite tiles cost between $3 and $10 per square foot. They’re also an affordable option for pool coping and steps because they are slip-resistant, durable, and low maintenance. However, you must be careful with wine around granite and other natural stone tiles, as acidic food and drinks can stain them.
Marble
Marble tiles are the most expensive natural stone and the most high-end. Their costs range from $10 to $20 per square foot. They come in many different colors and patterns and can give an elegant look to your pool deck and waterline.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are an excellent option for pool floors. They’re durable, waterproof, and easy to clean, so they’ll last for years, and you won’t have to worry about replacing them. They also come in various colors and styles, so you can customize your pool floor to match your home’s design style.
Ceramic tiles cost between $2 and $20 per square foot, depending on the tile size, shape, and pattern. However, you can’t just buy any ceramic tile. Pool ceramic tiles must be coated with a special glaze to prevent them from cracking, fading, and absorbing water.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are a great option for pool floors because they’re durable, waterproof, and easy to clean. They’re stronger than ceramic tiles, so they’re less likely to chip or crack when exposed to the elements. In addition, they resist heat well and will not crack when exposed to heat from the sun or from hot water in your pool.
Porcelain tiles cost from $2 to $30 per square foot, with varying prices depending on the tile style, size, and pattern.
Glass
Glass tiles are popular because they’re easy to clean and don’t absorb water, which makes them perfect for swimming pools. They come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and patterns, and you can even make mosaics with them.
Glass tiles are the perfect choice if you’re looking for a durable option that’s also elegant and modern. Their smooth surfaces also make them simple to maintain. However, they are more costly and can crack or chip with temperature changes. Glass tiles cost between $7 and $50 per square foot, not counting installation costs.
Mosaic
Mosaics are a type of high-quality finish created using glass tiles. They can add style, color, and texture to your pool and have all the advantages a glass tile has: they’re durable and easy to maintain.
On the other hand, mosaics can be costly, at a range of $75 to $100 per square foot.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Other factors can change the costs for a pool tile installation and even add to your final bill. Those factors are:
Project Size
The average pool tile costs between $2 and $25 per square foot. In addition, professionals usually charge between $4 and $32 per square foot to install tiles. As such, you can use the average of $6 – $57 per square foot to calculate your estimate based on your pool size.
The table below shows estimates based on four different pool sizes, with labor included:
| Pool Size | Average Overall Costs |
| 150 sq. ft. | $900 – $8,550 |
| 300 sq. ft. | $1,800 – $17,100 |
| 600 sq. ft. | $3,600 – $34,200 |
| 800 sq. ft. | $4,800 – $45,600 |
Labor Costs
Tiling a pool might seem like an easy job: just lay down some tiles, and you’re done. However, laying down pool tiles is more complex than it looks. First, you have to ensure they’re level and flat so they don’t get water inside them when you fill up your pool, which could lead to water seeping and other problems down the road.
That’s why it’s a good idea to hire a professional tile installer to retile your pool. Contractors can charge per square foot between $4 and $32 or, per hour, between $30 and $120. More complex pool designs, bigger pools, and mosaics will cost more to install.
Tile Size
If you’re shopping for pool tiles, you may think larger tiles will help you save money on materials and keep costs down, as you’ll need less. However, large-size tiles are more difficult to install because they have to be handled with care, and they need a completely level surface to be laid on. More difficult installations with larger tiles will cost more out of your pocket.
Pool Type
The cost of pool tile installation will also depend on your pool type. For example, installing tiles in a concrete pool is cheaper than installing them in a fiberglass one.
Although a fiberglass pool is often cheaper than concrete, it requires specialized tools to install tile, as regular thin-set mortar and grout won’t stick to it. Instead, contractors will have to use flexible silicone tile adhesive. Thus, it will cost more than installing tiles on a concrete pool.
Pool Tile Replacement
After a few years, your pool tiles might start falling off, getting chipped, or losing their color. If that’s the case and your pool has just a few damaged areas that need retiling, the costs will be much lower than retiling your entire pool.
It costs, on average, $25 per square foot plus labor to replace small sections of your pool with new tiling.
Pool Repairs
When you’re draining your pool to replace tiles, other problems may become apparent, and you might need to add the costs to fix them to your bill. Here’s a list of the most common pool fixes:
- Leak detection and fixing
- Replacing the pool filter
- Repairing the pump motor
- Repairing the skimmer
- Fixing the drain
- Light replacement
- Repairing the beam crack
- Fixing the pool heater
Hiring a professional to repair your pool costs between $240 and $1,095, with most homeowners nationwide paying around $655. Prices vary depending on the type of fix and the pool size.
Related Services
If you’re tired of hearing people ask, “is your pool safe for swimming yet?” you might also want to consider these other pool-related services:
Pool Service
After getting the pool of your dreams, it’s essential to maintain it. That includes regular cleaning, chemical balancing, repairs, and winterizing every year. Hiring a professional pool service costs an average of $2,000 to $4,035 per year for homeowners nationwide, or about $167 to $336 a month. A pool service will take care of all maintenance and cleaning for you.
In-Ground Pool
If you don’t have a pool to tile yet, you might wonder how much it costs to have a pool installed and the differences between vinyl liners, fiberglass, and concrete. Installation for in-ground pools costs around $45,580, with most homeowners paying between $32,408 and $60,873 to install one. The table below shows the estimate for the different types of pools:
| Pool Type | Average Costs |
| Vinyl Liner | $24,000 – $44,000 |
| Fiberglass | $24,333 – $70,000 |
| Concrete (gunite/shotcrete) | $31,000 – $71,665 |
Above-Ground Pool
If you have a small budget, consider installing an above-ground pool. It’s not only the most affordable option, but it also looks great when you add some nice pool accessories. An above-ground pool offers these key benefits:
- Saves money
- Convenience for installation
- Convenience for removal
- Able to decorate the poolside with any type of furniture from your home or garden
Installation of above-ground pools cost between $1,700 and $5,970, with an average of $2,700.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
You should only install pool tiles yourself if you have experience tiling. The idea of DIY to save on the $4 to $32 per square foot installation costs may be appealing; however, tiles that haven’t been properly installed can lead to more problems along the way.
If you have experience with tiling and you have just a small damaged area that needs retiling as opposed to tiling the entire pool, here’s what you’ll need:
| DIY Equipment | Average Cost |
| Tape measure | $18 |
| Swimming pool plaster | $30 (3 lb.) |
| Putty knife | $7 |
| Swimming pool thin-set mortar | $21 |
| Notched trowel | $7 |
| Level | $21 |
| Spacers | $3 |
| Grout | $25 |
| Manual tile cutter | $50 |
| Total DIY cost: | $182 |
The average material cost to install tile in your pool is $182, not including the tiles themselves. Nonetheless, it’s a job that requires patience and precision.
Cost of Pool Tiles by Location
How much a particular pool tile costs won’t vary too much from location to location, but you’ll find local labor costs can fluctuate wildly. If you live in a major city, it may cost more to remodel your pool than in a rural area.
Because each city has its own unique set of regulations and labor requirements, the cost of operating a business in each city can be higher. In addition, there’s often more competition for workers in metropolitan areas, so employers are forced to pay more to attract and retain employees. Get quotes from local tile installers to see what costs look like in your area.
FAQ About Pool Tile
It depends. Glass tiles and waterline tiles usually last 5 to 10 years, but ceramic pool tiles can last up to 20 years, and porcelain tiles can last 50 years to a lifetime. It all depends on if you’re doing your part to expand the tile’s lifespan by keeping your pool maintenance up to date.
Porcelain tiles are the most durable pool tile, but ceramic tiles are the second best. Porcelain pool tiles don’t absorb water, and their treatment with extremely high temperatures makes them last longer than any type of tile. They’re also mold resistant, heat resistant, and won’t crack or chip easily.
You only have to drain all the water from your pool if you’re retiling your entire pool or replacing tiles from the bottom. If you’re only retiling the top edge of the waterline, you can drain the water just enough to expose the area you want to work on.
It usually takes two entire days to tile the pool as a whole. This period includes the time to drain the water, clean the surface, let the plaster dry for a day, install the tiles, and seal your swimming pool.
When to Hire a Pool Tile Pro
Whether you’re looking to tile a new swimming pool or renovate your existing pool, it’s essential that you know all the factors that can affect your project’s costs. So, if you want to add visual value to your outdoors, Pool Gnome connects you to the best pool pros near you to install the perfect pool tile.
Main Photo by: PxHere
