How Much Does Porcelain Tile Cost in 2024?

Porcelain tile installation can cost you between $1,165 and $3,320, with most homeowners paying an average of $2,180.

You can’t go wrong with porcelain tile. It’s durable, solid, and long-lasting. Porcelain tile installation can cost you between $1,165 and $3,320, with most homeowners paying an average of $2,180

For small areas, you can end up paying as little as $445 and as high as $10,000 for a more extensive area. The typical rate per square foot is between $9 and $50, including materials and labor.

In this guide:

Average Porcelain Tile Installation Costs in 2024

National Average Cost$2,180
Typical Price Range$1,165 – $3,320
Extreme Low-End Cost$445
Extreme High-End Cost$10,000

Porcelain tile installation costs can vary greatly depending on the tile you choose and your project’s size. For example, you can pay as little as $445 for a backsplash tile installation in your outdoor kitchen or $10,000 for flooring on your patio.

Choose more basic porcelain tiles with a simple design and a straight-set pattern to stay within your budget.

Porcelain Tile Cost Estimator by Project Size

Porcelain tile installation costs depend vastly on the square footage of the project. More extensive areas will require more tiles and hours of work to install, and hence, will cost more, as with any other outdoor tile installation cost.

Porcelain tiles by themselves cost, on average, between $2 and $30 per square foot. Hiring a professional to install the tiles for you can cost $9 to $50 per square foot, including the tiles.

The table below displays an estimate of the costs to install porcelain tiles based on the area size. You can use these average costs to estimate your project’s costs.

Project Size Average Overall Cost (Materials and Labor)
10 sq. ft.$90 – $500
20 sq. ft.$180 – $1,000
30 sq. ft.$270 – $1,500
50 sq. ft.$450 – $2,500
80 sq. ft.$720 – $4,000
100 sq. ft.$900 – $5,000
200 sq. ft.$1,800 – $10,000

Other Factors that Affect Cost

Many factors affect the overall cost of porcelain tile installation. The following are a few of the most common examples:

Tile Type

Porcelain tile comes in many different types, styles, and colors, so it’s essential to consider these options before deciding on a specific type of tile. The cost of each type may vary from one to another:

Glazed

The glazing process involves covering the tile with a liquid mixture of different compounds, which hardens when it dries and can give the tile texture, color, or patterns. Glazed tiles are popular because they are easier to clean and more durable, and for having a little extra style.

Glazed tile costs range from $4 to $32 per square foot.

Unglazed

If you don’t like the glossy finish, you can go for the cheaper option: the unglazed tile. Unglazed tiles don’t have any coating applied to them, but they’re still non-porous and resistant, so it’s just a matter of preference.

The average cost of unglazed porcelain tiles ranges from $2 to $15.

Mosaic

Mosaics are known for their small size (2″ or smaller), but that doesn’t mean they can’t be big in style. With a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes, you’ll find plenty of ways to make your mosaic tiles pop in any room of your home, even the outdoors.

Mosaic porcelain tiles cost between $14 and $47 per square foot.

Polished

Polished tiles are ground down to a fine sheen using fine grits, so they’re super reflective and have a nice, smooth touch. They’re so smooth they can get slippery, so they’re usually used in backsplashes or countertops rather than for flooring.

Polished tiles range from around $4 to $35 per square foot.

Matte

If you’re looking for a more sober look, matte porcelain tiles are a great option. They can be glazed or unglazed and come in various styles–from wood-look to stone-look.

Matte tiles don’t reflect light, so they are not as shiny as polished tiles. They cost, on average, from $2 to $27 per square foot.

Tile Style

Another great feature of porcelain tiles is that they are versatile. Porcelain tiles are available in various colors and styles, including some resembling wood or marble. Those styles can impact the price.

Stone Look

Stone is excellent for flooring and wall tiles, but it’s not always an option. Porcelain tile is an excellent alternative that offers many of the same visual benefits of natural stone but is more durable and less susceptible to staining.

The costs for stone-look porcelain tiles average $2 to $22 per square foot.

Wood Look

Imagine the look and feel of natural wood without the upkeep: that’s what you can get with wood look porcelain tiles. The planks are cut like hardwood floors, but they’re much easier to clean and maintain than natural wood.

The cost of wood-look porcelain tiles is around $3 to $15 per square foot.

Marble Look

If you are looking for marble-like tiles but don’t want to spend money on real marble, you should consider getting porcelain tiles that look like marble instead. Different colors and patterns of tiles will make your space look high-end without breaking the bank.

On average, polished marble-look porcelain tiles cost from $3 to $20 per square foot.

Metal Look

Metal-look porcelain tiles are a great option to use when you want to create a modern look in your home. They are glazed with a material that contains a type of metal that makes them look like steel, aluminum, or copper.

Metallic porcelain tiles are slightly more expensive and cost between $17 and $31 per square foot.

Textured

Textured tiles are an excellent way to add flair to your space without making a huge commitment. However, more heavily textured tiles can be harder to clean than lighter-textured ones, so they might not be adequate for the kitchen or other greasy areas.

Textured porcelain tiles cost between $2 and $17 per square foot.

Tile Size

Tile sizes can be a significant factor in the cost of your new floor or outdoor living space. While larger tiles are installed more quickly than smaller ones, they require a level subfloor to be laid on. If you don’t have a level subfloor, you’ll pay more to level it, which can increase labor costs.

Tile Pattern

When installing tile, the type of pattern you choose can significantly affect your costs. Suppose you’d like to install tiles in straight rows, for example. In that case, you’ll likely spend less on labor than on a more intricate pattern because they require more time-consuming installation methods.

Straight-set and stacked brick patterns are the cheapest. Patterns like herringbone, diagonal, running bond, Versailles, and basketweave can increase the installation costs by 10% to 20%.

PEI Rating

Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) rating refers to a measure of abrasion resistance that indicates the hardness and durability of a tile. In other words, it measures how much foot traffic (or mass transit for commercial applications) a tile can handle.  

PEI ratings range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least resistant and 5 being the most resistant. Tiles with a PEI rating of 1 and 2 are cheaper but not suitable for flooring. 

PEI ratings of 4 or 5 can cost more, but they can withstand heavy foot traffic and will last the longest.

Location

Porcelain is a rigid material, so it can be challenging to cut. That means that any time you need to make a lot of cuts, like in bathroom flooring or a small stoop, you’ll pay more for your tile because it’s more labor-intensive to cut it at all the right angles. 

Subfloor Preparation

Preparing your subfloor for tile installation can be a hassle. If your subfloor is cracked or damaged, it needs to be repaired before it can be ready for tile installation, which can cost an extra few bucks.

In addition, porcelain tiles must be laid down on concrete, so you may need to hire someone to add self-leveling concrete (or add it yourself).

Related Services 

If you’re considering installing porcelain tiles, you might want to consider the following services as well:

Ceramic Tile Installation

Ceramic tiles are less expensive but more prone to cracking and chipping than porcelain. They also tend to be less stain-resistant and water-resistant. On the other hand, ceramic tiles are easier to use and install and are available in more colors and designs.

The average cost for ceramic tile installation is $2,425, with most homeowners paying between $730 and $4,175, or $7 to $40 per square foot.

Tile Removal

If you’re weary of your existing tile flooring and want to have it removed and replaced with something new, the costs for tile removal range from $5 to $18 per square foot.

Outdoor Kitchen

A well-designed outdoor kitchen can add value to your home and provide a great space to entertain friends and family while enjoying the beautiful weather. Porcelain tiles are an excellent option for flooring, backsplash, and even countertops in these kitchens.

Outdoor kitchens cost, on average, $13,176, with prices ranging from $5,057 to $17,276. However, depending on your chosen materials and appliances, you can pay as low as $2,875 and as high as $40,750.

Landscaping

Landscaping is the art of making a yard look beautiful. It can be as simple as planting a few flowers or as complicated as a big home improvement project, such as creating an entire mini-garden in your backyard.

The costs for landscaping range between $4,000 and $20,000, depending on what you want to achieve with the project.

Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost

Porcelain tile is one of the most challenging tiles to install. We recommend hiring a professional if you’re unsure about doing it yourself. But if you want to try your hand at it, here is a list of materials you are going to need:

DIY EquipmentAverage Cost
Safety goggles$14
Spacers$3
Outdoor-rated thin-set mortar$21
Grout float$12
Flooring trowel$7
Level$21
Grout$25
Porcelain tile cutter$100
Total cost:$203

The average cost for the materials to install porcelain tiles is $203, not including the tiles themselves. That is cheaper than the average of $2,180 to hire a professional. Still, it is not an easy job and requires patience and precision.

You can learn how to install porcelain tiles in this outdoor tile DIY tutorial.

Cost of Porcelain Tile Installation by Location

The costs for porcelain tiles and installation can vary depending on where you live. In regions with extreme cold, the tiles need to be thicker to ensure they don’t become brittle in the cold, which can increase the costs of installation and materials.

In addition, labor costs are higher in urban areas, so you can expect to pay closer to the higher end for installation than if you live in the suburbs or a rural area.

FAQ

Which is cheaper, ceramic tile or porcelain?

Porcelain tiles cost, on average, from $2 to $30 per square foot, while ceramic tiles cost from $2 to $20 per square foot, so ceramic tiles are slightly cheaper. However, the costs to install porcelain tiles are higher, as it is more difficult to cut the tiles.

Do porcelain tiles crack easily?

Porcelain tiles do not crack easily. They are durable and resistant. When porcelain tiles crack, it’s primarily due to improper installation, cracks on the subfloor, or extreme temperature changes.

How long does porcelain tile last?

Porcelain tiles are incredibly durable and can last from 50 years to a lifetime with little to no maintenance, which makes them the perfect flooring material.

Final Thoughts 

If you need a high-quality, durable tile flooring option in your home or outdoors, it’s hard to argue with porcelain tiles. They’re moisture-resistant and durable, providing a touch of sophistication for just about any location. Hire a professional tile installer near you to get the best installation possible!

Main Photo by: ColumbD / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Maria Isabela Reis

Maria Isabela Reis

Maria Isabela Reis is a writer, psychologist, and plant enthusiast. She is currently doing a PhD in Social Psychology; and can't help but play with every dog she sees walking down the street.