How much does tiling cost in Canberra?
A Canberra tiler charges $44–$99 per square metre to lay standard floor tiles, typically $66, and $44–$110 for walls. Paid by the hour the rate is $55–$110, while a whole day booked costs $550–$880. The tiles themselves are bought on top. Canberra leans further toward apartments and townhouses than the country does: flats are 19.4% of ACT dwellings (14.2% nationally) and semi-detached homes 17.2% (12.6% nationally), per the ABS 2021 Census. In a compact bathroom, laundry or splashback, set-up, cutting and drying time weigh more than the square metres, so ask whether a small job is better priced by the day.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Tiling cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Tiling Cost in Canberra 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor tiling — standard (labour) | $44/sqm | $66 | $99 |
| Floor tiling — large format (labour) | $66/sqm | $94 | $120 |
| Wall tiling — standard (labour) | $44/sqm | $66 | $110 |
| Mosaic / feature tiling (labour) | $88/sqm | $130 | $185 |
| Full bathroom tiling, floor + walls (labour) | $1,650total | $3,300 | $4,950 |
| Outdoor / patio tiling (labour) | $55/sqm | $82 | $120 |
| Tile removal (existing) | $22/sqm | $38 | $61 |
| Waterproofing (wet areas) | $38/sqm | $61 | $88 |
| Floor levelling / prep | $16/sqm | $33 | $55 |
| Tile supply — budget ceramic | $22/sqm | $38 | $61 |
| Tile supply — mid-range porcelain | $55/sqm | $77 | $130 |
| Tile supply — premium natural stone | $110/sqm | $165 | $275 |
| Tiler (hourly rate) | $55/hr | $77 | $110 |
| Tiler day rate | $550per day | $695 | $880 |
| Tile supply — large format porcelain (600×1200 and larger) | $55/sqm | $94 | $175 |
| Tile supply — outdoor / non-slip porcelain (P4–P5, R11+) | $44/sqm | $72 | $130 |
| Tile supply — mosaic sheets | $82/sqm | $165 | $440 |
| Tile supply — subway / splashback ceramic (75×300, 100×300) | $33/sqm | $55 | $110 |
| Natural stone tiling — marble, travertine, limestone (labour) | $77/sqm | $110 | $165 |
| Bathroom tiling, floor + walls (supply + install, standard bathroom, excl. waterproofing) | $3,075total | $5,500 | $8,250 |
| Kitchen splashback tiling (supply + install) | $440total | $880 | $1,325 |
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Get Canberra quotes →Prices include GST. Based on Canberra metro area, October 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Tiling a floor or bathroom in Canberra: labour, tiles and preparation together
What tiling a floor costs in Canberra, worked out
Floor tiling labour is $44–$99 a square metre in our Canberra table and budget ceramic tiles $22–$61 a square metre. At the typical prices that is $104 a square metre, so a 20 square metre floor comes to $2,080 before any preparation.
If old tiles have to come up first, removal adds $22–$61 a square metre, and levelling the floor $16–$55 a square metre. Large-format tiles take more labour: $66–$120 a square metre.
Tiling a bathroom in Canberra
Labour to tile a full bathroom, floor and walls, is $1,650–$4,950 in our Canberra table. Waterproofing for wet areas is priced at $38–$88 a square metre, or $610 for 10 square metres at the typical price; the tiles themselves are on top.
Ceramic, porcelain or stone in Canberra
Supplied tiles in our Canberra table run from $22–$61 a square metre for budget ceramic to $55–$130 for mid-range porcelain and $110–$275 for premium natural stone. At the typical figures, stone costs about $88 a square metre more than porcelain.
These answers use the prices in the table on this page.
What Affects Tiling Costs in Canberra
Floors, walls and big tiles
Standard floor and wall tiling share the same typical rate, though the top of the wall band is higher because vertical work means more cuts around taps, niches and windows. Large-format tiles of 600 × 1200 and up cost more to lay, at $66–$120, since they need a flat base and two people to handle. Mosaics and feature work are the dearest labour, at $88–$185.
Waterproofing before the tiles
The National Construction Code requires waterproofing in wet areas, and a tiler or waterproofer will charge $38–$88 per square metre to apply it. In the ACT, tiling and waterproofing are not licensed trades on their own: the only licensed construction trades are builder, electrician, plumber, drainer and gasfitter. Check references and photos of finished bathrooms before you choose one.
Frost and outdoor tiling
Winter nights dip below freezing here, with July lows averaging -0.1 °C (BOM averages), so tiles laid outside go through freeze and thaw every year. Choose a porcelain rated for outdoor use and slip, from $44–$130 a square metre, and make sure the tiler sets a fall so water drains away. Laying an outdoor or patio area costs $55–$120.
Lifting old tiles
Taking up existing tiles costs $22–$61 per square metre, and an uneven floor needs levelling at $16–$55 before new tiles go down. Old wall sheeting or underlay can contain asbestos. In the ACT any asbestos removal must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist, with no small-area exception, and a business doing the renovation must have a licensed assessor identify asbestos likely to be disturbed before work begins.
What the tiles cost
Supply is a separate line. Budget ceramic is $22–$61, mid-range porcelain $55–$130 and large-format porcelain $55–$175. Subway tiles for a splashback are $33–$110, mosaic sheets $82–$440, and premium natural stone reaches $110–$275, before the extra labour stone needs.
Whole rooms and splashbacks
A full bathroom, floor and walls, is $1,650–$4,950 for labour, or $3,075–$8,250 with standard tiles supplied but waterproofing extra. A kitchen splashback is $440–$1,325 supplied and fitted. One-bedroom homes make up 8.4% of the ACT, against 5.3% nationally (ABS 2021 Census), and their small bathrooms usually sit toward the low end of the labour band.
How to Save Money on Tiling Cost in Canberra
Canberra Tiling Costs by Project
Bathroom floor and walls — $3,075–$8,250 for the tiles and labour, plus waterproofing at $38–$88 a square metre. Most common tiling job in Canberra. Includes waterproofing, floor and wall tiles. Underfloor heating is a popular add-on — worth considering during any bathroom tiling project given Canberra's cold winters.
Kitchen splashback — $440–$1,325. Typically 600mm between benchtop and overheads. Subway tiles are most popular. Feature tiles and stone mosaics cost more but add visual impact.
Living area floor tiling — $50–$120/m². Large-format porcelain tiles (600x600mm or 600x1200mm) create a seamless modern look. Underfloor heating underneath makes tiled floors comfortable year-round in Canberra.
Outdoor paving — $55–$120 a square metre for labour, plus $44–$130 for non-slip tiles. Non-slip porcelain pavers or natural stone. Must handle Canberra's freeze-thaw cycles — not all tiles are suitable. Porcelain pavers rated for frost resistance are essential.
Frequently Asked Questions — Tiling Cost in Canberra
Our Methodology
These are independent estimates from public cost guides, marketplaces and industry rate data, and no tradesperson can influence them, so always get a few quotes. Last reviewed October 2026. Read our full methodology →