Updated October 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
Most tiling jobs in Townsville cost $43–$110/sqm
labour only, depending on tile type
Standard floor tiling in Townsville costs $43–$97/sqm for labour. Wall tiling is $43–$110/sqm. A full bathroom (floor + walls) runs $1,625–$4,850 in labour alone. Tile supply is separate.
+3.9%Tiling costs in Townsville are up around 3.9% over the past year, re-verified against 90+ sources in October 2026.Year on year
Laying standard floor tiles in Townsville costs $43–$97 a square metre in labour, and standard wall tiling is $43–$110. The tiles themselves are an extra: budget ceramic sells for $22–$59 a square metre, while premium natural stone is $110–$270. Redoing every tiled surface in a bathroom costs $1,625–$4,850 in labour alone, or $3,025–$8,100 supplied and laid. In a hot, humid city where a tiled floor stays cool underfoot, the area you cover and the tile you choose decide most of the bill.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Tiling cost in Australia.
Quick answerTiling in Townsville costs $43–$97 /sqm, with most averaging $65 /sqm. GST included — verified October 2026. Get free Townsville quotes →
Detailed Pricing — Tiling Cost in Townsville 2026
Service
Low
Typical
High
Floor tiling — standard (labour)
$43/sqm
$65
$97
Floor tiling — large format (labour)
$65/sqm
$92
$120
Wall tiling — standard (labour)
$43/sqm
$65
$110
Mosaic / feature tiling (labour)
$86/sqm
$130
$185
Full bathroom tiling, floor + walls (labour)
$1,625total
$3,250
$4,850
Outdoor / patio tiling (labour)
$54/sqm
$81
$120
Tile removal (existing)
$22/sqm
$38
$59
Waterproofing (wet areas)
$38/sqm
$59
$86
Floor levelling / prep
$16/sqm
$32
$54
Tile supply — budget ceramic
$22/sqm
$38
$59
Tile supply — mid-range porcelain
$54/sqm
$76
$130
Tile supply — premium natural stone
$110/sqm
$160
$270
Tiler (hourly rate)
$54/hr
$76
$110
Tiler day rate
$540per day
$680
$865
Tile supply — large format porcelain (600×1200 and larger)
Townsville falls in NCC climate zone 1 (hot, humid summer, warm winter), and July, its coolest month, still averages a 25.2 °C maximum (BOM averages). Tile copes with sand, wet feet and heat, so it suits living areas as well as wet rooms. Large-format porcelain looks seamless across open-plan space but costs $65–$120 a square metre to lay, against $43–$97 for standard sizes.
Waterproofing before tiles
Wet areas such as showers, bathroom floors and laundries need waterproofing or water-resistant protection beneath the tiling under the National Construction Code. Queensland treats that membrane work as a separate QBCC licence class, and jobs valued from $3,300 up must be done by a QBCC licensee, so check the licence on any bathroom quote that reaches that figure. Expect $38–$86 a square metre for waterproofing, and belongs on the quote as a separate line.
Preparing the surface
Lifting old tiles adds $22–$59 per square metre, and an uneven slab or sheet floor is levelled at $16–$54. Bigger tiles need a flatter base, so the preparation line grows with the tile size you choose. Get the floor checked before the quote is written, rather than adding preparation once the old tiles are already off and the room is out of action.
Patios and the dry season
Outdoor tiling costs $54–$120 a square metre to lay, and the tile itself should be a slip-rated outdoor porcelain at $43–$130 a square metre. February averages 312.4 mm of rain at Townsville Aero against only 9.9 mm in September (BOM averages), so the dry months suit outdoor work: adhesive and grout can cure without a downpour washing through the joints.
Big houses, bigger floors
Separate houses account for 80.1% of Townsville dwellings, (72.3% for Australia, ABS 2021 Census), and a detached home usually means more floor to cover than an apartment does. On a large area, ask whether the tiler will work to a day rate of $540–$865 instead of an hourly rate of $54–$110, and which of the two suits the size of your job.
Patterns, mosaics and splashbacks
A straight lay is the quickest pattern to set out. Herringbone, diagonal layouts and mosaics need more cuts and more time, and mosaic or feature work runs $86–$185 a square metre. Tiling a kitchen splashback with the tiles included costs $430–$1,300, and subway-style splashback tiles cost $32–$110 a square metre. Settle the pattern in writing before the first tile is laid.
How to Save Money on Tiling Cost in Townsville
1
When ordering, add a spare box or two to the measured quantity, so offcuts and breakages are covered from one batch and the shade matches.
2
Ask for labour and tile supply as separate figures; it makes quotes comparable and lets you buy the tiles yourself.
3
Leave patio and outdoor tiling for the dry season, roughly May to October in Townsville.
4
Your local tile shop may keep a list of tilers it works with, which the QBCC suggests as a starting point.
5
Check a tiler's advertising for the licence number; a contractor limited to work under $3,300 must say so in the ad.
6
Natural stone takes longer to set and costs more to lay, at $76–$160 a square metre, so have the stone tiler see the job before you buy the stone.
Before you commit — compare your options
Side-by-side guides covering the decisions that most change your final tiling cost.
Quick answerIn Townsville every tiled surface is priced by area, indoors and out: standard floor laying is $43–$97 a square metre and outdoor or patio laying $54–$120 a square metre.
The total climbs in step with the area on every per-metre line. As an illustration, a 40 square metre covered patio behind a Kirwan or Douglas house laid at $54–$120 a square metre comes to $2,160–$4,800 in labour, with outdoor porcelain bought on top at $43–$130 a square metre.
On an area that size here, the season and the slab move the price. Outdoor work booked for the dry months keeps rain off fresh joints, with February averaging 312.4 mm at Townsville Aero against 9.9 mm in September. An old slab may need grinding or levelling at $16–$54 a square metre, and steps and edges add cuts.
Tiling Cost in Townsville: What the Quote Should Include
With separate houses making up the bulk of Townsville homes, tiling jobs here can run to large floors and outdoor areas, and an itemised quote shows how the tiler prices each part and when the outdoor work will be done.
The whole floor measured room by room, so every quote counts the same square metres.
Patio and outdoor work dated for the dry season, May to October, with the start date written in.
Laying at $43–$97 a square metre on standard floors and $65–$120 on large-format tiles.
Outdoor laying at $54–$120 a square metre, with the drainage fall shown.
Removal of old tiles at $22–$59 a square metre and levelling at $16–$54, each measured before the quote is final.
Layout set out in the quote: straight, herringbone or diagonal, and where the cut edges will sit.
The membrane at $38–$86 a square metre with its area and product.
Ask for their licence number and insurance, and get the deposit, stage payments, warranty terms and GST in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Tiling Cost in Townsville
What is the tiling cost per square metre in Townsville?
In our Townsville table the figures are $43–$97 a square metre for floor tiling labour (typically $65), $43–$110 a square metre for wall tiling labour (typically $65) and $54–$120 a square metre for outdoor tiling labour (typically $81).
How much should I pay for tiles in Townsville?
Townsville figures: budget ceramic tiles $22–$59 a square metre; mid-range porcelain tiles $54–$130 a square metre; premium natural stone tiles $110–$270 a square metre.
How much should I pay for labour for outdoor or patio tiling in Townsville?
Our Townsville prices for labour for outdoor or patio tiling start at $54 and reach $120 a square metre, with $81 typical.
What does removing existing tiles cost in Townsville?
In our Townsville table, removing existing tiles runs $22–$59 a square metre, and $38 is typical.
How much should I pay for labour to lay large-format floor tiles in Townsville?
Our Townsville prices for labour to lay large-format floor tiles start at $65 and reach $120 a square metre, with $92 typical.
What do tilers charge for labour for mosaic or feature tiling in Townsville?
For labour for mosaic or feature tiling, our Townsville table shows $86–$185 a square metre, with a typical price of $130.
What does a supplied-and-tiled bathroom cost in Townsville with waterproofing on top?
A standard bathroom in Townsville, tiles supplied and laid, is $3,025–$8,100. At the typical $5,400, adding a membrane over 9 square metres at $59 a square metre brings it to about $5,931. The waterproofing row on its own is $38–$86, and labour alone, if the tiles are yours, is $1,625–$4,850. Have the membrane listed apart from the tiling so quotes for a Kirwan or Douglas bathroom can be lined up item by item.
How do a tiler's hourly and day rates work out on a large Townsville floor?
A big Townsville floor can be quoted by the square metre, or a tiler may offer a day rate of $540–$865, typical $680, against an hourly rate of $54–$110. Eight hours at the typical $76 an hour comes to $608, so on a long job ask which basis suits the size of your floor, and whether the day rate includes adhesive, grout and cleaning up.
What does a marble or travertine floor cost to lay in Townsville?
Natural stone in Townsville is laid at $76–$160 a square metre, and the stone itself is $110–$270 a square metre. A 15 square metre entry and living area at the typical $110 and $160 comes to about $4,050. Stone takes longer to set, so have the tiler see the job before you buy, and ask whether sealing is part of the laying price for a North Ward or Castle Hill home.
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 →
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