Updated October 2026· Independently researched·14 min read
Most tiling jobs in Wollongong cost $43–$110/sqm
labour only, depending on tile type
Standard floor tiling in Wollongong 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.
+3.8%Tiling costs in Wollongong are up around 3.8% over the past year, re-verified against 90+ sources in October 2026.Year on year
Laying standard floor tiles in Wollongong costs $43–$97 a square metre in labour, wall tiles $43–$110, and large-format floor tiles $65–$120. A full bathroom, floor and walls, is $1,625–$4,850 for labour alone, or $3,025–$8,100 with standard tiles supplied and laid, before waterproofing. The tiles themselves start at $22–$59 for budget ceramic. Wollongong has more three-bedroom homes than the state overall, 41.6% against 34.7% across NSW (ABS 2021 Census). Every line is priced per square metre, so measure each room before you ring for quotes.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Tiling cost in Australia.
Quick answerTiling in Wollongong costs $43–$97 /sqm, with most averaging $65 /sqm. GST included — verified October 2026. Get free Wollongong quotes →
Detailed Pricing — Tiling Cost in Wollongong 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)
Bathrooms and laundries must be waterproofed under the National Construction Code before tiles go down, at $38–$86 a square metre. In NSW a contractor licence is needed for residential work, waterproofing included, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, GST in. A supply-and-install bathroom can pass that figure once waterproofing is added, so ask for the licence number up front.
Tile size and layout
Large-format tiles of 600×1200 and up need a flatter floor and two people to handle, so laying them costs more, $65–$120 against $43–$97 for standard sizes. Mosaics and feature work are the dearest to lay at $86–$185. Herringbone and diagonal layouts mean more cuts and waste, so settle the pattern before the quote is written.
What lies under the old tiles
Old tiles come up at $22–$59 a square metre, and what is underneath decides the next line. A slab or sheet floor that has dipped or cracked is levelled at $16–$54 before new tiles go on, and large-format tiles show every hollow. Ask the tiler to lift a test tile or inspect the floor before committing to a fixed price.
Patios and the hose rules
Outdoor and patio tiling is $54–$120 to lay, and the tiles should be slip-rated, such as P4–P5, R11+ porcelain at $43–$130. Wollongong falls under the Water Wise Guidelines that apply across the Illawarra: hosing paths, paving and other hard surfaces is not permitted unless needed for safety, health, an emergency, construction work or contamination, so plan to sweep or mop a finished patio.
Choosing the tile
Budget ceramic is $22–$59 a square metre, mid-range porcelain $54–$130, and premium natural stone $110–$270. Stone also costs more to lay, $76–$160 in labour, because it needs sealing and careful handling. Subway tiles for a splashback are $32–$110, and mosaic sheets $81–$430.
Units and townhouses
Flats make up 14.8% of Wollongong dwellings, under the 21.7% across NSW, with semi-detached homes and townhouses another 12.9% (ABS 2021 Census). In a strata building a bathroom membrane protects the unit below as well as yours, so find out what approval the owners corporation needs before wet-area work starts, and ask the tiler whether they have worked under strata by-laws before.
How to Save Money on Tiling Cost in Wollongong
1
Ask for waterproofing as its own line on the quote, with the membrane named and the paperwork you will get when it is done.
2
Order about a tenth more tiles than the measured area, all from one batch, so cuts and breakages are covered and the shade matches.
3
Plan outdoor tiling for the drier July to September stretch rather than March, the wettest month at 160.4 mm (BOM averages).
4
Before choosing large-format tiles, ask whether the floor will need levelling at $16–$54 a square metre.
5
For a kitchen splashback, ask for one supply-and-install price; it runs $430–$1,300 for a typical kitchen.
6
Look at the tiler's finished jobs, checking grout lines and the cuts around taps, drains and power points.
Before you commit — compare your options
Side-by-side guides covering the decisions that most change your final tiling cost.
Quick answerWollongong tiling is charged per square metre on the tile and the laying, so floor area sets the bill: budget ceramic is $22–$59 a square metre and standard laying $43–$97 a square metre.
Both lines climb with every metre added. As an illustration, a 28 square metre living and kitchen floor in a Figtree or Dapto house in budget ceramic at $22–$59 a square metre comes to $616–$1,652 for the tile, with laying, removal and levelling each added per metre.
On a floor that size in Wollongong, the base and the building move the price. Lifting the old floor adds $22–$59 a square metre over the whole area, a dipping slab needs levelling before large tiles go down, and in a strata unit the owners corporation steps and any lift booking add time to the job.
Tiling Cost in Wollongong: What the Quote Should Include
A Wollongong tiling quote should show the base, the membrane and the timing as clearly as the tile. Old floors may need work once lifted, units and townhouses add owners corporation steps for wet areas, and March rain can hold up outdoor jobs.
Levelling at $16–$54 a square metre priced from an inspection of the floor, not guessed before the old tiles are up.
Old tiles taken up at $22–$59 a square metre, with the skip or tip run included.
For a strata unit or townhouse, the owners corporation sign-off for wet-area work attached before the start date.
The membrane at $38–$86 a square metre, the wet-area square metres and the product named.
Outdoor work dated for July to September, clear of March, with the fall to the drain set out.
Laying at $43–$97 a square metre for floors and $43–$110 for walls, each against its own measured area.
Grout colour, silicone at the taps and drains, and trims at doorways listed as included or extra.
Ask for their licence number and insurance, plus written dates, stage payments, warranty terms and GST.
Frequently Asked Questions — Tiling Cost in Wollongong
How much are ceramic, porcelain and stone tiles in Wollongong?
Our Wollongong table puts budget ceramic tiles at $22–$59 a square metre, mid-range porcelain tiles at $54–$130 a square metre and premium natural stone tiles at $110–$270 a square metre.
What is the cost of tiling a bathroom in Wollongong?
Our Wollongong prices for labour to tile a full bathroom, floor and walls start at $1,625 and reach $4,850, with $3,250 typical.
How much does removing existing tiles cost in Wollongong?
Removing existing tiles is $22–$59 a square metre in our Wollongong table, typically $38.
How much does labour for mosaic or feature tiling cost in Wollongong?
Labour for mosaic or feature tiling is $86–$185 a square metre in our Wollongong table, typically $130.
What do tilers charge for labour to lay large-format floor tiles in Wollongong?
For labour to lay large-format floor tiles, our Wollongong table shows $65–$120 a square metre, with a typical price of $92.
What should labour to lay standard wall tiles cost in Wollongong?
Expect $43–$110 a square metre for labour to lay standard wall tiles in our Wollongong table, typically $65.
What does a tiled patio cost in Wollongong with slip-rated outdoor porcelain?
At the typical Wollongong rates, a 20 square metre patio is $81 a square metre to lay and $70 a square metre for slip-rated outdoor porcelain, about $3,020. The outdoor laying row runs $54–$120. Steps, edges and a fall toward the drain add cuts, so ask for them on the quote. March is the wettest month here, so a Thirroul or Figtree patio is easier to book between July and September, when rain eases.
How much does waterproofing add to a Wollongong bathroom with tiles supplied?
Wollongong's supply-and-install row for a standard bathroom is $3,025–$8,100, typically $5,400, and waterproofing is not part of it. The membrane is priced at $38–$86 a square metre; a shower and floor of 6 square metres at $59 typical adds $354, so a typical job is close to $5,754. In a strata block the membrane also protects the home below, so talk to the owners corporation about wet-area work before booking.
What does a Wollongong kitchen splashback cost in subway tiles or mosaic?
A Wollongong splashback supplied and installed is $430–$1,300, typically $865, priced as one job. The tile choice is what moves it: subway and splashback ceramic sells for $32–$110 a square metre and mosaic sheets for $81–$430 a square metre, with mosaic laying at $86–$185 a square metre if it is quoted by area. Ask each tiler to name the tile in a single job price, so quotes from Dapto and Shellharbour line up.
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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