While giving your bathroom a new catchy appearance is a great way to increase its value and efficiency, installing a tile shower is among the top ways to achieve it. Tiles are easy to clean, aesthetically appealing, and satisfying for your home. But how much does it cost to install a tile shower?
The average cost to install a tile shower is around $450 to $1,000. This amount will vary depending on the extent of your project, the kind of tile you choose, and the total surface area you require to cover. You can expect to pay about $25 per square foot to install a new tile shower.
This post will answer how much to install a tile shower. You can use it to determine the tile shower installation cost in your bathroom and other factors. If tiles are too costly for you, you can opt for tile board which is a cheaper option.
What is the Cost of Installing Tiles in the Shower?
The total cost of tiling a shower differs from one type of tile shower based on new installation or replacement. Here is a cost breakdown of each one of them:
| Type of tile | Cost ($) | |
| Replacement | New | |
| Ceramic tiles | 650 – 9,100 | 1,050 – 9,600 |
| Vinyl tiles | 339 – 661 | 839 – 1,161 |
| Linoleum floor tiles | 500 – 2,700 | 1,000 – 3,200 |
| Glass tiles | 500 – 1,500 | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Cement-bodied tiles | 550 – 9,100 | 1,050 – 9,600 |
| Porcelain tiles | 1,000 – 2,500 | 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Terracotta tiles | 500 – 2,000 | 1,000 – 2,500 |
| Granite tiles | 700 – 2,400 | 400 – 5,000 |
| Marble tiles | 1,300 – 4,500 | 1,800 – 5,000 |
| Limestone tiles | 400 – 4,000 | 900 – 4,500 |
| Metal tiles | 700 – 3,100 | 1,200 – 3,600 |
| Slate tiles | 1,124 – 1,786 | 1,624 – 2,286 |
| Pebble tiles | 1,000 – 3,500 | 1,500 – 4,000 |
Ceramic Tiles
You can complete installing ceramic tiles in your shower within a few days. However, it comes with huge costs based on factors such as the size of your shower, the type of tile you choose, the appropriate materials, and the complexity of your chosen pattern. You can install this tile shower within 10 sq. ft – 100 sq. ft.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 0.50 – 85 |
| Base | 100 – 1,000 |
| Materials | 400 |
| Labor | 10 – 20 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 400 – 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 650 – 9,100 New: 1,050 – 9,600 |
Vinyl Tiles
Installing vinyl tiles in your shower will cost you a national average of $4.97 per square foot. Depending on your location, this price may range between $4.29 to $5.64 per square foot.
The total cost of materials and labor per square foot is $6.84 and may be as low as $5.76 and as high as $7.91. Your actual cost of installing these tiles will vary depending on the job’s size, location, and the finish and conditions you choose.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 4.97 |
| Base | 90 – 900 |
| Materials | 300 |
| Labor | 80 per hour |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 339 – 661 New: 839 – 1,161 |
Ensure your tiles set properly before you use them for the best experience.
Linoleum Floor Tiles
Linoleum floor tiles are made from renewable and natural materials. These tiles offer a low-maintenance and stylish appearance when installed on floors.
It will cost you an average of $1,000 – $ 3,200 to install linoleum floor tiles. However, the average cost of this project will vary depending on the flooring you need.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 2 – 6.50 |
| Base | 78 – 870 |
| Materials | 2.93 per square foot |
| Labor | 30 per hour |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 500 – 2,700 New: 1,000 – 3,200 |
Glass Tiles
It will cost you an average cost of $20-$30 per square foot to install glass tiles. Glass is not a suitable flooring material, and I don’t recommend you use it outdoors.
However, you can use it as a backsplash or countertop in your shower. You can easily get various glass tiles in different colors, such as red, blue, gray, yellow, brown, and green.
These tiles are commonly available as 12″ by 12″ tiles and are composed of different shapes resembling a brick wall.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 20 – 30 |
| Base | 80 – 780 |
| Materials | 300 |
| Labor | 4 – 12 per hour |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 500 – 1,500 New: 1,000 – 2,000 |
Cement-bodied Tiles
Cement-bodied tiles are a perfect bathroom flooring alternative since they’re uniquely coated to prevent stains. You can install these tiles on your bathroom floor since they cannot stain.
It will cost you an average of $2 to $10 per square foot to install these tiles, while higher-quality materials may be more expensive.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 2 – 10 |
| Base | 100 – 1,000 |
| Materials | 400 |
| Labor | 10 – 20 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 550 – 9,100 New: 1,050 – 9,600 |
Porcelain Tiles
Almost similar to ceramic, porcelain tiles are made from fired clay dust. It offers a low-maintenance, durable, low water absorption, and durable flooring option. Its non-porous nature makes it ideal for bathrooms.
It is also costly and may cost you $3 to $10 per square foot to install it.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 3 – 10 |
| Base | 150 – 950 |
| Materials | 400 |
| Labor | 14 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 1,000 – 2,500 New: 1,500 – 3,000 |
Terracotta Tiles
Depending on the size or finish, installing terracotta tiles will cost you $10 to $30 per square foot. The average cost of this material is $5 to $15 per square foot. This type of tile comes glazed or unglazed. The most common, the unglazed type, comes in various shades and sizes.
It also needs a sealant in wet areas like the bathroom since the tile’s clay body is porous. It is thicker than other machine-made tiles, making the installation difficult.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 5 – 15 |
| Base | 100 – 900 |
| Materials | 10 – 15 per square foot |
| Labor | 7 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 500 – 2,000 New: 1,000 – 2,500 |
Stone Tiles
Some of the most common stones tiles include the following:
- Granite Tiles
It will cost you about $5 to $7 to purchase a square foot of granite tiles. These tiles are labor-intensive to install, and most contractors charge you $35 to $45 per hour.
The total cost of installing these tiles will differ based on the size of your bathroom, grade, and the required additional designs and colors.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 2- 6 |
| Base | 600 – 2,500 |
| Materials | 5 – 8 |
| Labor | 35 – 45 per hour |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 700 – 2,400 New: 400 – 5,000 |
- Marble Tiles
Installing marble tiles will cost you between $3 and $50 per square foot. Marble is a metamorphic stone that can be cut, shaped, and polished. Some marbles will produce excellent results on a wet surface, while others have problems with surfaces like your shower.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 3 – 50 |
| Base | 150 – 800 |
| Materials | 3 – 65 |
| Labor | 3- 7 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 1,300 – 4,500 New: 1,800 – 5,000 |
- Limestone Tiles
It will cost you an average of $5 to $30 per square foot to install limestone tiles. The total price of installed limestone tiles ranges between $13 to $45 per square foot.
Although some limestone tiles can be used in wet areas such as showers, most shouldn’t be used.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 5- 30 |
| Base | 365 – 510 |
| Materials | 240 – 375 |
| Labor | 6 – 13 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 400 – 4,000 New: 900 – 4,500 |
Metal Tiles
Installing metal tiles will cost you $13 to $45 per square foot. These tiles are generally porcelain with a glaze that uses various metal oxides to produce the desired look of any metal.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 13 – 45 |
| Base | 200 – 750 |
| Materials per square foot | 11 – 55 |
| Labor | 10 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 700 – 3,100 New: 1,200 – 3,600 |
Slate Tiles
It will cost you between $3 to $15 per square foot to install slate tiles. On the other hand, the average cost of installed materials will be between $13 and $27 per square foot.
Slate tiles are made from metamorphic stones that are effective in the shower and offer a rustic and natural appearance. These tiles are inexpensive but costly to install.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 3 – 15 |
| Base | 200 – 960 |
| Materials per square foot | 13 – 27 |
| Labor | 90 – 134 |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 1,124 – 1,786 New:1,624 – 2,286 |
Pebble tiles
Installing pebble tiles cost $30 to $40 per square foot. The material installation costs vary between $42 to $70 per square foot. Typically, pebble tiles are made from rocks collected from beaches and rivers.
These tiles can be installed underfoot to massage or cover the complete wall. They guarantee a beautiful complement to various natural material-inspired bathrooms.
| Cost Base | Cost ($) |
| Tiles per square foot | 30 – 40 |
| Base | 200 – 800 |
| Materials | 42 – 70 |
| Labor | 12 per square foot |
| Removal and disposal of old tiles | 500 |
| Total | Replacement: 1,000 – 3,500 New: 1,500 – 4,000 |
Other Tiles Installation Costs and Considerations
When installing tiles, the other factors to consider include the following:
- It will increase the cost if you choose hard-to-reach or a unique pattern of backsplash features.
- If you have installed an electrical outlet within the backsplash location, cutting your tiles to ensure the material functions on the surface will increase the cost.
- The labor cost will vary depending on your location.
- If you opt for unique patterns such as herringbone and diagonal, it will cost you more.
Together with the basic cost units of labor and materials, these considerations can greatly increase your tile installation costs. With all types of tiles, you should keep a strict cleaning routine since mold can easily grow on the caulk in between the tiles. Mold, which also grows on concrete, can be stubborn to eliminate on tiles if it goes under the surface.
DIY Considerations
When thinking of installing the tiles yourself, consider the following aspects:
- You can install tiles using helpful DIY, but you may spend more on the tools.
- It can be difficult to cut some materials, such as porcelain. This can increase the risk of damaging such materials.
Summary
Installing a tile shower is a great investment with good returns. It will increase the value of your property while increasing its functionality. However, these benefits will come at a cost.
You will pay various prices for installing different types of tiles based on your location, size of the shower, and preferable design. Thus, it would help if you carefully choose a shower tile within your budget and desired design.