How Much Do Different Types of Tile Cost?

Whatever your tiling project, one of the most important questions you’ll need to answer is which type of tile you’d like to have. There are a wide range of tiling materials on the market, each with their own unique characteristics and, important, cost. Whichever you choose will have a big impact on the price of your overall tiling job, as well as being massively important for the aesthetic and functionality of the tiled area.

So, how do you choose the right tile for your project? The most important thing you can do is to research the different tiling materials and ensure you’ve got a good understanding of the pros and cons of each, as well as the rough costs. This gives you the best chance of making the right decision for your home. Once you’ve chosen a tiling material, it’s expensive to change it later – so it’s worth the time to think carefully about the decision to make sure it's the right one.

In this article, we’ll cover details about the main types of tiling on the market, including ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, quartz and glass. We’ll introduce each tile, give you the pros and cons, as well as how each stacks up in terms of cost compared to the other options. Read on for your guide to how much different types of tile cost.

Ceramic

Ceramic tiles are one of the most popular choices for tiling material, and for good reason. They’re affordable but relatively durable, and a good option for nearly any kind of tiling job. Ceramic tiles are available in a huge range of pattern and colours, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a style to suit your needs. 

However, there are more hard wearing options on the market, so for particularly high traffic floor areas, you may want to look at alternative tile options. They can be prone to cracking if heavy objects are dropped on them, so for kitchen floors it’s often best to choose a more durable tile.

Ceramic tiles cost between £10 and £30 per metre squared, making them the most affordable tiling option. Most ceramic tiles are on the lower end of this range, too, so there are plenty of styles on the market that won’t break the budget. 

Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are also very popular. They’re more hard-wearing than ceramic tiles, making them a great choice for kitchen floors and other high traffic areas. As with ceramic tiles, there’s a huge range of styles available with patterns and colours to suit nearly any aesthetic. Porcelain tiles can even imitate other kinds of natural stone or wood grain, giving them a huge appeal for people who’d like those styles with none of the maintenance. 

Porcelain tiles cost between £15 and £40 per metre squared, so they’re a little more expensive than ceramic tiles on average. However, many options are similarly priced to their ceramic alternatives, so it’s definitely worth exploring both of these tiling materials.

Quartz

Quartz tiles are another popular option of tile, generally used on the floor as they are usually large tiles. Quartz is chosen because of its durability, and many people love its highly polished appearance. Quartz tiles are made from quartz mixed with resin, which is what gives the shiny appearance. This also makes them resistant to damage from water and other chemicals, making them a good option for kitchen floors and other high traffic areas. Quartz tiles are popular as they can mimic more expensive natural stone options.

However, quartz tiles can suffer from their colour fading over time, especially in very sunny areas. And, you may need to choose the right cleaning products, as some may stain quartz tiling.

Quartz tiling costs between £20 and £50 per metre squared, making it a more expensive form of tiling than ceramic or porcelain. 

Glass

A more unique and contemporary option, glass tiles are nevertheless a popular choice. They’re more commonly used for splashbacks, shower or bathroom walls, and other areas where they won’t receive any foot traffic. There’s a range of colours and styles on offer, which the translucent appearance offering a real visual statement for tiled areas.

Glass tiles are less durable than other options, so aren’t recommended for the kitchen floor. Plus, their surface can get very slippery when wet, so they’re not ideal for bathroom floors. Additionally, glass tiles can be more tricky to clean, and often require more cleaning than other alternatives. 

Glass tiles cost between £40 and £60 per square metre. Some more affordable options may be available, but in general glass tiles are more expensive than other alternatives.

Natural stone

The last type of tiling material available is natural stone. This actually encompasses a number of natural stone materials, like slate, sandstone, limestone and marble. There’s a huge range of natural stone options on the market, so it’s difficult to give a firm price, but they generally range from £30 to £100 per square metre. 

The massive range in price stems from the sheer number of natural stone tiles on the market. Even within one category, like limestone, there’s still a huge range of colours and options, with different treatment processes, areas of origin and even pattern additions available.

Generally speaking, natural stone tiles are durable and hard-wearing. However, some may require specific cleaning methods and maintenance routines. And, most natural stone tiles are significantly more expensive than ceramic or porcelain options, especially considering that ceramic or porcelain tiles are often available that mimic the aesthetics of the natural stone alternatives. However, many people still choose the timeless elegance of natural stone tiles. 

It’s worth speaking to a reputable tiler about your options for tiling material. Making the right decision is essential, as it can have a huge impact on the budget for your tiling project, as well as the overall appearance of the room or space you’re getting tiled. Use HaMuch to get quotes from professional tilers in your area.

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