How to Quote a Tiling Job: New Zealand Tiler's Pricing Guide

Two things sink tiling quotes more than anything else: the prep beneath the tiles and the waterproofing behind them. Price on tiled area alone and you lose money every time the substrate needs attention. Here is how to price tiling work accurately for the New Zealand market, along with a structure you can reuse on every job.

What a tiling quote should include

• Business name, GST number (from IRD) and contact details
• Quote number, date and expiry of 14 to 30 days, since tile and adhesive prices move
• Client name and site address
• Itemised scope with prep, waterproofing, tiling and grout as separate lines
• Tile type, size and finish specified. A 600 by 600 porcelain is a very different labour job to a mosaic feature
• Materials and labour listed separately
• GST at 15 percent as its own line, plus payment terms and exclusions

Tiling labour and job rates (2025 NZ market)

Most tilers price per square metre for laying, then add prep and wet area work as separate items:

• Floor tiling, lay only (standard format): 50 to 80 dollars per m2
• Wall tiling, lay only: 60 to 100 dollars per m2
• Mosaic, herringbone or large format: 100 to 150 dollars per m2, slower with more cuts
• Waterproofing wet areas: 45 to 80 dollars per m2, or 550 to 1,000 dollars per bathroom
• Screed or floor levelling: 30 to 55 dollars per m2
• Tile and adhesive removal: 30 to 55 dollars per m2
• Full bathroom retile (supply and lay, mid spec): 3,000 to 7,000 dollars

These are guide ranges. Cuts, niches, hobs and small awkward rooms slow the work, so a tiny bathroom often costs more per m2 than a large open floor. Auckland rates typically sit at the top of these ranges, with Wellington close behind, while Christchurch and regional NZ tend to run a little lower.

Waterproofing and the Building Code

Wet area waterproofing is where a tiling quote earns its keep. Internal wet areas must be waterproofed to AS/NZS 4858 and satisfy NZ Building Code clause E3 (internal moisture). A producer statement may be required depending on the job and the council. Prep matters just as much: the right substrate, such as GIB Aqualine or a tile and slate board, has to be sound before any membrane goes down. State adhesive and grout coverage assumptions so there is no dispute over quantities.

How to price tiles and materials

Charge tiles, adhesive, grout, membrane and trims at cost plus 15 to 25 percent. The markup covers sourcing, delivery and the breakage every tiling job produces. Always order 10 percent extra for cuts and wastage, and 15 percent on diagonal or patterned layouts. Spell out who supplies the tiles: if the client buys their own, note that shortfalls or breakages are at their cost.

Exclusions that protect you

• "Assumes substrate is level, sound and ready to tile. Repairs or screeding quoted separately."
• "Waterproofing to AS/NZS 4858 and Building Code E3. Producer statement at cost if required."
• "Does not include removal of existing tiles unless listed."
• "Price assumes tiles on site before commencement."
• "Price held for 30 days subject to supplier pricing."

A free tiling quote structure you can reuse

Reuse one layout on every tiling job: business details, job description and tile spec, then line items split into Prep, Waterproofing, Materials and Labour, then subtotal, GST, total, payment terms and exclusions. The prep and waterproofing lines are the ones that protect your margin, so keep them visible and never let them disappear into the per-metre rate.

Related guides

• How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in NZ?
• See how Insta Quotes works for tilers