Tiling Cost in Singapore: What You'll Actually Pay (2026)
Prices checked October 2026 against the published price lists of 526 contractors listed on Homees, MOM's 2025 wage data and Qanvast's 2026 report. How we price →
Tiling is priced **per square foot**, all-in — and "all-in" hides three separate things: the **labour** to lay it, the **materials** (cement, adhesive, grout, waterproofing), and the **tiles** themselves. That's why two quotes for the same room can look so different — someone's using S$3 tiles, someone else S$15 tiles.As a rough guide for 2026: floor tiling runs about S$10–S$18 psf all-in and wall tiling S$12–S$20 psf (walls cost more — it's slower, vertical, more cutting). Add hacking, waterproofing and cleaning on top. A full HDB bathroom retile lands around S$4,000.
One thing to check before you plan anything: if you're in a BTO, HDB bans replacing bathroom wall and floor tiles for the first 3 years — it protects the original waterproofing membrane.
| Work | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Floor tiling (all-in) | S$10 – S$18 psf | Labour + materials + basic tiles |
| Wall tiling (all-in) | S$12 – S$20 psf | Pricier than floor |
| Hacking + removing old tiles | S$3 – S$6 psf | Resale units |
| Waterproofing (wet area) | S$200 – S$600 per area | Bathroom / kitchen |
| Full HDB bathroom retile | ~S$4,000 | Floor + walls + waterproofing |
| Designer / natural stone | S$18 – S$40 psf | Marble/granite-look, large-format |
Indicative 2026 ranges. Final price depends on tile choice, floor vs wall, hacking, and layout complexity.
The 3-part breakdown (why quotes differ)
Every tiling quote is really three numbers stacked together:
- Labour — laying the tiles. Around S$6 psf for straightforward floor work, more for walls and tricky layouts.
- Materials — cement, tile adhesive, grout, waterproofing membrane: roughly S$2.50 psf.
- Tiles — entirely your call. Budget ceramic/homogeneous start around S$2.80–S$3.20 psf; porcelain a bit more; designer or large-format S$12–S$30 psf.
So a basic HDB living-room floor works out to about S$6 labour + S$2.50 materials + S$3.20 tiles ≈ S$9.70 psf. Swap in designer tiles and the same labour now sits under a S$15+ psf tile — that's where the bill balloons. When you compare quotes, check which of these three is driving the difference.
Floor vs wall, and by tile type
| Tile type | All-in cost (psf) |
|---|---|
| Budget ceramic / homogeneous | S$10 – S$13 |
| Porcelain (mid) | S$12 – S$16 |
| Designer / large-format | S$18 – S$30 |
| Natural stone (granite / marble) | S$18 – S$40 |
Large-format and mosaic tiles carry a skill premium — they need flatter substrates, careful cutting and often two installers. Patterns like herringbone push labour up too. If budget matters more than the wow factor, standard-format porcelain is the sweet spot.
Hacking, waterproofing and the bits people forget
- Hacking + removing old tiles (resale): S$3–S$6 psf to break out the old floor or wall and cart it away. (Overlaying instead can save roughly S$1,200–S$2,800 in an HDB flat — but it's not always advisable; see below.)
- Waterproofing: mandatory in wet areas, S$200–S$600 per area. Don't let anyone skip it — a leak into the unit below is a five-figure problem.
- Skirting: about S$6–S$8 per foot (labour + material).
- Post-tiling cleaning: removing cement and grout haze starts at S$200 (two HDB bathrooms), more for bigger or landed homes.
- Wastage: order ~10% extra tiles for cuts and corners.
- Moving a floor trap or toilet stack: that's plumbing, not tiling, and adds S$2,200–S$3,500 — see the plumbing guide.
Should you overlay instead of hack?
Overlaying new tiles over old saves on hacking and haulage — roughly S$1,200–S$2,800 in an HDB flat. But it raises the floor height (door clearance, transitions) and can trap problems underneath, so most tilers don't recommend it for floors. For a quick refresh on a sound surface it can work; for a proper reno, hack and start clean. (Same logic as flooring — see the flooring guide.)
Sample budgets
HDB living-room floor (220 sqft, basic porcelain, with hacking):
- Tiling all-in @ ~S$10–S$14 psf ≈ S$2,200–S$3,100
- Hacking @ S$3–S$6 psf ≈ S$660–S$1,300
- Skirting (70 ft) ≈ S$420–S$560
- Total: roughly S$3,300–S$5,000
One HDB bathroom (floor + walls, ~300 sqft of surface, basic tiles):
- Labour ≈ S$2,000, materials ≈ S$800, tiles ≈ S$1,200
- Total: around S$4,000, before any feature wall.
A common money-saver: do one feature wall in a pricey tile (say S$25 psf) and keep the rest in a clean S$4–S$6 psf field tile. You get the look without tiling the whole room in expensive slabs.
Rules worth knowing
- HDB-licensed contractor required. All hacking and tiling in HDB flats must be done by a licensed contractor — for compliance and your own protection.
- BTO 3-year tile rule. HDB prohibits replacing bathroom wall/floor tiles for the first 3 years to protect the waterproofing membrane. Plan around it.
- Noise and neighbours. Hacking is loud and dusty — keep to approved renovation hours and give your neighbours a heads-up.
- Waterproofing isn't optional in wet areas. Insist it's in the quote.
How to keep the bill sensible
- Spend on tiles, not area. A feature wall in a premium tile beats tiling everything in mid-range — same impact, less money.
- Standard formats lay cheaper. Large-format and herringbone carry a labour premium; pick them only where they count.
- Measure properly and exclude what sits under cabinets and wardrobes — don't pay to tile hidden floor.
- Bundle hacking, waterproofing and tiling with one licensed contractor so nothing falls between trades.
- Get 3 itemised quotes that separate labour, materials and tiles — that's how you see what's really being charged.
Comparing tilers on Homees.co is the easiest way to line up comparable quotes.
Tile materials compared — cost, sizes, thickness
The full tile-material matrix from our archive — cost per square foot, common sizes and thickness by material:
| Costs | Commonly Available Sizes | Thickness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Tile | $0.5 to $35 per square feet (psf) | 60cm x 60cm, 60cm x 120cm, 90cm x 90cm | 3mm to 10mm |
| Porcelain Tile | Glazed: $3 to $10 psfUnglazed/ Homogenous: $2 to $4 psf | 60cm x 60cm, 60cm x 120cm, 90cm x 90cm | 3mm to 10mm |
| Cement Tile | $4.50 and above psf | 30cm x 60cm, 60cm x 60cm, 90cm x 90cm | 3mm to 10mm |
| Granite Tile | Varies | commonly in 60cm x 60cm | 5mm to 10mm |
| Marble Tile | $8 to $22 psf | 30cm x 30cm, 60cm x 60cm | 10mm+ |
| Slate Tile | $2 to $15 | Varies | 3mm to 10mm |
| Terrazzo Tile | Varies | 30cm x 30cm, 60cm x 60cm, 80cm x 60cm | 15mm+ |
| Mosaic Tile | Differs based on material and design of tiles | Based on the shape and pattern of tiles | Dependent on the pattern of tiles |
| Peranakan Tile | Varies | 20cm x 20cm, 60cm x 60cm, 80cm x 80cm, 100cm x 100cm | 3mm to 10mm |
| Glass Tile | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Rates from the Homees contractor price archive (2023) — expect roughly 10–15% higher in 2026. Use as relative benchmarks, and get current itemised quotes.
FAQ
How much does tiling cost per square foot in Singapore? All-in, floor tiling runs about S$10–S$18 psf and wall tiling S$12–S$20 psf in 2026, including labour, materials and basic tiles. Designer or natural-stone tiling reaches S$18–S$40 psf.
How much to tile an HDB bathroom? Around S$4,000 for floor and walls with basic tiles and waterproofing — roughly S$2,000 labour, S$800 materials and S$1,200 tiles for a typical bathroom. Premium tiles or a feature wall add more.
How much does it cost to hack old tiles? Hacking and removing old tiles costs about S$3–S$6 psf, including disposal. Overlaying instead can save roughly S$1,200–S$2,800 in an HDB flat, but isn't always advisable.
Why is wall tiling more expensive than floor tiling? Wall tiling is slower and trickier — it's vertical, needs more cutting around fittings, and tiles must be held in place while the adhesive sets. That extra labour is why walls run a few dollars more per square foot.
Can I replace my BTO bathroom tiles? Not for the first 3 years. HDB prohibits replacing bathroom wall and floor tiles in new BTO flats during this period to protect the original waterproofing membrane.
Do I need waterproofing under my tiles? In wet areas, yes — it's essential and costs S$200–S$600 per area. Skipping it risks leaks into neighbouring units, which is far more expensive to fix.
How long does tiling take? A bathroom takes about 3–5 days; full-floor tiling can take up to two weeks, depending on area and whether hacking is involved.
Sources
- Philip Hacking — Tile work prices in Singapore
- Philip Hacking — Tiling costs explained: basic to premium
- Budget Reno — Singapore tiling work price list
- DirectReno — Singapore tiling work price list
- HERA Bathroom — The cost of retiling a bathroom in Singapore (2026)
Prices are indicative market ranges as of 2026 and vary by tile choice, surface, hacking and layout. All hacking and tiling in HDB flats must be done by an HDB-licensed contractor.
