- Tiling prices in Cape Town depend on preparation as much as on tiles and labour.
- This guide gives 2026 ballpark ranges with sources, and what each range includes.
- Use it to sanity-check quotes. Only a site visit and a written quote set the price.
Get prices for your actual job rather than a range. Compare tiling quotes in Cape Town.
Compare QuotesLabour Only vs Supply and Install
Labour only: you buy the tiles, and sometimes adhesive and grout. Supply and install: the contractor supplies tiles, adhesive, grout and labour. A labour-only quote looks cheaper because the materials are not in it.
| Work | Labour only, per m² | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard floor tiling | R180 - R320 | Fonster |
| Wall tiling | R220 - R380 | Fonster |
| Large-format tiles (600 x 1200 mm and up) | R300 - R500 | Fonster |
| Mosaic sheets | R350 - R600 | Fonster |
| Diagonal or herringbone patterns | Add 30% - 50% | Fonster |
| General range, all tiling | R90 - R300 | TilerCostPerM2 |
Supply and Install by Tile Material
| Tile | Supply and install, per m² | Tiles only, per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | R450 - R650 | R100 - R250 |
| Porcelain | R550 - R900 | R180 - R450 |
| Large-format porcelain | R750 - R1,200 | R500 - R900+ |
| Natural stone | R900 - R1,800 | R600 - R1,500 |
| Mosaic and feature tiling | From R1,000 | Varies widely |
See porcelain tiling, ceramic tiling, natural stone tiling and mosaic tiling for what changes with each material.
Floor vs Wall Work
Wall tiling usually costs more per m² in labour than floors. It is slower, needs more cuts and edge trims, and tiles must be held in place while the adhesive grabs. See floor tiling and wall tiling.
Typical Project Budgets
| Project | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Bathroom floor only | R4,500 - R9,000 |
| Shower retile with waterproofing | R12,000 - R25,000 |
| Full bathroom retile | R18,000 - R40,000 |
| Kitchen splashback | R2,500 - R6,000 |
| Kitchen floor | R8,000 - R18,000 |
| Whole-house floors, about 100 m² | R55,000 - R90,000 |
| Patio or stoep, non-slip porcelain, per m² | R550 - R900 |
Details by job: bathroom tiling, kitchen tiling, outdoor tiling.
Removal, Preparation and Screeding
| Item | Ballpark price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tile removal including adhesive, per m² | R50 - R150 | Fonster, TilerCostPerM2 |
| Rubble removal, per load | R500 - R1,500 | Fonster |
| Sand-cement screed, per m² | R80 - R150 | FloorPaintingPrice |
| Self-levelling screed, per m² | R120 - R350 | Fonster, FloorPaintingPrice |
| Priming or slurry coat, per m² | R25 - R50 | Fonster |
| Surface preparation, per job | R500 - R5,000 | Kandua |
See tile removal and floor screeding.
Waterproofing
| Item | Ballpark price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shower waterproofing membrane, per shower | R2,000 - R4,500 | Fonster |
| Waterproofing, per m² | R70 - R500 | TilerCostPerM2 |
See shower waterproofing.
Grout, Adhesive, Trims and Other Materials
| Item | Ballpark price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive and grout, per m² | R50 - R150 | Kandua |
| Epoxy grout | Costs more than cement grout. Quoted per job | - |
| Edge trims | Per metre. Quoted per job | - |
Large-format porcelain, natural stone and outdoor work need better adhesives, which cost more per m². Allow about 10% extra tiles for cuts, more for patterns.
Repairs and Regrouting
| Item | Ballpark price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out fee | R350 - R800 | Kandua |
| Minor tile repairs | R300 - R1,500 | Kandua |
| Regrouting, per m² | R150 - R450 | TilerCostPerM2 |
| Regrouting, average room | R800 - R2,500 | Kandua |
See tile repairs and tile regrouting.
Pattern Complexity, Access and Waste
- Patterns. Herringbone and diagonal layouts add 30% - 50% to labour and use more tiles.
- Access. Upper floors without lifts, scaffolding for high walls and difficult parking add time.
- Waste. Rubble removal is often a separate line. Check it is in every quote.
Minimum Charges for Small Jobs
Many tilers charge a call-out fee or a minimum day rate. A few replaced tiles can cost close to a small room. Combine small jobs into one visit where you can.
Is VAT Included?
Only VAT-registered businesses charge VAT, and the sources above do not all say whether their ranges include it. Ask every contractor whether their quote includes VAT, and compare totals on the same basis.
Get prices for your actual job rather than a range. Free, with no obligation to appoint anyone.
Compare QuotesSources
Ranges are rounded and were checked in October 2026. Most sources are national or Gauteng-based. Cape Town prices can be higher or lower.
- Fonster, Tiling Costs in South Africa: 2026 Pricing Guide (July 2026). Labour-only, supply-and-install, project, preparation and outdoor ranges.
- TilerCostPerM2, Tiling Prices Guide South Africa (August 2026, Gauteng focus). Labour range, removal, waterproofing, regrouting.
- Kandua, Cost of Tiling in South Africa. Call-out, minor repairs, regrouting per room, adhesive and grout, stone tile prices.
- FloorPaintingPrice, Floor Screed and Self-Levelling Cost SA 2026 (July 2026). Screed ranges.
Get real numbers for your job through Tiling Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average labour cost for tiling per m²?
As a 2026 ballpark, about R180 - R320 per m² for standard floors and R220 - R380 for walls, before removal and preparation.
Why do two quotes for the same job differ so much?
Usually different scope: one includes removal, levelling, waterproofing or rubble and the other does not. Compare line by line.
Is it cheaper to buy my own tiles?
It can be, and you choose exactly what you want. You also carry the risk of ordering too few or a batch mismatch.
Do tilers charge per m² or per day?
Most quote per m² for larger areas and a minimum or day rate for small jobs.
Are Cape Town tiling prices higher than Gauteng?
Published guides are mostly Gauteng or national. Compare several local quotes to see current Cape Town rates.
Related Services
Tiling Cape Town is a free quote-comparison service. Tiling work is assessed, quoted and carried out by independent tiling contractors, and your agreement is with the contractor you appoint. Ask each one for a written, itemised quote, what is and is not included, any guarantee and the payment terms before paying anything.
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