Tile flooring cost in Tuscaloosa, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,000 – $9,150
- Per sq ft
- $9.95 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #256
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a tile floor in Tuscaloosa, plan on $2,000 to $9,150 for 200 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.95 to $45.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.54 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL, standard level
$4,150 to $7,000
About $20.50 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $4,850 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $2,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,150 | $7,000 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,000 | $2,400 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,000 | $5,550 | $9,150 | 100% |
Where the Tuscaloosa price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, Tuscaloosa wages are 0.80 times the national level. Labor makes up about 36% of the midpoint estimate (40% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Tuscaloosa metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,550, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 85% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Tuscaloosa. The wage table below marks each row.
Tuscaloosa labor market for tile floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Tuscaloosa is 0.80 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Tuscaloosa metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $21.54 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.91 and $22.86 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $17.53 an hour, 23% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.59 and $20.69 an hour. About 1,110 work in the metro. That is 102.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.86 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($17.91) it shrinks by about $290. The total moves by 1.9% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 108,460 jobs in the Tuscaloosa area. That makes it the 192nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $17.91 | $21.54 | $22.86 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $14.59 | $17.53 | $20.69 | $22.66 | 0.77 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Tuscaloosa
Labor
Labor starts around $5 per sq ft for the simplest jobs and tops $20 for patterns or premium tile.
Tile alone
Tile costs $2-$35 per sq ft before installation, which is what makes the range so wide.
Subfloor
Uneven or damaged subfloors need prep work before the tile goes down.
Is Tuscaloosa cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Tuscaloosa. Auburn is the lowest at about $5,550 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 140 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, ALthis page | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | |
| Birmingham, AL60 miles | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | +1% |
| Montgomery, AL95 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| Decatur, AL105 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| Huntsville, AL130 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL140 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Tuscaloosa comes in at #256 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,050; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $5,150 (midpoints, 200 sq ft). Statewide, Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Tuscaloosa's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tuscaloosa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $2,050 – $9,050 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $2,250 – $10,100 | $6,200 | +12% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $2,150 – $9,450 | $5,800 | +4% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $2,600 – $9,900 | $6,250 | +12% |
Planning more than one job in Tuscaloosa?
Because every project leans on different trades, Tuscaloosa's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs −9% and laminate flooring −18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $4,800 – $11,100 | −12% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,850 | −18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,100 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: tile flooring pricing in Tuscaloosa
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Tuscaloosa wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$2,000 to $4,850
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,150 to $7,000
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,300 to $9,150
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,500 – $3,650 | $3,100 – $5,250 | $4,700 – $6,850 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $3,950 – $9,700 | $8,250 – $14,000 | $12,600 – $18,300 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $4,150 to $7,000 for Tuscaloosa, AL is attached.
Detailed tile flooring report for Tuscaloosa, AL, $9
Multi-page report for Tuscaloosa, AL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Tile flooring in Tuscaloosa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Tuscaloosa?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,000 to $9,150 in the Tuscaloosa area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $7,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Tuscaloosa?
About $9.95 to $45.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $12 to $50.
+Is tile floor cheaper in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham?
Birmingham is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,600, which is 1% more than Tuscaloosa ($5,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tuscaloosa?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $2,000 out of $5,550. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Tuscaloosa?
$1,500 to $6,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Tuscaloosa?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Tuscaloosa area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tuscaloosa expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Alabama?
Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($5,550 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Tuscaloosa?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.54 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.91 to $22.86.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Tuscaloosa?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,000 to $4,850 and premium work $6,300 to $9,150. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Tuscaloosa
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.