Tile flooring cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,350 – $10,300
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $51.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #87
- 1 = most expensive
Modesto homeowners pay roughly $2,350 to $10,300 to install a tile floor at 200 sq ft, or $12 to $51.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Modesto is almost level. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Modesto, CA, standard level
$4,750 to $7,900
About $23.50 to $39.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $5,300 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,750 | $7,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $3,900 | $7,350 | 62% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,450 | $2,900 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,350 | $6,300 | $10,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Modesto number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, Modesto wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (40% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Modesto metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,900, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Modesto
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Modesto 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
$2,350 to $5,550
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,750 to $7,900
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$7,100 to $10,300
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $590 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,550 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,750 – $4,150 | $3,550 – $5,950 | $5,350 – $7,700 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,700 – $11,100 | $9,450 – $15,800 | $14,200 – $20,500 |
Planning more than one job in Modesto?
Because every project leans on different trades, Modesto's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, hardwood flooring runs +7% and shower pan −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,900 – $13,400 | +7% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $7,100 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,500 | +5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,800 | −1% |
How Modesto compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 200 sq ft range from $6,300 to $6,800 across Modesto and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $2,350 – $10,300 | $6,300 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $2,600 – $10,600 | $6,600 | +4% |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $2,550 – $10,600 | $6,550 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $2,750 – $10,900 | $6,800 | +8% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | +5% |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | +5% |
| California (statewide) | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | +5% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Modesto comes in at #87 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, Modesto is 5% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $2,850 – $11,200 | $7,050 | +12% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $2,450 – $10,200 | $6,300 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $2,550 – $10,800 | $6,650 | +6% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $2,750 – $10,900 | $6,800 | +8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $2,500 – $10,500 | $6,500 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Modesto's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | −10% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $2,100 – $9,100 | $5,600 | −11% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $2,200 – $9,600 | $5,900 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $2,450 – $9,800 | $6,150 | −3% |
Why two Modesto quotes can differ
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.
Tile type
Porcelain runs $15-$50 per sq ft installed. Luxury vinyl tile is $4-$16 (HomeGuide).
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Modesto is 0.97 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 85%) the local median is $24.50 an hour, which is 8% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.71 and $33.09 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 6.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $29.15 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.89 and $38.02 an hour. About 1,070 work in the metro. That is 54.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer 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 ($33.09 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $680. At the 25th percentile ($21.71) it shrinks by about $220. The total moves by 10.8% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 195,230 jobs in the Modesto area. That makes it the 117th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $21.71 | $24.50 | $33.09 | $26.77 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.89 | $29.15 | $38.02 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
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Tile flooring in Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Modesto?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,350 to $10,300 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,750 to $7,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Modesto?
About $12 to $51.50 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 Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $6,600, which is 4% more than Modesto ($6,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $2,450 out of $6,300. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Modesto?
$1,750 to $7,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Modesto?
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 Modesto area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($6,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Modesto?
The BLS median is $24.50 an hour in the Modesto area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.71 to $33.09.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Modesto?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,350 to $5,550 and premium work $7,100 to $10,300. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Modesto
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.