Tile flooring cost in Athens, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,100 – $9,300
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #200
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a tile floor in Athens, plan on $2,100 to $9,300 for 200 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $46.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.00 an hour in the Athens area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Athens, GA, standard level
$4,250 to $7,100
About $21 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $4,850 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,250 | $7,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Athens, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,100 | $2,550 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,100 | $5,700 | $9,300 | 100% |
Why Athens prices look the way they do
Labor is 37% of the midpoint bill here, against 40% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (85%), construction laborers (15%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Athens the blended ratio comes out at 0.85. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Athens metro is 96.3 (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 (93.3) 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 Athens. The wage table below marks each row.
Athens against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
Same job, same size (200 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Atlanta is the priciest of the group at $5,900. Greenville is the cheapest at $5,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GAthis page | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | |
| Gainesville, GA45 miles | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Greenville, SC70 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | −2% |
| Atlanta, GA70 miles | $2,150 – $9,600 | $5,900 | +3% |
| Augusta, GA80 miles | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Macon, GA80 miles | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Georgia (statewide) | $2,100 – $9,500 | $5,800 | +2% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Athens comes in at #200 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, Athens is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $2,150 – $9,600 | $5,900 | +3% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $2,050 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Athens's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Athens against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $3,100 – $11,400 | $7,250 | +28% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $1,800 – $8,700 | $5,250 | −8% |
| Binghamton, NY | 97,030 jobs | $2,600 – $10,300 | $6,450 | +13% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | level |
What nearby projects cost in Athens
Because every project leans on different trades, Athens's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs −9% and laminate flooring −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $4,800 – $11,000 | −12% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,650 – $6,050 | −15% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Athens
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Athens 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
$2,100 to $4,950
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,250 to $7,100
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,400 to $9,300
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,550 – $3,700 | $3,200 – $5,350 | $4,800 – $6,950 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,150 – $9,950 | $8,500 – $14,200 | $12,800 – $18,600 |
Athens 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 Athens is 0.85 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Athens metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $23.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.94 and $27.57 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $17.85 an hour, 21% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.56 and $23.50 an hour. About 420 work in the metro. That is 43.8 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 ($27.57 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $360. At the 25th percentile ($20.94) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 6.4% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,800 jobs in the Athens-Clarke County area. That makes it the 209th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $20.94 | $23.00 | $27.57 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $16.56 | $17.85 | $23.50 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Why two Athens quotes can differ
Tile type
Porcelain runs $15-$50 per sq ft installed. Luxury vinyl tile is $4-$16 (HomeGuide).
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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Tile flooring in Athens: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Athens?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,100 to $9,300 in the Athens area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,250 to $7,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Athens?
About $10.50 to $46.50 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 Athens or Gainesville?
Gainesville is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,700, which is 0% more than Athens ($5,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Athens?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,100 out of $5,700. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Athens?
$1,550 to $6,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Athens?
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 Athens area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Athens expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Georgia?
Athens is 2% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($5,800 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Athens?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.00 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.94 to $27.57.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Athens?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,100 to $4,950 and premium work $6,400 to $9,300. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Athens
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.