Tile flooring cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,350 – $9,550
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #130
- 1 = most expensive
A tile floor in Des Moines, IA usually costs $2,350 to $9,550 for 200 sq ft. That works out to about $12 to $47.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $260 less. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$4,500 to $7,350
About $22.50 to $37 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $4,700 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,500 | $7,350 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $3,450 | $6,550 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,000 | $2,450 | $2,950 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,350 | $5,950 | $9,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Des Moines 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, Des Moines wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (40% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Des Moines is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,700 nationally becomes $3,450 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.7: $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 Des Moines. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Des Moines?
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Des Moines wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (+2%) and hardwood flooring lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,400 – $12,300 | −2% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,100 – $7,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,650 – $23,100 | −1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $980 – $2,800 | +1% |
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Des Moines
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).
Labor
Labor starts around $5 per sq ft for the simplest jobs and tops $20 for patterns or premium tile.
What local crews earn in Des Moines
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Des Moines the blend is 0.99.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Des Moines metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $24.03 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $28.91 an hour. BLS counts 3,510 of them working in the area, 86.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $630 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 4.0% to 10.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Des Moines-West Des Moines has 404,130 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 64th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.67 | $24.03 | $28.91 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
How Des Moines compares
Same job, same size (200 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Omaha is the priciest of the group at $6,200. Iowa City is the cheapest at $5,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | level |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,900 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,950 | level |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $2,550 – $9,850 | $6,200 | +4% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | level |
| Iowa (statewide) | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,950 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Des Moines ranks #130 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Des Moines is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $2,400 – $9,600 | $6,000 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,950 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,900 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,950 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $2,750 – $10,400 | $6,550 | +11% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −6% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $2,050 – $9,200 | $5,650 | −5% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −6% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: tile flooring pricing in Des Moines
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Des Moines. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from bathroom (50 sq ft) to main floor (400 sq ft).
Basic
$2,350 to $5,200
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,500 to $7,350
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,650 to $9,550
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $590 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,900 | $3,400 – $5,550 | $5,000 – $7,150 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,700 – $10,400 | $9,000 – $14,700 | $13,300 – $19,100 |
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Tile flooring in Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Des Moines?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,350 to $9,550 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $7,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Des Moines?
About $12 to $47.50 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 Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,950, which is 0% less than Des Moines ($5,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $2,450 out of $5,950. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Des Moines?
$1,750 to $7,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($5,950 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Des Moines?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.13 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.11 to $34.11.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Des Moines?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,350 to $5,200 and premium work $6,650 to $9,550. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Des Moines
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.