Tile flooring cost in Lake Charles, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,050 – $9,050
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #273
- 1 = most expensive
Lake Charles homeowners pay roughly $2,050 to $9,050 to install a tile floor at 200 sq ft, or $10 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Lake Charles is 11% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.52 an hour in the Lake Charles area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Lake Charles, LA, standard level
$4,150 to $6,950
About $20.50 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $4,700 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,150 | $6,950 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Lake Charles, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $3,450 | $6,550 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,050 | $2,500 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,050 | $5,550 | $9,050 | 100% |
Where the Lake Charles 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, Lake Charles wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (40% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lake Charles metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,450, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) 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 Lake Charles. The wage table below marks each row.
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Lake Charles
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.
Lake Charles against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Lake Charles. Lafayette is the lowest at about $5,300 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LAthis page | $2,050 – $9,050 | $5,550 | |
| Beaumont, TX60 miles | $2,100 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +1% |
| Lafayette, LA65 miles | $1,850 – $8,800 | $5,300 | −4% |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $2,000 – $8,950 | $5,450 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $2,000 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −1% |
| Houston, TX130 miles | $2,100 – $9,600 | $5,850 | +6% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,000 – $8,950 | $5,500 | −1% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Lake Charles comes in at #273 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, Lake Charles is 1% above the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $1,950 – $8,950 | $5,450 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,000 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −1% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,850 – $8,800 | $5,300 | −4% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,000 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −1% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,000 – $8,950 | $5,500 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $1,950 – $8,950 | $5,450 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Lake Charles's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lake Charles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $2,150 – $9,300 | $5,750 | +4% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $2,800 – $10,200 | $6,500 | +18% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | level |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 98,500 jobs | $2,600 – $10,700 | $6,650 | +20% |
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 Lake Charles is 0.83 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Lake Charles metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $21.52 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.96 and $22.99 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $21.75 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.37 and $25.18 an hour. About 2,130 work in the metro. That is 209.5 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 ($22.99 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($18.96) it shrinks by about $200. The total moves by 2.1% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 101,690 jobs in the Lake Charles area. That makes it the 202nd 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% | $18.96 | $21.52 | $22.99 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $17.37 | $21.75 | $25.18 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: tile flooring pricing in Lake Charles
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lake Charles 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
$2,050 to $4,850
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,150 to $6,950
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,250 to $9,050
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,500 – $3,650 | $3,100 – $5,200 | $4,700 – $6,800 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,050 – $9,650 | $8,250 – $13,900 | $12,500 – $18,100 |
What nearby projects cost in Lake Charles
Because every project leans on different trades, Lake Charles's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs −8% and laminate flooring −18%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $4,700 – $10,800 | −14% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,600 – $5,800 | −18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −8% |
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 $6,950 for Lake Charles, LA is attached.
Detailed tile flooring report for Lake Charles, LA, $9
The report lays out the tile flooring numbers for Lake Charles, LA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Lake Charles: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Lake Charles?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,050 to $9,050 in the Lake Charles area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $6,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Lake Charles?
About $10 to $45 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 Lake Charles or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,600, which is 1% more than Lake Charles ($5,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lake Charles?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,550. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Lake Charles?
$1,500 to $6,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Lake Charles?
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 Lake Charles area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lake Charles expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lake Charles is 1% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($5,500 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Lake Charles?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.52 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.96 to $22.99.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Lake Charles?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,050 to $4,850 and premium work $6,250 to $9,050. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Lake Charles
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.