Tile flooring cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $3,300 – $11,300
- Per sq ft
- $16.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #4
- 1 = most expensive
Boston homeowners pay roughly $3,300 to $11,300 to install a tile floor at 200 sq ft, or $16.50 to $56.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boston is 18% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $39.54 an hour in the Boston area, 48% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Boston, MA, standard level
$5,700 to $8,950
About $28.50 to $44.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $5,000 |
| Labor | $3,350 | $3,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $5,700 | $8,950 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $3,700 | $7,000 | 50% |
| Labor | $2,900 | $3,650 | $4,350 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $3,300 | $7,350 | $11,300 | 100% |
Where the Boston price comes from
Labor is 50% 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 Boston the blended ratio comes out at 1.46.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boston metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,700, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Boston bid
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.
Planning more than one job in Boston?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs +33% and hardwood flooring +16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $6,450 – $14,400 | +16% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,800 – $9,150 | +33% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,600 – $27,800 | +19% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,500 | +29% |
Cost by quality level and size in Boston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boston 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
$3,300 to $6,550
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$5,700 to $8,950
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$8,150 to $11,300
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $830 – $1,650 | $1,450 – $2,250 | $2,050 – $2,850 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $2,500 – $4,900 | $4,300 – $6,700 | $6,100 – $8,500 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $6,650 – $13,100 | $11,400 – $17,900 | $16,300 – $22,700 |
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 Boston is 1.46 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 85%) the local median is $39.54 an hour, which is 48% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $37.62 and $46.13 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $30.49 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. About 11,580 work in the metro. That is 42.8 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 ($46.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($37.62) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 7.1% or 2.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,703,890 jobs in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area. That makes it the 10th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.74% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $37.62 | $39.54 | $46.13 | $26.77 | 1.48 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $26.22 | $30.49 | $45.11 | $22.66 | 1.35 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.46 | |||||
Boston against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Same job, same size (200 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group. Manchester is the cheapest at $5,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $3,300 – $11,300 | $7,350 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $2,200 – $9,600 | $5,900 | −20% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $2,600 – $10,100 | $6,350 | −14% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $2,500 – $10,000 | $6,250 | −15% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $3,250 – $11,100 | $7,150 | −2% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $2,850 – $10,500 | $6,700 | −9% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $3,300 – $11,200 | $7,250 | −1% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −15% |
Across 300 US metros, Boston comes in at #4 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, Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $2,600 – $10,100 | $6,350 | −14% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $2,850 – $10,500 | $6,650 | −9% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $3,250 – $11,100 | $7,150 | −2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $3,250 – $11,100 | $7,150 | −2% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $3,200 – $11,000 | $7,100 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Boston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $2,200 – $9,900 | $6,050 | −18% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $2,300 – $9,550 | $5,950 | −19% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $2,150 – $9,600 | $5,900 | −20% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $2,850 – $11,200 | $7,050 | −4% |
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Tile flooring in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Boston?
For 200 sq ft, expect $3,300 to $11,300 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,700 to $8,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Boston?
About $16.50 to $56.50 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 Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,900, which is 20% less than Boston ($7,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $3,650 out of $7,350. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Boston?
$2,500 to $8,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Boston?
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 Boston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($7,250 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $39.54 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $37.62 to $46.13.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Boston?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $3,300 to $6,550 and premium work $8,150 to $11,300. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Boston
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.