Tile flooring cost in Rochester, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,900 – $10,500
- Per sq ft
- $14.50 – $52.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #33
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a tile floor in the Rochester area: $2,900 to $10,500 for 200 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $33.92 an hour in the Rochester area, 27% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Rochester, MN, standard level
$5,200 to $8,200
About $26 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $4,800 |
| Labor | $2,900 | $3,400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $5,200 | $8,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Rochester, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $3,550 | $6,700 | 53% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,150 | $3,800 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,900 | $6,700 | $10,500 | 100% |
Why Rochester prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $33.92 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Rochester is 1.27 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rochester is at 95.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,700 nationally becomes $3,550 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 90.8: $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 Rochester. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: tile flooring pricing in Rochester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rochester. 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
$2,900 to $5,950
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$5,200 to $8,200
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$7,450 to $10,500
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $730 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,600 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $2,200 – $4,450 | $3,900 – $6,150 | $5,600 – $7,850 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $5,850 – $11,900 | $10,400 – $16,400 | $14,900 – $21,000 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Rochester 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 Rochester?
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rochester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+14%) and hardwood flooring lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,500 – $12,400 | −1% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,050 – $7,050 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +14% |
Who does the work: Rochester trade wages
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 Rochester the blend is 1.27.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Rochester metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $33.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.69 and $34.50 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $28.55 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $43.11 an hour. BLS counts 990 of them working in the area, 80.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $340. That is a swing of roughly 5.0% to 0.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rochester has 122,980 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 176th 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% | $29.69 | $33.92 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.36 | $28.55 | $43.11 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.27 | |||||
Is Rochester cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Rochester. Dubuque is the lowest at about $5,950 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 125 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNthis page | $2,900 – $10,500 | $6,700 | |
| La Crosse, WI65 miles | $2,650 – $10,000 | $6,350 | −5% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $2,650 – $10,000 | $6,350 | −6% |
| Minneapolis, MN90 miles | $3,000 – $11,100 | $7,050 | +5% |
| Waterloo, IA100 miles | $2,350 – $9,550 | $5,950 | −11% |
| Dubuque, IA125 miles | $2,350 – $9,500 | $5,950 | −11% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $2,950 – $10,800 | $6,900 | +3% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rochester ranks #33 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rochester is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $3,000 – $11,100 | $7,050 | +5% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $2,950 – $10,500 | $6,700 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $2,900 – $10,500 | $6,700 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $2,050 – $9,100 | $5,550 | −17% |
| Midland, TX | 122,180 jobs | $2,050 – $9,100 | $5,600 | −17% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $2,650 – $10,000 | $6,350 | −5% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $2,400 – $10,300 | $6,400 | −5% |
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 $5,200 to $8,200 for Rochester, MN is attached.
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Multi-page report for Rochester, MN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Rochester?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,900 to $10,500 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,200 to $8,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Rochester?
About $14.50 to $52.50 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 Rochester or La Crosse?
La Crosse is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $6,350, which is 5% less than Rochester ($6,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $3,150 out of $6,700. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$2,200 to $7,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Rochester?
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 Rochester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Rochester is 3% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($6,900 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Rochester?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.92 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.69 to $34.50.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Rochester?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,900 to $5,950 and premium work $7,450 to $10,500. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Rochester
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.