Tile flooring cost in Columbia, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,600 – $9,900
- Per sq ft
- $13 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #99
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a tile floor in the Columbia area: $2,600 to $9,900 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 lands close to the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $29.13 an hour in the Columbia area, 9% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Columbia, MO, standard level
$4,800 to $7,700
About $24 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $4,750 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,800 | $7,700 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Columbia, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $3,500 | $6,600 | 56% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $2,750 | $3,300 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,600 | $6,250 | $9,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Columbia 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, Columbia wages are 1.11 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (40% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Missouri statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Columbia is at 94.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,700 nationally becomes $3,500 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.4: $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 Columbia. The wage table below marks each row.
Who does the work: Columbia 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 Columbia the blend is 1.11.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Columbia metro, so we used the Missouri statewide median: $29.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.86 and $35.61 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $27.31 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.64 and $37.38 an hour. BLS counts 470 of them working in the area, 43.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $510 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $660. That is a swing of roughly 10.5% to 8.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Columbia has 107,680 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 194th 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% | $20.86 | $29.13 | $35.61 | $26.77 | 1.09 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.64 | $27.31 | $37.38 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: tile flooring pricing in Columbia
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Columbia. 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
$2,600 to $5,500
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,800 to $7,700
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$7,000 to $9,900
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $650 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,500 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,950 – $4,150 | $3,600 – $5,800 | $5,250 – $7,450 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $5,200 – $11,000 | $9,550 – $15,400 | $14,000 – $19,800 |
Columbia against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 200 sq ft range from $5,500 to $6,650 across Columbia and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MOthis page | $2,600 – $9,900 | $6,250 | |
| Jefferson City, MO35 miles | $2,600 – $9,900 | $6,250 | level |
| Kansas City, MO100 miles | $2,450 – $9,700 | $6,050 | −3% |
| Springfield, MO115 miles | $1,950 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −12% |
| St. Louis, MO120 miles | $2,750 – $10,500 | $6,650 | +6% |
| Springfield, IL165 miles | $2,800 – $10,200 | $6,500 | +4% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $2,600 – $10,100 | $6,350 | +1% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Columbia ranks #99 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Columbia is 1% below the Missouri figure.
Elsewhere in Missouri
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $2,750 – $10,500 | $6,650 | +6% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $2,450 – $9,700 | $6,050 | −3% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $1,950 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −12% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $2,550 – $9,850 | $6,200 | −1% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $2,600 – $9,900 | $6,250 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $2,250 – $10,100 | $6,200 | −1% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | −10% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −11% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $2,800 – $10,200 | $6,500 | +4% |
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Columbia
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 nearby projects cost in Columbia
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Columbia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (−3%) and hardwood flooring lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,150 – $11,800 | −6% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,650 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,500 – $22,400 | −4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $920 – $2,700 | −3% |
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 $4,800 to $7,700 for Columbia, MO is attached.
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Tile flooring in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Columbia?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,600 to $9,900 in the Columbia area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,800 to $7,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Columbia?
About $13 to $49.50 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 Columbia or Jefferson City?
Jefferson City is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $6,250, which is 0% more than Columbia ($6,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $2,750 out of $6,250. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Columbia?
$1,950 to $7,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Columbia?
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 Columbia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Missouri?
Columbia is 1% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($6,350 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Columbia?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $29.13 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.86 to $35.61.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Columbia?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,600 to $5,500 and premium work $7,000 to $9,900. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Columbia
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.