Tile flooring cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,600 – $10,300
- Per sq ft
- $13 – $51.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #70
- 1 = most expensive
A tile floor in Rochester, NY usually costs $2,600 to $10,300 for 200 sq ft. That works out to about $13 to $51.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $240 more. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $29.67 an hour in the Rochester area, 11% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Rochester, NY, standard level
$4,900 to $7,950
About $24.50 to $40 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $5,000 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $2,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,900 | $7,950 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $3,700 | $7,000 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $2,750 | $3,300 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,600 | $6,450 | $10,300 | 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 $29.67 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Rochester is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rochester is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,700 nationally becomes $3,700 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.0: $0 to $0.
Why two Rochester quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Rochester
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 1.10.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 85% of the weighting: a median of $29.67 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $34.63 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 2.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $23.70 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $30.93 an hour. BLS counts 2,550 of them working in the area, 51.6 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 $390 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $450. That is a swing of roughly 7.0% to 6.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rochester has 494,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 52nd 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% | $23.96 | $29.67 | $34.63 | $26.77 | 1.11 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $19.93 | $23.70 | $30.93 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
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 (+7%) and hardwood flooring lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,500 – $12,500 | level |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,050 – $7,150 | +3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,300 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
How Rochester compares
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 $6,300 to $6,800 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $2,600 – $10,300 | $6,450 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −2% |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $2,550 – $10,200 | $6,400 | −1% |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $2,600 – $10,300 | $6,450 | level |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $2,600 – $10,300 | $6,400 | level |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $2,850 – $10,700 | $6,800 | +5% |
| New York (statewide) | $2,650 – $10,800 | $6,750 | +5% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rochester ranks #70 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rochester is 5% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $2,700 – $11,100 | $6,900 | +7% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −2% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $2,500 – $10,100 | $6,300 | −2% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $2,550 – $10,200 | $6,400 | −1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $2,600 – $11,000 | $6,800 | +5% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $2,600 – $10,300 | $6,400 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $2,550 – $9,850 | $6,200 | −4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $2,450 – $10,400 | $6,400 | −1% |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | −13% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $2,000 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −15% |
Rochester: what basic, standard and premium work costs
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
$2,600 to $5,650
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,900 to $7,950
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$7,200 to $10,300
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $650 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,550 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,950 – $4,250 | $3,700 – $6,000 | $5,400 – $7,700 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $5,200 – $11,300 | $9,800 – $15,900 | $14,400 – $20,600 |
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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 $4,900 to $7,950 for Rochester, NY is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Rochester, NY: 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 $2,600 to $10,300 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,900 to $7,950. 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 $13 to $51.50 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 Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $6,300, which is 2% less than Rochester ($6,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,750 out of $6,450. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$1,950 to $7,700. 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 New York?
Rochester is 5% below the New York statewide estimate ($6,750 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $29.67 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.96 to $34.63.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Rochester?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,600 to $5,650 and premium work $7,200 to $10,300. 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.