Tile flooring cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,050 – $9,250
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #218
- 1 = most expensive
A tile floor in Durham, NC usually costs $2,050 to $9,250 for 200 sq ft. That works out to about $10 to $46.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $550 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.47 an hour in the Durham area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$4,200 to $7,100
About $21 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $4,850 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,200 | $7,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,050 | $2,500 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,050 | $5,650 | $9,250 | 100% |
Where the Durham price comes from
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 $21.47 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Durham is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 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 97.6: $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 Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Durham cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $5,600 to $5,750 across Durham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $2,150 – $9,400 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #218 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 0% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,150 – $9,400 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $2,200 – $9,450 | $5,850 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $2,600 – $10,100 | $6,350 | +12% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $1,750 – $8,600 | $5,150 | −8% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,050 – $9,050 | $5,550 | −2% |
What local crews earn in Durham
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 Durham the blend is 0.83.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $22.38 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $25.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 32.6 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 $230 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 3.4% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, hardwood flooring comes out highest (−7%) and shower pan lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,050 – $11,600 | −7% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$2,050 to $4,950
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,200 to $7,100
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,350 to $9,250
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,550 – $3,700 | $3,150 – $5,300 | $4,800 – $6,950 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,100 – $9,850 | $8,400 – $14,200 | $12,700 – $18,500 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Durham bid
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.
Tile type
Porcelain runs $15-$50 per sq ft installed. Luxury vinyl tile is $4-$16 (HomeGuide).
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 $4,200 to $7,100 for Durham, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Durham, NC: 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Durham?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,050 to $9,250 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,200 to $7,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Durham?
About $10 to $46.50 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 Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,600, which is 1% less than Durham ($5,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,650. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Durham?
$1,550 to $6,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Durham?
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 Durham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 0% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($5,650 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Durham?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.47 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $24.36.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Durham?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,050 to $4,950 and premium work $6,350 to $9,250. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Durham
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.