Tile flooring cost in Hickory, 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
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #227
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a tile floor in the Hickory area: $2,050 to $9,250 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 9% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.47 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$4,200 to $7,050
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 | $2,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,200 | $7,050 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,050 | $2,450 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,050 | $5,650 | $9,250 | 100% |
Where the Hickory price comes from
Labor is 37% 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 Hickory the blended ratio comes out at 0.82. 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. Hickory 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 88.5: $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 Hickory. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Hickory?
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, hardwood flooring comes out highest (−9%) and shower pan lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,000 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,350 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
Why two Hickory 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Hickory
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hickory. 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 $4,900
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,200 to $7,050
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 | $4,750 – $6,950 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,050 – $9,850 | $8,400 – $14,100 | $12,700 – $18,500 |
How Hickory compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Hickory. Johnson City is the lowest at about $5,550 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $2,200 – $9,450 | $5,850 | +3% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −1% |
| 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, Hickory ranks #227 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 0% below 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% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $2,050 – $9,050 | $5,550 | −2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $2,100 – $9,400 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $2,550 – $10,600 | $6,600 | +17% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
Who does the work: Hickory 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 Hickory the blend is 0.82.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory 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 $21.42 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 51.9 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 3.5% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has 154,090 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 152nd 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% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
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 $7,050 for Hickory, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Hickory, 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Hickory?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,050 to $9,250 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,200 to $7,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Hickory?
About $10 to $46 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,550, which is 1% less than Hickory ($5,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
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 Hickory?
$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 Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 0% below 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 Hickory?
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 Hickory?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,050 to $4,900 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 Hickory
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.