Tile flooring cost in Raleigh, 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
- #217
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a tile floor in Raleigh, plan on $2,050 to $9,250 for 200 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10 to $46.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.57 an hour in the Raleigh area, 19% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,100 | $2,500 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,050 | $5,650 | $9,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Raleigh number
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 Raleigh the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Raleigh metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,550, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Raleigh
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.
Raleigh against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Raleigh. Burlington is the lowest at about $5,600 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC75 miles | $2,150 – $9,400 | $5,750 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Raleigh comes in at #217 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $8,050; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $5,150 (midpoints, 200 sq ft). Statewide, Raleigh is 0% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 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 |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $2,200 – $9,450 | $5,850 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Raleigh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | −1% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $2,500 – $10,000 | $6,250 | +11% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | level |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $2,150 – $9,350 | $5,750 | +2% |
Raleigh labor market for tile floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Raleigh is 0.83 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 85%) the local median is $21.57 an hour, which is 19% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.30 and $24.04 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 1.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $21.95 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $23.77 an hour. About 6,360 work in the metro. That is 85.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.04 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $200. At the 25th percentile ($19.30) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 3.5% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 743,120 jobs in the Raleigh-Cary area. That makes it the 41st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.48% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $19.30 | $21.57 | $24.04 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $18.31 | $21.95 | $23.77 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Raleigh
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Raleigh wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
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 |
Related projects, priced for Raleigh
Because every project leans on different trades, Raleigh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, hardwood flooring runs −8% and bathroom remodel −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,050 – $11,600 | −8% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,450 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −8% |
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 Raleigh, NC is attached.
Detailed tile flooring report for Raleigh, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Raleigh, 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 Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Raleigh?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,050 to $9,250 in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
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 Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,650, which is 0% less than Raleigh ($5,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,100 out of $5,650. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Raleigh?
$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 Raleigh?
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 Raleigh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
The BLS median is $21.57 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.30 to $24.04.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh
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.