Tile flooring cost in Cincinnati, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,150 – $9,200
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #199
- 1 = most expensive
Cincinnati homeowners pay roughly $2,150 to $9,200 to install a tile floor at 200 sq ft, or $10.50 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Cincinnati is 8% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.42 an hour in the Cincinnati area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH, standard level
$4,250 to $7,100
About $21.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,250 | $4,700 |
| Labor | $2,050 | $2,400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,250 | $7,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Cincinnati, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $3,450 | $6,550 | 61% |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,200 | $2,650 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,150 | $5,700 | $9,200 | 100% |
Why Cincinnati 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 $22.42 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Cincinnati is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Cincinnati metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft comes to $3,450, compared with $3,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Cincinnati is 0.89 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 85%) the local median is $22.42 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.12 and $27.45 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 1.0 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 $26.41 an hour, 17% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $35.56 an hour. About 5,700 work in the metro. That is 51.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer 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 ($27.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $400. At the 25th percentile ($19.12) it shrinks by about $260. The total moves by 7.0% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,101,030 jobs in the Cincinnati area. That makes it the 32nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.71% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $19.12 | $22.42 | $27.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.17 | $26.41 | $35.56 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Cincinnati: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Cincinnati 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
$2,150 to $5,000
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,250 to $7,100
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,400 to $9,200
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $540 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,600 – $3,750 | $3,200 – $5,350 | $4,800 – $6,900 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,300 – $9,950 | $8,550 – $14,200 | $12,800 – $18,400 |
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Cincinnati
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.
Subfloor
Uneven or damaged subfloors need prep work before the tile goes down.
Is Cincinnati cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Cincinnati. Dayton is the lowest at about $5,650 (midpoint, 200 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OHthis page | $2,150 – $9,200 | $5,700 | |
| Dayton, OH55 miles | $2,100 – $9,200 | $5,650 | −1% |
| Lexington, KY65 miles | $2,150 – $9,350 | $5,750 | +1% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $2,150 – $9,350 | $5,750 | +1% |
| Indianapolis, IN100 miles | $2,250 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +2% |
| Columbus, OH105 miles | $2,200 – $9,300 | $5,750 | +1% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $2,150 – $9,200 | $5,650 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Cincinnati comes in at #199 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, Cincinnati is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $2,200 – $9,300 | $5,750 | +1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $2,250 – $9,400 | $5,800 | +2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,100 – $9,200 | $5,650 | −1% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $2,200 – $9,250 | $5,700 | +1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $2,050 – $9,100 | $5,600 | −2% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $2,150 – $9,200 | $5,650 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Cincinnati's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cincinnati against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $2,250 – $9,400 | $5,850 | +2% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | −1% |
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $2,200 – $9,300 | $5,750 | +1% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $2,450 – $9,700 | $6,050 | +7% |
What nearby projects cost in Cincinnati
Because every project leans on different trades, Cincinnati's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, laminate flooring runs −2% and shower pan −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,300 – $12,000 | −4% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,000 – $6,850 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −6% |
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 $4,250 to $7,100 for Cincinnati, OH is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Cincinnati, OH: 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 Cincinnati: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Cincinnati?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,150 to $9,200 in the Cincinnati area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,250 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 Cincinnati?
About $10.50 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 Cincinnati or Dayton?
Dayton is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,650, which is 1% less than Cincinnati ($5,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cincinnati?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $2,200 out of $5,700. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Cincinnati?
$1,600 to $6,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Cincinnati?
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 Cincinnati area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cincinnati expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cincinnati is 0% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($5,650 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Cincinnati?
The BLS median is $22.42 an hour in the Cincinnati area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.12 to $27.45.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Cincinnati?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,150 to $5,000 and premium work $6,400 to $9,200. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Cincinnati
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.