Tile flooring cost in Chattanooga, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $1,800 – $8,800
- Per sq ft
- $8.90 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
Chattanooga homeowners pay roughly $1,800 to $8,800 to install a tile floor at 200 sq ft, or $8.90 to $44 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Chattanooga is 15% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $17.67 an hour in the Chattanooga area, 34% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Chattanooga, TN, standard level
$3,900 to $6,700
About $19.50 to $33.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 33% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $4,800 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $1,900 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,900 | $6,700 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Chattanooga, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $3,550 | $6,700 | 67% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,750 | $2,100 | 33% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,800 | $5,300 | $8,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Chattanooga number
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 $17.67 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chattanooga is 0.70 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 33% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chattanooga metro is 96.0 (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 (91.5) 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 Chattanooga is 0.70 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 85%) the local median is $17.67 an hour, which is 34% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.90 and $21.42 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 1.5 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 $20.80 an hour, 8% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.48 an hour. About 1,800 work in the metro. That is 67.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.42 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $300. At the 25th percentile ($16.90) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 5.6% or 1.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 268,750 jobs in the Chattanooga area. That makes it the 98th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.17% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 85% | $16.90 | $17.67 | $21.42 | $26.77 | 0.66 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $17.64 | $20.80 | $23.48 | $22.66 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.70 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Chattanooga?
Because every project leans on different trades, Chattanooga's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, hardwood flooring runs −9% and shower pan −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,000 – $11,500 | −9% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,350 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $760 – $2,450 | −14% |
Tile flooring: what moves the price in Chattanooga
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.
Is Chattanooga cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (200 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Gainesville is the priciest of the group at $5,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TNthis page | $1,800 – $8,800 | $5,300 | |
| Dalton, GA35 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Huntsville, AL80 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +6% |
| Gainesville, GA100 miles | $2,100 – $9,300 | $5,700 | +7% |
| Nashville, TN105 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +5% |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +17% |
Across 300 US metros, Chattanooga comes in at #295 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, Chattanooga is 5% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +6% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +5% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | +5% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | +5% |
Cities with a workforce like Chattanooga's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chattanooga against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $2,600 – $11,000 | $6,800 | +28% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +7% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $1,800 – $8,900 | $5,350 | +1% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $2,000 – $9,200 | $5,600 | +6% |
Chattanooga: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chattanooga 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
$1,800 to $4,600
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$3,900 to $6,700
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,000 to $8,800
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $970 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,350 – $3,450 | $2,900 – $5,050 | $4,500 – $6,600 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $3,550 – $9,200 | $7,800 – $13,400 | $12,000 – $17,600 |
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 $3,900 to $6,700 for Chattanooga, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Chattanooga, TN: 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 Chattanooga: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Chattanooga?
For 200 sq ft, expect $1,800 to $8,800 in the Chattanooga area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,900 to $6,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Chattanooga?
About $8.90 to $44 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 Chattanooga or Dalton?
Dalton is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,650, which is 7% more than Chattanooga ($5,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chattanooga?
About 33% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $5,300. Materials are 67% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Chattanooga?
$1,350 to $6,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Chattanooga?
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 Chattanooga area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chattanooga expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Chattanooga is 5% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($5,600 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Chattanooga?
The BLS median is $17.67 an hour in the Chattanooga area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.90 to $21.42.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Chattanooga?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $1,800 to $4,600 and premium work $6,000 to $8,800. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Chattanooga
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.