Tile flooring cost in Knoxville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft)
- $2,000 – $9,150
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $6,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #239
- 1 = most expensive
A tile floor in Knoxville, TN usually costs $2,000 to $9,150 for 200 sq ft. That works out to about $10 to $46 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $610 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $20.95 an hour in the Knoxville area, 22% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$4,150 to $7,000
About $21 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,300 | $4,850 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $2,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,150 | $7,000 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $3,550 | $6,750 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,050 | $2,450 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,000 | $5,600 | $9,150 | 100% |
What is behind the Knoxville number
Labor is 36% 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 Knoxville the blended ratio comes out at 0.81. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Knoxville is at 96.2 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 92.6: $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 Knoxville. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Knoxville
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 Knoxville the blend is 0.81.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Knoxville metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $20.95 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.57 and $22.81 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $22.18 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $25.87 an hour. BLS counts 3,640 of them working in the area, 85.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $270. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 2.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Knoxville has 424,600 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 59th 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% | $17.57 | $20.95 | $22.81 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $18.16 | $22.18 | $25.87 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Knoxville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Knoxville. 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
$2,000 to $4,850
Basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout
Standard
$4,150 to $7,000
Porcelain tile, standard layout
Premium
$6,300 to $9,150
Large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bathroom (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| kitchen (150 sq ft) | $1,500 – $3,650 | $3,100 – $5,250 | $4,750 – $6,900 |
| main floor (400 sq ft) | $4,000 – $9,750 | $8,300 – $14,000 | $12,600 – $18,300 |
Is Knoxville 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 $5,300 to $5,850 across Knoxville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $2,200 – $9,450 | $5,850 | +4% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $1,800 – $8,800 | $5,300 | −5% |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| United States | $2,400 – $10,000 | $6,200 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Knoxville ranks #239 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $2,050 – $9,250 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $1,800 – $8,800 | $5,300 | −5% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $2,000 – $9,150 | $5,600 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,000 – $9,000 | $5,500 | −2% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $1,950 – $8,950 | $5,450 | −2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $2,700 – $10,100 | $6,400 | +14% |
Why two Knoxville quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Knoxville
Jobs that often go together with tile floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Knoxville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, hardwood flooring comes out highest (−8%) and shower pan lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,050 – $11,500 | −8% |
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,400 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
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 $4,150 to $7,000 for Knoxville, TN is attached.
Detailed tile flooring report for Knoxville, TN, $9
Multi-page report for Knoxville, 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 Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a tile floor in Knoxville?
For 200 sq ft, expect $2,000 to $9,150 in the Knoxville area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,150 to $7,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for tile floor in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft there is $5,850, which is 4% more than Knoxville ($5,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $5,600. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 40%.
+What would kitchen (150 sq ft) cost in Knoxville?
$1,500 to $6,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does tile floor need a permit in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for tile floor compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% above 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 Knoxville?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.95 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.57 to $22.81.
+What do basic and premium tile floor work cost in Knoxville?
For 200 sq ft, basic work runs $2,000 to $4,850 and premium work $6,300 to $9,150. Basic means: basic ceramic or vinyl tile, simple square layout. Premium means: large-format, natural stone or patterned layouts.
Tile flooring near Knoxville
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.