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CostHelper > Home and Garden  > Kitchen & Bath > Tile Countertop

Tile Countertop Cost


How Much Does a Tile Countertop Cost?

 
low costGlazed Ceramic: $30-$900average costHandcrafted, Hand-Painted: $900-$7,650high costWith Installation: $1,100-$8,800+

Ceramic and porcelain tile are economical and popular choices for both kitchen and bathroom countertops.

For information about granite tile countertops, see How Much Does a Granite Countertop Cost. For information about how much other stone tile countertops cost, see How Much Does a Stone Countertop Cost.

Typical costs:

  • Ceramic tile countertops cost $1-$225 per square foot; that is, $30-$6,750 for a typical kitchen with 30 square feet of counter space. Installation is not typically included in the price of ceramic or porcelain tiles.
  • Most glazed ceramic tile costs $1-$30 per square foot, that is $30-$900 for a typical kitchen. Ceramic tiles are sold by home improvement stores such as Home Depot[1] and Lowe's[2] , usually in cases that contain several square feet of tile each. Ceramic tiles are also sold at kitchen and bath specialty stores.
  • Handcrafted, hand-painted artisanal tiles cost $30-$225 per square foot, or $900-$7,650 for a typical kitchen. Large online retailers like Amazon[3] sell a wide variety of colorful tiles; many local artists across the country also make decorative tiles suitable for countertops and backsplashes.
  • Professional installation of a tile countertop costs about $35-$40 per square foot, making it $1,050-$1,200 for a typical kitchen, including materials and labor, using inexpensive glazed ceramic tiles. Inlays and custom cutting tiles in unusual shapes costs extra.
Related articles: Granite Countertop, Laminate Countertop, Concrete Countertop, Quartz Countertop, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling

What should be included:
  • Most ceramic and porcelain tiles are sold in cases that include 6-8 tiles. Cases of tile do not include any of the materials needed to install them.
  • Installation of a tile countertop should include a professional pre-installation measurement, preparation of the counters (including leveling and shimming, and insulation near stovetop if required), laying the tile, sealing the grout, cleanup, and final inspection.
Additional costs:
  • For DIY tile countertop installation, the plywood, grout, sealant, and tools all cost extra. These items are sold at hardware stores like Ace Hardware[4] and home improvement stores like Home Depot[5] . Expect to pay $5-$40 for grout depending on the amount you need, about $30 for sealant, and $10-$20 for plywood. Tile cutting saws cost $100-$600; replacement blades cost $5-$20 each.
Discounts:
  • Ceramic tile can be laid on an existing countertop by a DIYer in about a weekend, saving the cost of professional installation. HGTV describes how to install tile countertops.
  • Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's occasionally offer special discounts on tiles and construction materials. Check their weekly ad pages for possible discounts.
Shopping for a tile countertop:
  • Before beginning to price tile countertops, measure the countertop area. Home Depot provides a worksheet[6] to help calculate the measurements. The installer or contractor will do an official measurement later, but a good estimate can give a rough sense of the costs.
  • Choose what kind of tile will work best. BobVila.com[7] describes the differences between ceramic and porcelain tiles. And HGTV.com has tips from Ann Sacks[8] on evaluating your needs and wants, then shopping for tile.
  • Consider how heavily the countertops will be used before deciding on the size and style of tiles. Hand-painted or mosaic artisanal tiles can be severely damaged if they're placed in the middle of a heavily used kitchen countertop. Larger tiles mean fewer seams, but large tiles may cost more than smaller tiles in a similar style, and more of the large tiles will need to be cut to fit into tight spaces.
  • The National Tile Contractor Association (NTCA) is a nonprofit contractor's association that offers a members locator and a buyers guide to assist homeowners in selecting a reputable tile installer.
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External Resources:
  1.  www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Tile-Stone-Tile-Ceramic-Floor-Wall-Ceramic/h_d1/N-5yc1v...
  2.  www.lowes.com/pl_Ceramic_4294856525+4294836621_4294937087_?newSearch=true
  3.  www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=ceramic+tile
  4.  www.acehardware.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=1303317&cp=2627564
  5.  www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=tile+grout&langId=-1&st...
  6.  www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/Home_Services/Countertop_Installation/Docs/cou...
  7.  www.bobvila.com
  8.  www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/tile-shopping-with-ann-sacks/index.html
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