Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Cost List

How Much You Should Pay and Whether You Are Overpaying

By Lee Wallender

Updated 02/17/17

Comparing online and in-store tile costs is an apples-to-oranges comparison. Stores ship in such massive quantities that shipping costs become almost negligible. Online tile ordering provides greater convenience to you, but with shipping costs added in, you can expect to pay more than if you had gone to a store.

It is important to note that I have expressed online tile costs in the lowest quantity possible, which will not be realistic in terms of your project. For example, South Cypress'...MORE subway tile costs $32.50 per carton of 12.5 square feet. Shipping is $69. Yet when you increase the quantity, shipping costs do not rise proportionally (this is a good thing for you). So, ordering larger quantities mean lower per square foot tile cost to you.

  • 01 of 05

    Subway Tile

    Custom designed kitchen with white cabinets and professional style stove.
    David Papazian/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images

    Online: $8.00. At the low end, expect to pay about $2.60 per square foot for white subway tile, 3" x 6". For this carton, which comprises 12.5 square feet, expect to pay up to $5.52 in shipping per square foot. This brings the total cost to around $8.00 per square foot.

    In Store: $3.65. Expect to pay about half the price of an online shipment for a similar tile.

  • 02 of 05

    Mosaic Tile

    Mosaic Kitchen Backsplash
    Mosaic Kitchen Backsplash. © Dal-Tile

    Online: $8.25. You might expect to pay about $8.25 per square foot for octagonal ceramic mosaic tile, alternating black/white pattern.

    In-Store: $4.00. This product is easy to find in most tile and home improvement stores. If you shop around, you can probably go below $4.00.

    Fine specialty mosaic like the one pictured here from Dal-Tile can go for upwards to $23 per square foot.

  • 03 of 05

    Wood Look Tile

    ceramic tile that looks like oak
    Oak-Look Ceramic Tile. © Florim USA

    Tile that looks like wood is definitely the trendy tile du jour.

    Online: $4.50-$7.00. Prices at South Cypress for wood-look tile are fairly low, even lower than found in stores.

    In-Store: $3.00-$9.00. StonePeak 6" x 24" Natural Timber tile goes for as little as $3.00 per square foot. Similar Emser tile costs about $9.00/square foot.

    Pictured here is a ceramic tile that looks like oak from Florim USA's Urban Collection.

  • 04 of 05

    Stone Look Tile

    slate-look italian porcelain tile
    Italian Tile That Looks Like Slate. © Bedrosian's

    Online: $3.00. For dark slate-look porcelain tile in 12" x 12" squares.

    In-Store: $2.00. For 12" x 12" Sedona Slate Cedar Glazed Porcelain Floor Tile.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Listello Tile

    listello tile roman marble
    Listello from South Cypress. © South Cypress

    Online or In-Store: $3.00 to $55.00 per linear foot. Listello is an Italian word that translates to "lath." These highly expensive decorative trim pieces come in 6" or 12" lengths and range from 2" to 4" wide.

    Listello tends to cost about the same, whether purchased in-store or online. Shipping costs are more reasonable with listello than with field tile because lower quantities mean lighter shipments.

    Listello shown here is Roman Marble 4" x 12", Modulo, from South...MORE Cypress.