Floor Tiling Installation Price Per Square Foot 2026
Floor tiling costs RM8 to RM18 per square foot including labour and screeding. Here is the breakdown by tile type and size.
Published August 19, 20262 min read
In this article
Tiling is the easiest item to compare on any renovation quotation, because it is almost always priced per square foot. What you need to confirm is whether that rate includes the tiles, or labour only.
Rates by tile type
The rates below are supply and lay — materials and labour together. If you buy the tiles yourself, labour alone is usually RM5 to RM9 per square foot.
Large-format tiles need more hands and a flatter substrate, so labour costs more even when the material is the same.
| Tile type | Rate per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard ceramic | RM8 – RM11 | 300x300 up to 600x600 |
| Homogeneous | RM11 – RM15 | More hard-wearing |
| Large format 600x1200 | RM15 – RM22 | Needs two workers per piece |
| SPC vinyl | RM7 – RM12 | Faster to install |
Screeding and preparation work
Screeding is the cement layer that levels the floor before tiles go down. It should be included in the rate for a normal floor, but is charged separately when the existing floor is badly out of level.
Extra screeding usually costs RM3 to RM6 per square foot. If your quotation charges full screeding across the whole house, ask the contractor to show the floor level readings first.
Hidden costs worth checking
These three items regularly appear after work begins if they were not stated up front.
- Removing old tiles — RM3 to RM5 per square foot
- Tile debris disposal — priced per lorry, RM250 to RM450 per trip
- Skirting — RM6 to RM12 per running foot
- Special cuts for corners and openings — usually included, confirm first
- Coloured or epoxy grout — an extra RM2 to RM4 per square foot
On a 1,400 square foot terrace house, removing the old tiles alone can add RM5,000 to the budget. It is not a small line.
How many tiles to order
Order 10% more than the actual area to allow for cuts and breakage. For diagonal or herringbone patterns, order 15%.
Keep the leftovers after the job is done. Different tile batches carry subtle colour variation, so replacing one cracked piece two years later is nearly impossible without spare stock.
What to do next
Ask plainly whether the quoted rate is supply and lay or lay only. The difference can be half the total.