Tiler Quote Template UK: Prep, Waterproofing and Setting Out
Most tiling disputes start underneath the tiles, not on top of them. The client sees a photo of a finished wall and prices the job in their head at "tiles plus a day's labour". What they can't see is the substrate that has to be flat, dry and sound before a single tile goes up — the overboarding, the tanking, the self-levelling screed — and that work is often more than half the labour. A good tiling quote makes the hidden work visible on paper, so the price is defended before it's questioned and you're not swallowing two days of prep you never charged for.
This guide gives you a template built for that, plus verified 2026 benchmark prices. For the fundamentals that apply to every trade, start with how to write a contractor quote that wins jobs.
What Makes Tiling Quotes Different
1. The substrate is the job A tile is only as good as what's behind it. Plasterboard that needs overboarding or tanking, a timber floor that needs ply or backer board, a solid floor that needs levelling — none of it shows in the finished room, but all of it is time. Price preparation as its own visible line. The quote that's silent about prep is the quote that bleeds margin when the floor turns out to be 20mm out of level.
2. Waterproofing is not optional in wet areas Showers, wet rooms and splash zones need tanking — a liquid or sheet membrane behind the tile. It is the single most-skipped line on a cheap tiling quote, and the one that causes the most expensive callbacks. Put tanking on the quote as a named line, say which system, and say what it covers. It separates you from the quote that grouts straight onto bare plasterboard.
3. Setting-out and wastage decide the finish — and the quantity Where the first tile lands, how cuts fall at corners and around fittings, and how a pattern is centred are what make a job look like a tiler did it. They also affect how many tiles you need: order 10–15% over on a straight lay, more for diagonals, large-format or natural stone. State your wastage allowance and say who supplies the tiles, so a shortfall mid-job isn't an argument about whose fault it is.
Tiler Quote Template
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[COMPANY NAME] — Wall & Floor Tiling
[Address] | [Phone] | [Email]
[VAT No. if registered]
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TILING QUOTATION
Reference: [REF]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Valid until: [DD/MM/YYYY — 30 days recommended]
Prepared for:
[Client Name]
[Property Address]
[Postcode]
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PROJECT
[e.g. Supply and fit wall and floor tiling to bathroom:
approx. [X] m² walls, [X] m² floor. Porcelain, 600x300
format, straight lay. Shower enclosure tanked before
tiling.]
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SCOPE OF WORKS
Preparation
□ Remove existing tiles / coverings from [areas]
□ Overboard / repair substrate as required to achieve a
flat, sound base ([tile backer board / 12mm ply to
floor / skim])
□ Level solid floor with self-levelling compound where
needed ([X] m²)
□ Prime surfaces ready to receive adhesive
Waterproofing
□ Tank shower / wet zone with [liquid / sheet] membrane
system to manufacturer's spec, including corners,
junctions and pipe collars
Tiling
□ Set out to [centre line / feature wall], dry-lay to
confirm cut positions before fixing
□ Fix [X] m² wall tiles and [X] m² floor tiles in
[brand/range, size, finish] using [adhesive type]
□ Cut neatly around sanitaryware, pipework, sockets and
trims; fit [matching / aluminium / chrome] edge trims
□ Grout in [colour] and silicone all internal corners,
perimeters and changes of plane
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COST BREAKDOWN
£
Preparation & substrate [XXXX]
Tanking / waterproofing [XXXX]
Labour — tiling ([X] m² @ £[XX]/m²) [XXXX]
Tiles (supplied by [us / client]) [XXXX]
Adhesive, grout, trims & silicone [XXXX]
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Sub-total [XXXX]
VAT @ 20% [if registered] [XXXX]
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TOTAL [XXXX]
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TILE SUPPLY & WASTAGE
Tiles [supplied by client / included above]. Quantities
assume a [10–15]% wastage allowance for cuts and
breakages. If the client supplies tiles, a shortfall or
late delivery that delays the job is chargeable as
waiting time.
EXCLUSIONS (NOT INCLUDED)
• Plumbing, electrics and removal/refit of sanitaryware
• Plastering beyond making the substrate ready to tile
• Decoration and making good to adjoining surfaces
• Disposal of more than [X] bags of waste / old tiles
CONTINGENCY NOTE
This quotation is based on the surfaces as inspected on
[date]. Concealed problems — rotten boards, uneven or
damp substrate, a floor outside tolerance — are only
visible once coverings come off. Anything found will be
reported and priced in writing before extra work
proceeds.
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PROGRAMME
Estimated start: [Date]
Estimated duration: [X] days
Note: adhesive and grout need curing time — the area
should not be used for [24–48] hours after completion.
PAYMENT TERMS
Deposit ([25–30]%) on acceptance: £[XXXX]
Balance on completion: £[XXXX]
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How to Price Tiling Work
General UK benchmarks, checked 1 October 2026 against current UK cost guides (adjust for region, spec and access — London and the South East run 20–30% higher; parts of the North and Northern Ireland 10–15% lower):
- Wall tiling, labour only: £30–£50 per m² for standard ceramic/porcelain
- Floor tiling, labour only: £35–£60 per m²
- Large-format tiles (600×600mm and up): expect a 20–35% premium over standard, roughly £40–£60 per m² labour — they're heavier, less forgiving and often need back-buttering
- Natural stone and marble: £45–£70 per m² labour (sealing and careful handling add time)
- Full bathroom, walls and floor (labour only): £800–£1,200, typically 3–5 days
- Tanking a shower/wet zone: £300–£800; a full wet-room membrane system £600–£1,500 in materials depending on room size
- Day rate: £160–£260 outside London; £260–£380 in London and the South East
These are sanity checks, not prices. Your rate should come from your own overheads and billable days — our free day rate calculator does that sum properly. Always add the prep and tanking separately; a flat "£X per m²" that quietly includes them is where margin disappears.
Common Tiling Quote Mistakes
Quoting per m² with no prep line A bare rate per square metre invites the client to assume the walls and floor are ready to tile. They rarely are. Overboarding, backer board and levelling belong on the quote as named lines, priced on top of the tiling rate.
Leaving tanking off the price On a shower or wet room, waterproofing is the line that protects you from the most expensive callback there is. Never bury it, and never assume it's "included" — spell out the system and what it covers.
Not stating who supplies the tiles Client-supplied tiles are fine until they arrive short, late, or in the wrong batch. Say who's buying, state your wastage allowance in writing, and make clear that a client-caused delay is chargeable.
Vague tile and format spec "Fit the bathroom tiles" tells you nothing about labour. A 600×600 porcelain floor is a different day's work from 100×100 mosaics. Name the range, size, finish and lay pattern — the quantity and the labour both hang off it.
Silence on curing and access A client who grouts in their head on Friday and books the plumber for Saturday will be unhappy to learn the floor can't be walked on. Put curing time and the no-use window in the quote.
Related guides
- How to write a contractor quote that wins jobs
- Bathroom renovation quote template UK — where most tiling jobs live
- Plasterer quote template UK — when the walls need skimming before they can be tiled
- Handling "your quote is too expensive"
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a tiler charge per square metre in the UK?
£30–£50 per m² labour for standard wall tiling and £35–£60 per m² for floor tiling (2026 figures). Large-format tiles add 20–35%, and natural stone runs £45–£70 per m². These are labour only — substrate prep and tanking are priced on top, which is exactly why a bare per-m² quote often ends in an argument.
What is a tiler's day rate in 2026?
£160–£260 a day outside London, and £260–£380 in London and the South East. Base your own rate on your overheads and real billable days rather than the regional average — a day lost to levelling a floor still has to be paid for.
Should tanking be a separate line on the quote?
Yes. In any wet area — shower, wet room, splash zone — waterproofing is both a legitimate cost and your protection against the most expensive callback in the trade. Name the membrane system and state what it covers. A quote that's silent on tanking is competing on a different (and riskier) job than yours.
Who should supply the tiles — me or the client?
Either works, but it must be in writing. If the client supplies, state your wastage allowance (10–15% for a straight lay, more for diagonals, large-format or natural stone) and make clear that a shortfall or late delivery that stops the job is chargeable as waiting time. If you supply, itemise the tiles separately so your markup is transparent.
How long does a bathroom take to tile?
Typically 3–5 days for walls and floor, before curing. Prep, tanking and the number of cuts around fittings drive it more than the floor area does. Always tell the client the area can't be used for 24–48 hours after grouting while the adhesive and grout cure.
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