Cost guides › Flooring installation
Canada
Flooring installation cost
Tearing out an old tile floor and installing new porcelain tile in a 25 m² room typically costs $4,500, with most jobs between $3,500 and $5,850 before GST/HST. Basic ceramic tile comes in around $3,150, and glue-down engineered oak runs about $5,250.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $3,450 | $4,900 | $5,700 |
| Ontario | $3,250 | $4,600 | $5,350 |
| Alberta | $3,100 | $4,450 | $5,150 |
| British Columbia | $3,100 | $4,450 | $5,200 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $2,950 | $4,250 | $4,950 |
| Manitoba | $2,900 | $4,200 | $4,900 |
| Saskatchewan | $2,900 | $4,200 | $4,950 |
| Nova Scotia | $2,750 | $4,000 | $4,700 |
| New Brunswick | $2,700 | $3,950 | $4,650 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Old baseboard removed
- Old tile and its mortar bed broken up down to the slab
- Debris carried out and hauled away
- New levelling bed (up to about 5 cm) to bring the floor back to height
- Self-levelling underlayment so large tiles sit flat without lippage
- Porcelain tile, 30 x 60 cm or 40 x 40 cm, with 10% extra for cuts
- Tile set with a modified fast-setting thinset and grouted
- Matching tile baseboard cut from the same porcelain
- Brass transition strip at the doorway to the next room
What affects the cost
What comes up first
The estimate assumes old tile set in a thick mortar bed, which is the slowest and messiest floor to remove. Pulling up carpet or a floating floor is far quicker, so if that's what you have, the demolition part of a quote should be much smaller.
Subfloor type and flatness
Large-format tile and engineered wood both need a flat base. A concrete slab that dips needs grinding or more self-leveller, and a wood subfloor over joists may need extra plywood or an uncoupling membrane before tile.
Flooring material
Ceramic is the cheapest tile, porcelain costs more but resists chips and water, and engineered hardwood adds both material and glue-down labour. The material often matters less than the prep underneath it.
Basements and moisture
Basement slabs can carry moisture and are cold in winter. A moisture test, a vapour barrier or a heated floor are common additions there, and none of them are in this estimate.
Layout and pattern
A straight lay in a square room is quickest. Diagonal, herringbone or offset patterns, many doorways and closets, or tile running through several rooms all add cutting time.
Moving and trimming
Moving furniture, protecting adjacent rooms and trimming doors to clear a higher floor are not in the estimate. Ask whether the contractor includes them or expects you to handle them.
How to save
- Clear the room yourself before the crew arrives.
- Choose a straight lay with standard 30 x 60 cm tile instead of a pattern or oversized slabs.
- Do several rooms in one job so setup and levelling are shared.
- If the old floor is flat and well bonded, ask whether new tile can go over it instead of tearing it out.
Grants, tax and rules
GST/HST
GST/HST applies to renovation work. Our figures are before GST/HST, for example 13% HST in Ontario or 5% GST in Alberta.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to tile a 25 m² floor?
Replacing an old tile floor with new porcelain in a 25 m² room runs about $4,500 before GST/HST, including demolition, levelling and baseboard. Tiling over a clean, flat subfloor with no demolition costs noticeably less.
Is vinyl plank or laminate cheaper than tile?
Usually, yes: a floating vinyl or laminate floor clicks together over an underlay with no thinset or grout, so the labour is lighter. This estimate prices tile and engineered wood; a floating floor is not included in these figures.
How long does it take to replace a tile floor?
A single room usually takes three to five working days: demolition, levelling, tile setting and grouting. A new levelling bed has to dry before wood goes down, which can add a week or more.
Can new tile go over old tile?
Sometimes, if the old tile is flat, firmly bonded and the extra height won't cause problems at doors and cabinets. Loose or cracked tile has to come up first.
Is tile a good choice in a cold climate?
Tile is durable and handles wet boots and road salt well at entrances, but it feels cold underfoot in winter. Many homeowners add electric in-floor heating under tile in bathrooms, entries and basements; that is priced separately.
Why is removal such a big part of the price?
Breaking out tile and its mortar bed is heavy, dusty work, and the debris has to be carried out and hauled away. On older homes it can take as long as laying the new floor.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 37.8 · Labour: $2,784 · Materials: $1,702
Sources: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada); Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.