Tiles Price in Dubai and the UAE: How to Read a Tile Price List and Budget a Job

The five ways a tile price is shown

The same tile can be priced five different ways, and comparing across them without converting is the most common mistake.

The unit decides everything

A price of "60" means very different things per m², per sq ft or per piece. A figure of AED 60 per square foot is about ten times a figure of AED 60 per square metre. Always ask for the unit and write it next to the number.

List price and what you pay

The list price is the number on the tile. What you pay can include VAT, delivery, a charge for cutting or sampling, and the cost of the boxes you must round up to. The next sections show how to add them.

To get started on a tile job, send photos and the tile you are considering to us on WhatsApp at +971 55 209 9785. A site inspection costs AED 100.

Why published tile prices disagree

Search for the tiles price in the UAE and you will find ranges so wide that they are no use for a budget. Here is why.

Why two price lists rarely match

Two price lists for the same tile can both be correct and still not match. One may price the tile only and the other the tile with fixing. One may be per square metre and the other per square foot. One may include VAT and delivery and the other not. Without the date, the unit and the scope, two figures for "porcelain" cannot be compared.

Seven reasons published prices differ

1. Different jobs. One figure is for tile supply, another for fixing, another for both. A reader who does not know which will compare unlike things.
2. Different tiles. A basic 30×30 ceramic and a large-format stone-look porcelain are both "tiles".
3. Different units. Per m², per sq ft and per piece are mixed.
4. VAT in or out. Five per cent on a large order is a real sum.
5. Date. Prices move, and a page with no date can be years old.
6. Range, not price. A range from low to high says little about the tile you want.
7. Marketing. A shop page that lists "from" prices wants you to visit. The cheapest tile in the range is rarely the one people buy.

What to do with a published range

Use it to see that tile has a wide price band, and nothing more. A budget needs the price of the specific tile you chose, in the unit the shop uses, with the extras added.

Converting tile prices: per m², per sq ft, per piece and per box

This is the most useful part of the page. Conversion is arithmetic, and every figure in this section was checked. The prices in the examples are invented to show the method.

The two numbers to remember

• 1 square metre is about 10.764 square feet.
• A tile's area is its width times its length. A 60×60 cm tile is 0.6 m × 0.6 m = 0.36 m².

From per m² to per sq ft

Divide the per-m² price by 10.764.

From per sq ft to per m²

Multiply the per-sq-ft price by 10.764. This answers the question many buyers have when a listing shows the 1 square feet tiles price.

If a shop quotes one square foot of tile at AED 6, then a square metre costs about AED 64.58, which is the number to compare with a per-m² list.

From per m² to per piece

Multiply the per-m² price by the area of one tile.

The 2x2 price list

Many shops sell "2x2" floor tiles, meaning two feet by two feet. Two feet is 60.96 cm, so a 2×2 foot tile is about 0.372 m², a little larger than a 60×60 cm tile at 0.36 m². A floor tiles 2x2 price list may show the price per piece, per box or per square foot, so convert it before you compare.

Per area, a 2×2 and a 60×60 at the same per-m² price cost the same. Per piece, the 2×2 is a little dearer because the piece is bigger. Our tile sizes guide explains why the two sizes do not mix in one room.

From per box to per m²

The box states how many pieces it holds and how many square metres it covers. Divide the box price by its coverage. A box of four 60×60 tiles covers 1.44 m². If the box is AED 86.40, the price is AED 86.40 ÷ 1.44 = AED 60 per m².

Why boxes matter

You buy whole boxes. If your floor needs 22 m² and each box covers 1.44 m², you need 22 ÷ 1.44 = 15.3 boxes, so 16 boxes, covering 23.04 m². You pay for 23.04 m², not 22.

Floor tiles price: what changes it

The floor tiles price depends on the tile more than on any other factor. These are the main drivers.

Why the price per m² does not tell you the whole story

A cheap tile that chips, stains or wears out costs more over ten years than a better tile. A higher price does not guarantee quality either, because brand and look add cost without adding wear. The data sheet tells you what the tile does. Our floor tiles design guide explains wear and slip ratings.

Look for the grade

Some tiles are sold in grades. A lower grade may have a small difference in size or shade between boxes. Ask whether the price is for first grade.

Sale and clearance tiles

Clearance tiles can be a bargain, with a catch: there may not be enough of one batch to finish a floor. Check the quantity against your area, with waste and spares, before you buy.

Porcelain tiles price and ceramic tiles price

Porcelain tiles price is usually higher than ceramic tiles price, but the bands overlap, and a premium ceramic can cost more than a basic porcelain.

Why porcelain usually costs more

Porcelain is made from finer materials, pressed harder and fired hotter, so it costs more to make. It is denser, harder and absorbs very little water. For that reason it is the usual floor choice. See our porcelain vs ceramic guide.

Why ceramic usually costs less

Ceramic is simpler and softer. It is cheaper for large areas of wall tiling, where its lower strength does not matter. A ceramic tile suits bathroom and kitchen walls and light-traffic floors.

Where the prices overlap

• A decorated or handmade ceramic wall tile can cost more than a plain porcelain floor tile.
• A large-format porcelain slab costs far more than either.
• A basic porcelain 60×60 can cost about the same as a good ceramic.

Porcelain tiles price in UAE: what to compare

When you compare porcelain tiles price in UAE listings, compare like with like: the same size, the same finish, the same grade and the same unit. A polished 60×60 and a textured 60×60 are not the same product. A listing for a "porcelain" tile that is cheap and unrated for floors may be a wall tile.

Ceramic tiles price: what to compare

For ceramic tiles price, check that the tile is rated for the use. A ceramic wall tile on a floor wears quickly. A glazed floor ceramic should have a wear class. The shop's data sheet states it.

Vitrified tiles price

You may see a vitrified tiles price in some listings. Vitrified is a term used mostly in South Asian markets for floor tiles fired to a low absorption. We have not checked how UAE shops use the word, so treat it as a description of a dense floor tile and compare the data sheet, not the name. If it states low water absorption and a wear rating, you can compare it with porcelain on the same basis.

Bathroom tiles price and kitchen tiles: budgeting by zone

A bathroom tiles price should be built zone by zone, since each zone needs a different tile.

Spend where it shows and where it matters

A bathroom is a small area. A special tile on a feature wall costs little in total, and it makes the room. Save on the wall that is hidden behind the vanity, and keep spending on the waterproofing and the floor grip. See our bathroom tiles design guide and our wall tiles guide.

Bathroom tiling cost

Our bathroom and kitchen tiles guide explains why a bathroom costs more per square metre to tile than a living room, and what moves the quote.

From shelf price to finished floor: the full build-up

The price of the tile is one line in the total. The finished floor costs more, and the extra lines are where budgets break.

A worked example of the tile lines

These figures are invented to show the method.

The labour, adhesive, grout, preparation and the rest come from the installer's written quote, and they are added to this total. The example shows that rounding up to boxes and adding VAT changes the figure by more than 5 per cent over the plain area times price.

What a quote from us contains

The written quote after inspection lists labour, adhesive, grout, preparation, waterproofing, removal and any extras, and shows 5% VAT as a separate line. That is the part of the build-up we provide. The tile itself is bought by you from the shop you choose. See our tile fixing rates for what moves the labour price.

Budgeting a room: the formula

You can build a rough budget in five steps.

1. Measure the area of each room or wall in m². Multiply length by width and add the rooms.
2. Add waste. About 10 per cent for most rooms, more for diagonals, small rooms and natural stone. Our how much tile to buy guide shows the allowance.
3. Price the tile from the shop: boxes needed × box price, plus VAT if it is not included.
4. Add delivery and the extras from the build-up table.
5. Add the installer's quote for labour, adhesive, grout, preparation and VAT.

Budgeting more than one room

Price each room separately, since different rooms use different tiles. Write the unit next to every price. Add a contingency for the unexpected, such as a floor that needs levelling. We tell you at the inspection.

A bathroom example

A small bathroom has a floor, shower walls and maybe a feature wall. The floor is a few square metres, the walls are more. Price the floor tile, the wall tile and the mosaic separately, then add waterproofing and labour. A feature tile on a small area costs little in total.

Buying tiles: what to ask the shop

You are buying from a shop, and a few questions protect you.

1. What is the price per m², and is VAT included?
2. What is the coverage of a box, and how many pieces does it hold?
3. Is this first grade?
4. What is the batch number, and is there enough of the same batch for my area with waste and spares?
5. What are the actual size and the calibre?
6. What are the wear and slip ratings, and is the tile rated for the room and for outdoors if I need it? Ask for the data sheet.
7. Is it rectified?
8. What is the delivery charge, and where will the boxes be left?
9. What happens to damaged boxes? Check the delivery for breakage before you sign for it.
10. Can I take a sample? View it in your own light.

We cannot confirm what any shop's policy on samples, returns or delivery is, so ask the shop and get the answer in writing.

Check the delivery

Count the boxes, check that each carries the same batch number, open a few to look for chips, and sign only after checking. We can check the delivery with you.

Saving money without cutting quality

Savings that last come from good decisions, not from the cheapest tile.

• Choose the right tile for each area. Use a rated porcelain where wear matters and a plain ceramic on walls.
• Spend on a small area. A special tile on one feature wall costs little.
• Choose a standard size. 60×60 is widely available and cuts economically. Special sizes cost more.
• Avoid complex layouts. Straight layouts waste less than diagonals or herringbone.
• Order the right amount, with waste, from one batch.
• Prepare the floor properly. Skipping preparation to save a little leads to failures.
• Compare quotes line by line, not by total.
• Keep the existing tile where it is sound and regrout instead of retiling; see our guide.

What not to save on

Do not save on waterproofing, preparation, adhesive or the grip rating of a wet floor. These are hidden, and failures cost many times more than the saving.

Red flags in a tile quote

How we quote tile fixing

We fix the tile you buy, and we do not sell tile. We employ our own installers and do not subcontract the tiling.

1. Share photos of the rooms, and the name or size of the tile, on WhatsApp at +971 55 209 9785.
2. Site inspection, which costs AED 100. We measure, check the base and advise on quantity and waste.
3. Written quote, listing labour, adhesive, grout, preparation, waterproofing and extras, with 5% VAT on its own line.
4. Check the tile order. If you send the shop's order, we check the quantity, size and batch against the quote.
5. Fixing, grouting and cleaning, then a final walk-through with you.

Our one-year workmanship warranty covers the work we carry out. We work across Dubai and handle building permits and lift bookings as part of the booking.