How Much Does Natural Stone Tile Flooring Cost?
Typical Range:
$913 - $3,090
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 2,047 HomeAdvisor members. Embed this data
How We Get This Data
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- Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find pros for home projects.
- When their projects are done, they fill out a short cost survey.
- We compile the data and report costs back to you.
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Updated January 23, 2023
Written by HomeAdvisor.Natural stone flooring costs between $913 and $3,090, with an average price of $1,971. Stone tile flooring can cost $5 per square foot and go as high as $170 per square foot. Installing natural stone tile flooring costs between $5 and $14 per square foot. On average, stone tile flooring costs between $10 and $15 per square foot for materials and installation.
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Demand for siding and other building materials has grown over the past year. And as a result, manufacturers are increasing materials prices. Prices have gone up 5% to 10% this year, and many parts of the country are experiencing long delivery times. If you're planning a building project, we recommend starting as early as possible in the season, preparing for potential price fluctuations, and allowing extra time to order materials.
In this article
- Natural Stone Tile Flooring Cost Calculator
- Natural Stone Tile Prices
- Natural Stone Tile Installation Costs
- Natural Stone Tile Costs by Stone Type
- Natural Stone Tile Installation Costs per Square Foot
- Natural Stone Costs Near You
- Natural Stone Cost Factors
- Stone Tile Flooring Considerations
- How to Save Money on Stone Tile Installation
- DIY vs. Hire a Natural Stone Tile Pro
Natural Stone Tile Flooring Cost Calculator
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Where are you located?
| National Average | $1,971 |
| Typical Range | $913 - $3,090 |
| Low End - High End | $450 - $6,500 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 2,047 HomeAdvisor members.
Natural Stone Tile Prices
Natural stone tile prices average about $7.50 per square foot for just the tile. Marble is the most expensive of natural stone tile options, while travertine typically costs the least. Granite, slate, and limestone fall in the middle of the price range, though limestone can cost slightly more than granite and slate. Slate can cost the least of the three.
Natural Stone Tile Installation Costs
The cost to install natural stone tile runs between $5 and $14 per square foot. Less expensive stones like slate can cost $5 to $12 per square foot for labor, while more expensive ones like marble can cost $7 to $14 per square foot.
Labor costs will vary based on the size of the project. Larger projects tend to see lower labor costs, and projects that involve many cuts and special fittings typically have higher labor costs.
Natural Stone Tile Costs by Stone Type
On average, the cost of tiles can range from $2 to $45 per square foot. Natural stone is considered any hard substance quarried in solid pieces from the earth. As such, many types of stone exist, each with its own unique features. Different types of stone can have a range of colors, hardness, veining, and patterns and work best in specific areas of the home.
Granite
Granite flooring costs between $400 and $5,000 or $5 to $15 per square foot, depending on the size of the project and level of detail involved. It's more durable than marble and can give homeowners a unique flooring look.
Granite has three grade levels, each with its own price range. Level 1 granite can cost between $2 and $6 per square foot, level 2 granite can cost between $5 and $15 per square foot, and level 3 granite can cost between $15 and $40 per square foot.
Marble
Marble flooring costs between $2,500 and $5,000, but prices have increased recently. Marble flooring costs vary based on the type of marble used. Italian marble flooring can cost from $10 to $30 per square foot. Other options like Carrara marble flooring can range between $5 and $13 per square foot installed, while Onyx can cost between $18 and $57 per square foot installed.
Slate
Slate flooring costs between $8,000 and $13,000 for an 800-square-foot space. Slate flooring prices vary based on the thickness, size, color, and substrate. Thicker, bigger pieces of slate cost more because they’re tougher to quarry and have more material. Standard grays and blacks tend to cost less than rarer colors like greens, reds, purples, golds, and blues, which are tougher to find.
Travertine
Travertine flooring costs range from $600 to $3,200 or between $2 and $30 per square foot. The highest quality travertine flooring can cost between $20 and $30 per square foot, while basic commercial-grade travertine costs between $2 and $4 per square foot. Mosaic travertine tiles can range between $4 and $30 per square foot.
Limestone
Limestone flooring costs range from $6,000 to $10,000, but the prices can vary on the type of tile, pattern, and room size. Limestone flooring can cost between $3 and $10 per square foot. The space where you intend to install limestone flooring can make a difference because you might want brushed limestone, which has a textured finish, in a high-traffic area to reduce slipperiness.
Quartzite
Quartzite flooring costs on average $60 per square foot and typically ranges between $45 and $75 per square foot. Quartzite is a natural stone compared to quartz, which is human-made. Quartzite can have similar veining to marble and usually has white or light gray colors, though it can come with pink, gold, or red-brown hues. Quartzite ranks highest on the Mohs Hardness Scale of flooring materials and has exceptional durability.
Sandstone
Sandstone flooring can cost around $6 per square foot installed. It can have red, tan, and gold colors that mimic the look of desert sand, which might make it a good choice for Spanish- or Mediterranean-style homes. Sandstone also lands higher on the Mohs Hardness Scale than other flooring choices, just behind granite and ahead of slate.
Natural Stone Tile Installation Costs per Square Foot
On average, the total project cost for installing natural stone by square foot is between $10 and $15 per square foot, but that can increase to $45 to $75 per square foot for materials like quartzite or marble. Installing natural stone tile flooring can cost between $5 and $14 per square foot. Labor costs will vary based on the size of the project, removal of the old tile floor costs, and the amount of cutting needed to install the floor.
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Natural Stone Costs Near You
The cost of your natural stone flooring project can vary based on where you live, the availability of the stone flooring material, and labor costs in the area. Areas with nearby quarries will typically cost less than areas where the material needs shipping. Below are a few average cost ranges for populated cities across the U.S.
| City | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $800 – $2,700 |
| Boston, MA | $900 – $2,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $800 – $2,100 |
| Denver, CO | $800 – $2,400 |
| Miami, FL | $1,200 – $4,100 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 – $3,100 |
| New York, NY | $800 – $2,500 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $1,300 – $3,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $900 – $3,900 |
Natural Stone Cost Factors
Natural stone can present challenges when installing it, which can impact the project price. The tile type, area size, installation complexity, sealant type, old floor removal, backer board replacement, and finish can add extra costs.
Installation Complexity
Most pros charge about $50 to $70 an hour to install tile, but labor costs can increase if you install mosaic tile or tile in unique-shaped spaces. Extra cuts mean extra time for installers to complete the project. Installers might need special equipment to complete the job, too.
Sealant
Natural stone tile needs a sealant to preserve the stone and prevent damage. Sealants can cost $1 to $3 per square foot, depending on the type of sealant used. It can come in tubes, 1/2-gallon tubs, or gallon buckets.
Removing Old Flooring
Removing your old flooring can cost $2 per square foot but can increase based on the job difficulty. Some old floors might have difficult adhesive to remove, or you’ll need to remove a large area of flooring. Some homeowners will try to save money on a flooring project by removing the old flooring on their own.
Backer Board Replacement
Replacing the moisture-resistant cement board underneath your tile can cost $5 to $8 per square foot. However, if your backer board remains in good condition, you won’t have to replace it. If you notice damage like denting or punctures, it’s best to replace the backer board to prevent further damage.
Finish
Stone floor finish can cost between $0.50 and $2 per square foot. Finishes include honed, sandblasted, brushed, split-face, bush-hammered, and polished. Each one has a distinctive look and a different type of surface feel.
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Stone Tile Flooring Considerations
Deciding on stone flooring requires special considerations, unlike other conventional flooring choices. Natural stone tile has an increased weight compared to other materials, can experience wear differently depending on where it’s used, and has different maintenance and upkeep compared to other materials.
Weight
The weight of natural stone flooring and its thickness play a role in the installation. Your substrate and flooring joists must support the additional weight of the natural stone. A flooring pro near you can inspect your floor joists to ensure they can handle the weight or suggest action to support the load properly.
Usage and Wear
Stones in high-traffic areas will see more wear and tear depending on their durability. Each type of stone used for flooring has a Mohs Hardness Scale number, with the more durable the stone, the higher the number. For example, marble ranks lowest on the scale, while quartzite ranks highest.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Stone floors require sealing once or twice a year, depending on the stone and its porosity.
If you want to pay for the cost to restore and repolish stone floors, expect to pay between $400 and $1,200, depending on the job size. Natural stone can stain and might need restoring or repolishing to remove stains. Natural stone can also chip or crack, which can mean replacing some tiles.
Tile cleans easily with a soft broom or dry mop, but you should do so daily to prevent dirt or grit buildup, which can scratch the tile. You can clean stone floors with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or dishwashing detergent and warm water, but it's best to limit the amount of soap to prevent streaking.
How to Save Money on Stone Tile Installation
Stone tile installation is expensive, but you can save money by doing a few things yourself. One of the best ways to save money on the installation is to do some of the floor removal work. You can cut labor costs that way and lower your bill.
You can also save money with the type of stone you use. You might find a similar look you want with a less expensive type of stone tile or shop around for tiles at discount or overstock supply stores.
Another way to save can be timing your project during a slow part of the year for contractors. Contractors with fewer jobs might make concessions to get the work.
DIY vs. Hire a Natural Stone Tile Pro
Installing natural stone tile is a job best left to a local flooring tile installer because of the amount of work needed and the detail. Installing stone flooring involves:
Removing the previous flooring
Checking the substrate to ensure it's level
Ensuring the proper floor joists support the weight of a stone floor
Stone flooring requires precise cuts with diamond-edged blades, which can mean additional tools you might not have.
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FAQs
What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural stone tiles?
When selecting a flooring option, you’ll have to weigh the benefits of natural stone tile against its disadvantages.
Pros:
Can last the life span of a house
Comes in various colors, with some having unique features like veining
Can withstand heavy foot traffic without showing any wear
Cons:
Costs significantly more
Can suffer from water damage if not properly sealed
Can chip or crack, especially at the edges
Where can I install natural stone tiles?
Natural stone tiles can fit nearly every space inside and outside the home. Their durability makes them attractive flooring options, plus some types of natural stone have unique characteristics, like veining, for additional design appeal. Many people use natural stone to landscape or create walking paths, and they can work well to create indoor-outdoor living spaces because you use stone tiles both indoors and outdoors for continuity.
Is stone flooring cheaper than hardwood?
No, stone flooring is more expensive than hardwood floor costs, but stone floors typically have a longer life span to make them a more cost-effective option. Both hardwood floors and stone tile floors require maintenance, but stone won’t suffer from any potential warping or need refinishing like hardwood. Stone floors need sealing once or twice a year to prevent staining or other damage.
How long does stone flooring last?
Stone flooring can last 50 to 100 or more years if properly maintained. If a stone floor suffers damage, stone tile repairs cost around $300 to $800, depending on the repair. Stone flooring requires careful installation because the weight of the stone can put additional stress on flooring supports. Regular inspection below the floor can help catch any potential problems from becoming too big.
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