How Much Does Marble Flooring Cost to Install?
Typical Range:
$2,500 - $5,000
Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.
Updated September 6, 2022
Written by HomeAdvisor.For a 250-square-foot room, installing basic to moderate-grade marble flooring costs around $1,250 to $6,250, or an average cost of $3,750. Flooring installation prices can be costly, especially with natural materials like marble. Ultimately, the price of marble flooring will vary based on the marble type and color, special design elements, local labor rates, and whether you go with marble tiles or slabs.
2022 Notice: Material Prices Are Surging
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.
Average Cost of Marble Flooring
| Average Cost for 250 Sq. Ft. | High Cost for 250 Sq. Ft. | Low Cost for 250 Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|---|
| $6,250 | $3,750 | $1,250 |
Slab vs. Tile Marble Flooring Cost
In general, marble tiles are more affordable than marble slabs. Marble slabs are larger single pieces of marble, which means they’re rarer and heavier. For higher-end marble, costs of both tiles and slabs can often exceed the price ranges mentioned below.
Marble Tile Prices
Marble tiles often have a higher price than the price of other natural stone tiles. On average, expect to pay between $5 and $25 per square foot for professional installation. However, the total cost to install marble flooring can range from $5 per square foot for basic options to $60 per square foot for specialty marble.
Italian Marble Tile Prices
Italian marble has been a preferred material for decoration, construction, and even sculpture for hundreds of years. Today, marble sourced from Italy is still common. The total cost for installing Italian marble flooring can range from $10 to $30 per square foot.
Marble Slab Flooring Price
Marble slabs are popular options for countertops, even though the cost of marble countertops is high. However, slabs are a less common option for flooring because marble slabs are more expensive than tiles. Basic marble slab flooring may run from $10 to $50 per square foot. If you're interested in slab flooring, reach out to a contractor for a more accurate quote.
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Marble Flooring Cost per Square Foot
In general, the average marble tile price is $5 to $25 per square foot, fully installed. This is about $2 to $18 per square foot for the marble alone. Certain types of stone, like Emperador and Onyx, can raise the overall cost per square foot. The section below covers specifics regarding prices per marble types.
Marble Flooring Cost by Type
Marble serves as a catch-all term for several types of stone tiles. When shopping for the perfect flooring material, consider your home's overall appearance and your personal style. Different types of marble flooring can have different price points. Carefully consider the cost of your project before you decide on a particular type of tile.
| Marble Flooring Type | Average Cost Range for Materials and Installation per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Carrara | $5 – $13 |
| Calacatta | $13 – $27 |
| Breccia | $13 – $37 |
| Emperador | $14 – $37 |
| Crema Marfil | $9 – $19 |
| Onyx | $18 – $57 |
Carrara
Carrara marble flooring costs around $5 to $13 per square foot for both materials and installation. If you want a uniform appearance, Carrara marble delivers. Its white surface and subtle veining make it a popular choice for consumers who want a clean, simple floor.
Calacatta
Calacatta marble flooring costs approximately $13 to $27 per square foot for both materials and installation. This marble resembles Carrara’s base but has more dark gray veining and a warmer tone. It pairs well with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow.
Breccia
Breccia marble flooring costs around $13 to $37 per square foot for both materials and installation. This type of marble is a good choice for homeowners who want a darker stone with more of a dramatic impact. It comes in many colors: brown, black, green, gold, and red.
Emperador
Emperador marble flooring costs between $14 and $37 per square foot for both materials and installation. This marble features more variation and grain levels than other natural stone tiles. Brown Emperador tiles are popular for floors because they can help to hide dust and dirt.
Crema Marfil
Crema Marfil flooring costs between $9 and $19 per square foot for both materials and installation. While many marble varieties have a white base color, Crema Marfil has a beige or cream base color. This type of marble has lots of variety and yellow tints.
Onyx
Onyx marble flooring is among the most expensive at $18 to $57 per square foot for both materials and installation. Onyx is more translucent than traditional marble, meaning it's an ideal stone for backlit walls and other unique lighting features. You can get Onyx stone in an array of colors, including black, blue, red, and green.
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Marble Floor Installation Cost
Hiring a local marble specialist to install marble flooring makes more sense for most homeowners. Labor costs for marble flooring installation range from $3 to $7 per square foot on average. You may have to pay more for installation if you require extra services like:
Diagonal installation
Floor removal
Furniture moving
Subfloor repair or replacement
Other special arrangements
When you request quotes from installers, ask them to itemize the services covered under the contract. If you need something that isn’t on the list, ask them to give you a quote for those services so you can accurately compare estimates.
Marble Flooring Cost Factors
While the size of your flooring installation project and the type of marble you choose will significantly impact the total cost, other factors will affect the price of marble flooring, including its color, grade, finish, and patterns.
Color
Different types of marble come in various colors. The gold standard isn't actually gold but white. You can get traditional white marble tile for as little as $2 to $10 per square foot, plus installation costs. Green marble flooring might range from $5 to $20 before installation.
The cost depends on the type of marble you choose. For example, if you want red marble, you could opt for Breccia (around $10 to $30 per square foot) or Onyx (around $15 to $50 per square foot). Here are some common marble colors to consider for your floor:
White
Black
Green
Red
Pink
Gold
Yellow
Cream
Gray
Brown
Grade
Manufacturers assign a grade to marble to indicate quality: A, B, C, or D. Grade A offers the least inconsistencies and strongest structure but comes at a higher price point, while Grade D features more inclusions, stronger veining, and a softer surface. Though prices will vary greatly, here’s a general look at marble pricing by quality:
| Marble Quality | Average Cost Range per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Basic marble | $2 – $10 |
| Higher-grade marble | $10 – $25 |
| Specialty marble | $25 – $60 |
Finish
A standard smooth finish for marble flooring is the most affordable. You’ll pay more for textured finishes, including tumbled, chiseled, or flamed.
Pattern
One of the benefits of marble flooring is there are many different design options to choose from that offer opportunities to express your personal style and customize your space.
Labor costs for unique patterns may be 10% to 25% higher than a traditional installation, or roughly $3.30 to $8.75 per square foot. If the installer cuts larger tiles into smaller pieces, there may be more wasted tile, which will also increase your material expenses. In general, the more complicated the pattern, the more materials you may need to purchase and the higher the labor cost will be. Below are common design options:
Repeating patterns: Marble tiles with repeating patterns can help draw your eye into the room.
Floor borders: You can create a border around an entire room or a segment of the room using a different color or variation of marble tile.
Mosaics and motifs: Mosaics, motifs, and geometrical designs can make your marble floor an aesthetically pleasing focal point.
Herringbone: You can use marble tile with offset segments to create a herringbone pattern.
Dimensional illusions: You can use tiles to create optical illusions and play with your sense of space and texture in the room.
DIY vs. Hire a Marble Flooring Pro
While some homeowners attempt to install marble tiles themselves, they often face obstacles in the process. Tiles are soft and fragile before you properly install them. If you break tiles during installation, you’ll have to buy new ones. Marble tiles are also hard to cut. In most cases, it’s best to hire a local floor tile pro.
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FAQs
What are the advantages and disadvantages of marble flooring?
The advantages of marble flooring are that it’s elegant yet durable, comes in many different colors and textures, and is a good choice for homeowners looking for a classic and sophisticated look.
However, the disadvantages are that marble is a hard surface to break any potential falls, costs more than many other types of flooring, and can be prone to cracks and stains. Marble floors can also be uncomfortably chilly when it’s cold, so older homeowners and those who live in areas with cold winter temperatures may want to explore other flooring types.
Are marble floors worth it?
Whether marble floors are worth it depends on your particular situation. While marble flooring is more costly than many other flooring options, it also offers some unique benefits:
Marble flooring looks beautiful and can help lend an air of elegance and style to any room.
Marble is so durable when sealed that you can save money in the long run because you won't have to replace it in the near future.
Marble flooring may fetch a higher sale price when you list your home.
How do you maintain marble flooring?
While marble is extremely durable, it can crack or stain if you don’t maintain it properly. To clean marble floors, choose a cleaning solution intended for marble. If you use a product with a low pH, you could stain or discolor the stone because of the acidity. In less busy areas, regular dust mopping is a good strategy to keep your floors clean. Use a non-abrasive dusting pad so you don't scratch the floors.
If your marble flooring is damaged, hire a pro to oversee repairs. The cost of restoring or polishing stone floors is between $400 and $1,230 on average.
Are marble floors good for pets?
Marble floors aren’t ideal for pets and pet parents because it’s very sensitive to acid, so young puppies or older dogs with bladder issues can quickly damage the floors, leaving unsightly stains and etching. Further, marble floors are susceptible to scratches, with dog and cat paws leaving unwanted marks on the tile.
If you want a stone floor that’s ideal for pets, consider slate. Slate flooring costs around $4 to $10 per square foot. On the other hand, dogs that are afraid of harder-surface floors would do better with carpet.
Are marble floors scratch-resistant?
Marble floor is susceptible to scratching. Often, the culprits are tiny pebbles and other debris on shoes. Lay area rugs in high-traffic areas and enact a "shoes off in the house" policy to prevent scratches to your marble. Also, you may want to install felt pads to the bottom of all furniture so it doesn't leave scratches when moved around during cleaning.
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