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The short answer
Tilers in Nigeria usually charge labour per square metre of floor or wall, with tiles, cement, sand and grout bought separately by the client or listed as materials. In our labelled example, an 18 sqm room costs ₦53,050 in labour including skirting, and ₦282,050 in total with materials.
How tiling is priced
A tiling quote has two parts. Labour is priced per square metre (sqm) of the surface tiled, with extras for skirting, steps, cutting patterns and wall work. Materials are tiles, cement, sharp sand, tile adhesive where used, grout and spacers. Many clients buy materials themselves to see what they are paying for; others want the tiler to supply everything. Both are fine as long as the quote says which.
Labour per sqm rises with difficulty. Large-format tiles, diagonal or herringbone layouts, wall tiling in bathrooms and steps all take longer than square floor tiles laid in a straight grid, and should cost more.
Tools for a starting tiler (example figures)
| Tool (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Manual tile cutter | ₦45,000 |
| Angle grinder with discs | ₦40,000 |
| Levelling clips and wedges | ₦15,000 |
| Spirit level and straight edge | ₦12,000 |
| Trowels and rubber mallet | ₦10,000 |
| Mixer drill | ₦50,000 |
| Knee pads | ₦5,000 |
| Total | ₦177,000 |
These are example prices only. A levelling system costs little and prevents lippage (edges of neighbouring tiles at different heights), which is the defect clients notice first. A good cutter saves tiles: every cracked cut is a tile the client paid for.
Working out materials
Measure the room and multiply length by width to get the area. Add a waste allowance, commonly around 10% for straight layouts and more for diagonal patterns, to cover cuts and breakages. Then divide by the coverage printed on the carton.
Example only. A room measures 4m by 4.5m, so the floor is 18 sqm. Adding 10% gives 19.8 sqm. With 60cm by 60cm tiles packed four to a carton, each carton covers 1.44 sqm (4 × 0.36). The room needs 19.8 ÷ 1.44 = 13.75 cartons, so buy 14. Always check the carton's own coverage figure, as pack sizes differ.
A full quote: worked example
Example only. The same 18 sqm room, with skirting tiles along the walls. The perimeter is 2 × (4 + 4.5) = 17m; leaving out a 0.9m doorway gives 16.1m of skirting.
| Item (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tiles: 14 cartons at ₦12,000 | ₦168,000 |
| Cement: 4 bags at ₦9,500 | ₦38,000 |
| Sharp sand | ₦15,000 |
| Grout and spacers | ₦8,000 |
| Materials subtotal | ₦229,000 |
| Labour: 18 sqm at ₦2,500 | ₦45,000 |
| Skirting: 16.1m at ₦500 | ₦8,050 |
| Labour subtotal | ₦53,050 |
| Total | ₦282,050 |
If the client buys the materials, the quote is ₦53,050 for labour. If the tiler buys them, add a fair charge for the time and transport involved, and give the client the receipts. Tile and cement prices move often, so date every quote and say how long it is valid.
Walls, bathrooms and other extras
Wall tiling is slower than floor work: tiles must be held in place while the bed sets, cuts around pipes and sockets are fiddly, and lines must be plumb as well as level. Many tilers charge a higher rate per sqm for walls than for floors, and a separate fixed charge for each awkward item.
- Bathroom walls. Measure each wall separately, subtract the door and any window, and price per sqm at the wall rate.
- Steps and stairs. Price per step, as each needs a tread, a riser and edge cuts.
- Removing old tiles. Breaking out old tiles and screed is dusty, heavy work; quote it separately and agree who removes the rubble.
- Waterproofing. Wet areas such as showers may need a waterproof layer before tiling; say whether it is included.
Example only. If a bathroom has 22 sqm of wall to tile at ₦3,500 per sqm, the wall labour is ₦77,000, before floor tiling and any removal work.
Agreeing the job
- Check the floor or wall before quoting: uneven screed needs levelling first, which is extra work.
- Agree the layout and starting point with the client, especially for large tiles and patterns.
- Take a deposit before starting, and the balance on completion.
- State how many days the job will take and whether the client must keep people off the floor while it sets.
- Agree what happens to leftover tiles; clients should keep a few for future repairs.
Getting steady work
Tilers often get most of their work through building contractors, POP installers, plumbers and estate managers. Doing clean work on time and leaving the site tidy makes those referrals regular. Photograph finished floors, especially patterned ones, and share them with past clients and on social media. Our guide to POP ceiling pricing covers a trade you will often share sites with.
Keep job records for tax. Our guide to how sole traders pay tax explains the basics, and VAT remains 7.5% under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 if your turnover means you must charge it. If contractors ask for an invoice from a registered business, CAC's May 2025 fee schedule lists ₦1,000 to reserve a business name.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account can hold deposits for materials separately from your own money. Send itemised quotes and invoices through invoicing, and give clients a verifiable receipt through receipts, built with VerifyDoc.ai, for each payment they make.
Questions people ask
How much do tilers charge per square metre in Nigeria?
Rates vary by city, tile size and pattern. Our labelled example uses ₦2,500 per sqm for straight floor tiling, plus ₦500 per metre of skirting.
How many cartons of tiles do I need for a room?
Multiply length by width, add about 10% for cuts, and divide by the coverage on the carton. In our example, an 18 sqm room needs 14 cartons of 1.44 sqm each.
How many bags of cement do I need for tiling?
It depends on the bed thickness and whether adhesive is used. Our 18 sqm example uses 4 bags; ask your tiler how they calculated it.
Should the tiler or the client buy the tiles?
Either works. Agree it in writing; if the tiler buys, ask for the receipts and a fair handling charge rather than an unexplained markup.
Sources
- Corporate Affairs Commission: New Schedule of Fees (gazetted 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Forvis Mazars: Nigeria Tax Act 2025, VAT key business changes (16 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.