Free tile estimate template that gets the waterproofing right
This free tile estimate template puts the substrate and waterproofing on the page before a single tile, because that is where tile jobs succeed or fail. Tile is priced by the square foot with waste tied to the layout, trim by the linear foot, niches and pans by the each. A downloadable PDF version of the template is on this page.
Substrate and waterproofing
| Line item | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cement backer board | sf | |
| Waterproofing membrane | sf | showers and wet walls, photograph it before tile |
| Uncoupling membrane | sf | floors over slab or wood, movement insurance |
| Foam shower base | ea | |
| Shower niche | ea |
Tile
| Line item | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain floor tile | sf | |
| Large format porcelain tile | sf | over 15 inches on a side, needs a leveling system |
| Ceramic wall tile | sf | |
| Mosaic tile | sf | slowest format to set, price its labor accordingly |
| Backsplash tile | sf |
Setting materials and trim
| Line item | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thinset mortar | ea | |
| Grout | ea | |
| Grout sealer | ea | |
| Tile spacers and sundries | ea | |
| Schluter edge trim | lf | metal edge for outside corners and exposed edges |
| Bullnose trim | lf |
Labor
| Line item | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Demo of existing tile | sf | mud beds and old thinset are the slow part |
| Setter labor, floors and walls | sf | rate varies by format, state which |
| Shower system labor | ls | pan, membrane, and wet-area detail work as a package |
Example scope
Gut and retile a master shower: demo existing tile and mud bed, rebuild with cement backer board and a full waterproofing membrane, foam shower base with one niche, 110 sf of 12x24 porcelain on the walls, mosaic shower floor, metal edge trim on all exposed edges, grout and seal. Excludes valve replacement and glass, coordinated with the plumber and glazier.
What a tile estimate must include
The waterproofing system, named
Cement board is not waterproof, it is just water-stable. A shower needs a membrane system over it, liquid or sheet, at roughly $1.90 per sf in material. Name the system on the estimate. The bid that skips this line is cheaper because it is building a future leak.
Tile lines with waste tied to the pattern
Straight lay carries about 10 percent waste, diagonal and pattern work 15 or more, and large format generates expensive offcuts. Write the tile spec, the layout, and the waste factor together on one line so a mid-selection change from 12x24 to herringbone visibly reprices itself.
An allowance for client-supplied tile
When the client buys the tile, put two things in writing: the setter warrants the installation, not the material, and breakage on client-supplied tile is replaced at the client's cost. Also state the required overage they must supply. Their beautiful handmade zellige with 20 percent size variation is a labor conversation too.
Labor rates that respect the format
Mosaic sets slow, large format needs a leveling system and flat substrate, and natural stone needs sealing and gentler handling. Carry different labor rates by format instead of one blended number. Mosaic at $14.75 per sf material is also your slowest install day, and the estimate should know that.
Exclusions at the trade boundaries
Exclude plumbing relocations, valve replacement behind the wall, substrate framing corrections, and glass doors. State who supplies the niche, the pan, and the grout color decision date. Tile sits at the end of three other trades' work, and the boundaries belong on paper.
Payment, expiration, and changes
Deposit at signing, a draw at substrate and waterproofing complete, balance at grout and seal. Hold pricing 30 days. Layout upgrades, added niches, and tile changes after ordering all run through signed change orders, and the waterproofing draw point doubles as the moment to photograph the membrane.
Estimating mistakes that cost tile setters money
Treating backer board as the waterproofing
Cement board survives water, it does not stop it. Without a membrane, moisture reaches the framing and the failure shows up two winters later as a stain on the ceiling below. The membrane line is small money on the estimate and the whole ballgame in the wall.
One labor rate for every format
A 12x24 porcelain floor and a penny-round shower floor are different speeds entirely, and large format adds leveling clips and flatness prep. A single blended rate overprices the easy job and underprices the slow one, and you win only the losers.
No terms on client-supplied tile
The client's tile arrives short, cracked, or in two dye lots, and the schedule and the loss both land on you unless the estimate said otherwise. Require their overage in writing, exclude material warranty, and bill return trips caused by short orders.
Diagonal waste at straight-lay numbers
The pattern decision routinely happens after the bid, at the tile store. Quote the waste factor per layout in the estimate, so when 10 percent becomes 15, the material line moves with it automatically instead of coming out of your pocket.
Giving niches and edges away
A niche is framing, waterproofing detail, mitered or edged trim, and slow careful setting, roughly a half day hiding inside one wall. Metal edge trim runs $6.60 per lf on its own. Price niches per each and edge details per foot, visibly.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as large format tile?
Any tile with a side longer than 15 inches, which now includes the standard 12x24. Large format demands a flatter substrate, a leveling clip system to control lippage, and back-buttering, all of which is labor. An estimate that prices 12x24 like 12x12 is underbidding the flatness work.
Is cement board waterproof?
No. Cement board holds up when wet but water passes through it freely. Wet areas need a waterproofing membrane over the board or a foam board system that is itself waterproof, at material cost around $1.90 per sf for membrane. A shower bid without a named waterproofing system is incomplete.
How should client-supplied tile be handled on an estimate?
State that the installer warrants workmanship only, require the client to supply the overage for their layout, typically 10 to 15 percent, and note that shortages or defects in their material bill as return trips. This keeps a lovely discount tile find from becoming your schedule problem.
Why does mosaic cost more to install than big tile?
Mosaic sheets need perfect thinset coverage without squeeze-through, constant alignment of tiny joints, and slow grouting, so a mosaic shower floor can take as long as an entire wall of large format. The material also runs high, around $14.75 per sf, so both lines rise together.
How do I fill this template out fast?
Describe the bathroom by voice and Eddie, Staxen's estimator, drafts this exact structure, waterproofing lines included, priced and ready to adjust and text for e-signature. Eddie costs $59 per month, and your first job is free with no card required and no time limit.
Start free with Staxen: your first job is on us, no card required.