Retiling Shower Cost

By Josh
Last updated 26th February 2025 - Reading time: 17 mins
At a Glance
  • The average cost of retiling a shower is around £250.
  • The job will take approximately 2 to 4 days to complete.
In this guide, you'll find out the following:
  • A complete bathroom retiling cost breakdown, including what types of shower tiles you can choose from, highlighting their pros and cons.
  • How long shower retiling takes, and a general overview of how a professional tiler will carry out the task.
  • How to find and hire a professional tiler using MyJobQuote.

Wondering how much it costs to retile a bathroom?

Retiling a shower typically costs around £250, and can take anywhere from 2 to 4 days depending on the current condition of your bathroom, the complexity of your shower fixture, and your chosen bathroom retiling design.

However, what you pay for shower retiling can be affected by a few different factors, such as the shower size, the type of tiles, ease of access, and your location in the UK.

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Shower retiling cost guide

Average Cost of Retiling a Shower:

Depending on the complexity of the job, it usually takes: 2 - 4 Days

£250

How Much Does it Cost to Retile a Shower?

Retiling can revitalise your bathroom along with the addition of a few new furnishings and spring cleaning, and this doesn't have to cost much money.

The average cost to retile a bathroom shower is around £250, with higher prices associated with premium shower tile materials. Here's a closer look:

mason hands on wall tiles

Shower Retiling Prices

Job Description Average Cost Duration
Retiling with Ceramic Tiles £250 2 – 4 Days
Retiling with Porcelain Tiles £250 2 – 4 Days
Retiling with Natural Stone Tiles £350 2 – 4 Days
Retiling with Glass Tiles £400 2 – 4 Days
Retiling with Terracotta Tiles £300 2 – 4 Days
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Supply Only Shower Retiling Cost

The supply of materials for retiling a shower accounts for about 30% of the overall retiling cost, with labour accounting for the other 70%.

Shower tiles vary quite a lot in price, and in recent years, more people have opted for shower panels that come in different styles that are installed instead of tiles.

The two main types of shower wall tile are porcelain and ceramic, and both of these materials account for a large portion of the shower wall tile market.

Shower retiling

Porcelain and ceramic shower tiles are priced at around £30 per m². You can find fluctuations in this base price depending on the design, shape, and style of the tile, with more ornate and complex designs coming with higher costs.

There are other materials you can use for shower retiling, such as natural stone and terracotta, but these can be costly and hard to work with if you're not experienced, as some stone tiles will need additional sealing and maintenance to avoid degradation. Stone and terracotta tiles usually cost around £50 per m².

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Additional Shower Retiling Costs

When you get your shower retiled, some other jobs may need to be done at the same time. You can often get some great package deals when you incorporate a few different jobs into the same project when you use the same contractors to carry out the work.

We've explored two of the most common jobs associated with retiling a shower to give you some more information on them should they apply to you.

Tiling a Bathroom Floor

Most bathrooms have a matching décor throughout, with the walls matching or complimenting the floor. If you're going to retile the shower, why not give the whole room a freshen-up by installing new floor tiles, too.

You have lots of choices when considering what materials or styles to opt for on your floor tiles. On average, new bathroom floor tiles cost £700 for 20 m², taking about 2 to 3 days to complete in full.

If you already have your bathroom floor tiled and want it rejuvenated, you can ask your tiler to regrout the surface for you. The cost of re-grouting bathroom tiles ranges between £200 to £250 in labour fees, while supply costs will be kept low at £15 to £35.

Avoiding the need to re-grout bathroom tiles in the future can be hard as the room is prone to moisture, which can discolour the original grout and make it appear grimy. Keeping on top of routine cleaning can help to keep the tile's grout in good condition, and being proactive if you notice any leaks in your bathroom will help to keep your tiles looking fresher for longer.

My shower tiles have changed colour. Why has this happened? How can I stop it happening again?

"Tiles only really change colour when they are subject to excess water ingress. I would guess that being in the shower area, water has found a way behind the tiles whether that be through failed grout or Silicone. I would firstly assess these areas and consider the plan of action from your findings. Hope this helps."

New Bathroom Suite Installation

If you're having your bathroom retiled, it can be tempting to spruce up the entire room with a new bathroom suite if your budget permits. The cost of a new toilet is around £450 for a wall-hung toilet, while a cheaper close coupled toilet can be between £100 to £200.

As well as a new toilet, you may want to upgrade your existing shower from an electric to a power shower. Power showers incorporate a pump that increases the shower flow rate while maintaining a steady temperature with the built-in thermostat.

Replacing an existing power shower costs about £120, whereas a brand-new installation costs between £200 and £400. A replacement will only take a few hours, but a new installation will take a day or so.

If you're thinking of retiling your shower as part of a larger body of work - such as installing a brand new bathroom in your home - you'll want to make sure you do this at the same time as everything else. There's no point in retiling your shower just to rip out your old fixtures a few months down the line.

While it can be expensive if you're moving into a dilapidated house that needs major renovations, the cost of a new bathroom in its entirety can cost around £4,000 for a medium-sized bathroom.

Installing a new bathroom suite can add value to your home, improving your sale price if you're considering listing your property for sale. As it can be a big, potentially disruptive job, it will help your home appeal to potential buyers if a new suite is installed, as it's one less thing they'll need to do themselves.

Shower Retiling Labour Costs and Timescales

A great way to work out labour costs is to figure out how many square metres you need tiling and multiplying that by £30, as this figure is the typical cost per square metre for a tiler to complete the work.

However, when you get a quote on the work, the contractor will tell you exactly how much the work will cost and what that includes. Usually, the cost includes the labour and materials, but you should find out about waste removal for the old tiles and anything else involved in the price.

Tiling a shower

Quoting the job shouldn't take too long, nor should the stripping of the existing tiles, but the stage of applying the tiles can take a long time as it's integral that each tile is level, uniform and installed correctly, so be patient at this point.

Sometimes, unforeseen setbacks and delays occur, like faulty tiles or necessary repairs, but this isn't extremely common.

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Cost Factors of Retiling a Shower

There are a few cost-affecting factors for retiling a shower, and we've explored them in more detail here:

Type of Tile

The type of tile you opt for can have a significant impact on the job's overall cost. For example, a simple porcelain tile will only cost around £25 to £30 per m², but you can double that for a sandstone tile.

Of course, if you have the budget for expensive materials and they suit your preferences, then go for it! The type of tile can also impact the additional time it may take the tiler to complete the job, as some tiles are more supple and prone to breaking than others, requiring the tiler to work with extra caution.

Size of Shower

This factor is pretty self-explanatory. If your shower is bigger than the average shower, you can expect to pay a little more than the average cost, simply because more tiles and time are required.

Some people with bigger showers will opt for larger tiles to reduce the number of tiles required to be lined up and arranged uniformly, but this is all down to personal preference.

Ease of Access

While a big shower can increase the cost, so can showers that are tough to access.

Tight corners and awkward angles can complicate the application process, especially when adding those crucial millimetre movements to ensure all of the tiles are perfect. If you have a peculiarly shaped shower, ask the tiler about this during the quotation stage to avoid any surprises further down the line.

Would it be possible to fit mirrored tiles in a shower?

"It is possible to install mirror walls and mirror tiles in a bathroom or shower area. Still, it's not something we would recommend, as moisture will eventually destroy the mirror's edges and backing. They will look fine for 5-7 years maximum."

How Do I Choose the Right Shower Tile for Me?

There are a few different types of shower tile that we've mentioned throughout this article, so we're going to list them here with their pros, cons and costs to help you make an informed decision.

Ceramic Tile Cost

shower with grey ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles are one of the two most common tiles to find in a bathroom in the UK. They are competitively priced, have a vast array of styles and can be fitted very easily.

They are incredibly versatile and are very easy to maintain. The only drawback is that if you're looking for something unique and upmarket, they may be too basic for your requirements.

Ceramic tiles typically cost £25 to £30 per m².

Porcelain Tile Cost

shower with patterned porcelain tiles

Everything that was said about ceramic tiles can be said for porcelain tiles. They are very good value with price vs quality, they require little to no maintenance, and they come in a wide array of colours, designs and styles.

Porcelain tiles cost in the region of £25 to £30 per m².

Glass Tile Cost

shower with light blue glass tiles

Glass tiles are fantastic for adding more natural light into a room, and they give a very nice luxury aesthetic to bathrooms and showers. There isn't a massive amount of variety in terms of style and design, but they are very versatile and don't look out of place in any theme.

However, they are extremely expensive, costing around £110 per m².

Marble Tile Cost

shower with grey and white marble herringbone tiles

Marble tiles are pretty popular additions to homes, but more commonly in kitchen areas in the form of worktops, as they are pretty heavy. This weight makes the installation of them a little trickier, but it is a stunning material that will enhance the luxury feel of your bathroom.

Unfortunately, the price is in line with that luxury and marble is certainly one of the more expensive bathroom tile materials, at around £140 per m².

Natural Stone Tile Cost

shower with natural stone tiles

Natural stone tiles are genuinely beautiful tiles that bring a natural, earthy and spa-like feel to your bathroom. The price of natural stone tiles does range a little bit depending on the specific stone or blend in the tile, but as a whole, it is one of the more expensive options.

Still, if you have the budget, natural stone tiles are a fantastic option, costing between £50 to £150 per m². The only drawback is that some natural stones need extra maintenance to protect their waterproof integrity.

Terracotta Tile Cost

bathroom with terractotta tiles

Terracotta tiles bring a very natural look and feel to them, and they add a certain warmth to your bathroom. They are also very well-heralded material that adds a touch of class to your home.

They are pretty competitively priced, but you don't have any design options other than the standard plain terracotta colours. They typically cost around £50 per m².

Our previous bathroom tiles developed a lot of problems over the years. What are the best tiles to choose that are easy to maintain/clean, and are durable?

"Polished porcelain tiles would be a good choice of tile, they're very durable and the polish makes them very easy to keep clean."

Can I Retile a Shower Myself?

Tiling is not the easy job that many people think it to be, and DIY tiling usually ends up being nothing but wasted time, money and materials.

So many different aspects of tiling need to be tended to by an experienced professional if you want to escape the tell-tale signs of a shoddy job with uneven and unlevel tiles along with thick grout lines and an altogether poor finish.

While removing old shower tiles can look like a simple job, if it isn't done correctly, the main section of the wall can be damaged and chipped away, leading to issues further along in the process.

The accuracy and uniformity of the tiles are also a huge tripping point, as each tile must follow the same pattern, both horizontally and vertically.

Another issue that seems to be a regular problem with DIY tiling is the thickness of grouting between tiles, which can be unsightly, reducing the tiling's structural integrity.

What's Involved in Retiling a Shower?

As we mentioned earlier, we wouldn't suggest that anyone tries to complete a shower retiling as a DIY project. These are the steps your shower tiling contractor is likely to take to give you an insight into the process of retiling a shower.

Shower tiles
  • Firstly, the tiler will turn the water off at the mains and remove the mounted shower system. The floor will be covered with dust sheets to catch any debris that is removed from the walls.
  • With a mallet and a chisel, the tiler will remove the wall's existing tiles. This is usually a pretty quick job.
  • After the walls are clear, it's time to prepare them for the application of the new tiles. The wall must be completely smooth as even the smallest bump will affect the final finish.
  • The new tiles will now be applied with mortar, and depending on your pattern, some tiles may need cutting to fit the design.
  • Grout will be added between the tiles to secure them.
  • The tiles will be wiped down, the dust sheets cleared, and any debris tidied away, and the job will be done!

I'm looking to tile over 20-year-old porcelain tiles in my bathroom. Is it okay to tile over these, or could it create issues?

"I wouldn’t advise doing this. The main reason is, imagine all the extra weight you are putting on to the walls when you don’t know how well the original tiles are stuck to the wall, all you are doing is sticking more weight on to the original tiles."

Checklist: Hiring a Shower Retiler in the UK

It's best to research and compare at least 3 contractors before settling on your chosen trader to ensure you're getting a fair price. Here's what we suggest:

  • Utilise MyJobQuote to research suitable local shower retilers. Pay attention to their reviews from previous customers, as well as pictures of the jobs and projects that they have worked on to give you an idea of the quality of their work.
  • Examine their qualifications, certifications, and accreditations. Years in the business will demonstrate their experience in the field, and their ability to complete the job you need to a high standard.
  • Ask for a written quote with an itemised breakdown of costs and associated jobs, along with their expected timeframes.
  • Be sure to check if the contractor's work will be covered by any guarantees or warranties.

FAQs

How Do You Re-Grout Shower Tiles?

If you need to re-grout your shower tiles follow these instructions, however, it's always recommended to enlist a professional's help.
  • Step 1: Use a grout rake to remove the old grout, being careful not to scratch the tiles. Remove the grout to about half the thickness of the tile.
  • Step 2: Using a trowel, press the new grout into the space left by the old grout, and then use a grout spreader to spread it uniformly across.
  • Step 3: Use a damp sponge to remove any excess grout.
  • Step 4: Use a grout shaper to finish off the joints to give them a professional look.
  • Step 5: Use a soft, clean cloth to polish the grout and tiles once the grout has set.

How Do You Cut a Hole in Shower Tiles to Fit a Shower?

You can buy a diamond hole saw that attaches to the end of a drill, which cuts a perfect hole fit for your shower. Ensure you buy the right size hole saw and check the placement for the shower numerous times. As always, this should be a job carried out by a professional.

Can You Replace a Single Shower Tile?

If just one shower tile has cracked or been damaged, you can change a single tile without disturbing the others. A tiler will use a chisel to chip away at that single tile, and then replace it using the same method as you would for an entire retiling.

How Much Are Shower Panels?

Shower panels are sometimes used instead of tiles and vary in price depending on the size and material you want. Of course, the panel must be cut to an exact size in order to be used and then fitted by a professional tiler. They cost anywhere from £150 to £400, depending on a few factors.

Do Tilers Need Insurance?

All tradespeople who work in customers' homes must have the correct liability insurance protecting them and the customer from injury and accidental damage. Liability insurance allows a customer to seek damage remittance from a company instead of a person.

Sources

https://www.sunrisespecialty.com/how-to-retile-shower

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