Tile Removal Cost Calculator
The old tile
Estimated pro cost
$600.00
- Pro rate for this surface
- $6.00/sq ft
- Pro total
- $600.00
- DIY total (rental + disposal)
- $175.00
- Realistic DIY time
- 14 hrs
- Debris to dispose of
- ~800 lbs
DIY saves the most when the area is small; over ~300 sq ft, pro speed usually wins.
Tools the pros use for this job
Oscillating Tool
Cut the grout lines first and tiles pop up twice as fast.
Grinder + Diamond Blade
ZORUNNA 2Pcs 4.5" Diamond Blade for Angle Grinder, Tile Saw Blades | Clean Cuts with Less Chipping, Less-Wobble Core, Smooth Finish for Porcelain Ceramic Granite Tile Marble, Wet/Dry Cuts
Check price on AmazonScores stubborn sections and trims mortar ridges flat.
Dust Extractor
Tile demo dust contains silica — a shop vac is not enough.
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How this calculator works
Pro demo runs $3–$6 per square foot depending on what the tile is stuck to: thinset on a slab comes up fast, while an old-school thick mortar bed is double the labor. Wall tile over drywall is cheapest — often the drywall comes down with it and gets replaced.
DIY costs are mostly tool rental (a demolition hammer ~$70/day) plus disposal. Tile debris is heavy — a mortar-bed floor generates ~8 lbs of rubble per square foot, so a 100 sq ft floor is 800 lbs that has to leave your house in buckets.
Frequently asked questions
Is tile removal a good DIY job?
It is the most DIY-friendly part of tiling — no precision required, just labor and dust control. The tradeoffs are time (a weekend for a typical floor), disposal weight, and silica dust: wear a real respirator, not a dust mask.
Do I have to remove all the old thinset?
Yes — new tile needs a flat, clean surface. Ridges and globs of old mortar telegraph through and crack the new floor. A floor scraper or grinder with a diamond cup wheel finishes what the demo hammer leaves.
Can I tile over existing tile instead of removing it?
Sometimes — if the old tile is sound (no hollow sounds when tapped), flat, and the added height works at doors and transitions. Use a primer designed for tiling over tile. When in doubt, demo.
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- Tile Labor Cost CalculatorInstaller hours and labor rates by room size and complexity.
- Tile Cost EstimatorTotal project cost: tile, grout, mortar, trim, and labor.
Guides worth reading next
- How to Remove Tile: Demo Day Without Destroying the SubfloorHammer-and-chisel vs rotary hammer, protecting the subfloor, dealing with mastic vs mortar beds, dust control, and when a demo crew is worth the money.
- How to Measure a Room for Tile (Step by Step)Measure any room for floor or wall tile: handle closets and alcoves, convert inches to decimals, subtract fixtures, and add the right waste percentage.
- Choosing the Right Tile Size for Your RoomHow tile size changes a room: when 12×24 beats 4×4, why small rooms can take large tile, grout line math, and the flatness rule for big formats.