The No-Nonsense DIY Guide: How To Tile A Bathroom
How To Tile A Bathroom: The Complete DIY Wall & Floor Guide
Everything you need before you pick up a trowel costs, tools, surface prep, and a full step-by-step method for tiling bathroom walls and floors, plus the porcelain, terrazzo and metro tiles from our range best suited to a DIY bathroom project.
Retiling a bathroom is one of the few home improvement jobs that genuinely rewards a confident DIYer the materials are affordable, the tools are easy to hire or buy, and a well-tiled bathroom can add meaningfully to a home’s value. However, it’s also one of the easiest jobs to get visibly wrong if the prep work is rushed.
With that in mind, this guide from Tiles Deluxe walks through whether DIY is right for your project, what it typically costs, the full tool list, and a complete step-by-step method for tiling both bathroom walls and floors, along with the tiles from our range that work best for a first-time tiling project.
Should You DIY Your Bathroom Tiling?
Terrazzo Gobi Cream 60×60cm
Before gathering any tools, it’s worth being honest about the scope of the job. In fact, bathroom tiling is messy and physically repetitive, and it’s also fairly unforgiving of shortcuts a rushed prep stage or an out-of-level datum line will show up clearly once the whole wall or floor is finished.
Even so, it’s also one of the more approachable tiling projects for a first-timer, since bathrooms tend to be small rooms with straightforward, mostly rectangular surfaces. So, if you’re comfortable using a spirit level, prepared to work slowly through the setting-out stage, and happy to practise cuts on a spare tile first, then a DIY bathroom retile is a realistic weekend-to-week-long project for most confident homeowners.
How Much Does It Cost to Tile a Bathroom?
Generally speaking, tiling a full bathroom walls and floor together runs from a few hundred pounds for a small, budget-tiled en-suite up to well over a thousand for a larger room finished in a premium porcelain.
However, doing the labour yourself removes the biggest single cost of a professional retile, but the tile, adhesive, grout and accessories still need budgeting for properly.
In particular, four factors tend to move the price up or down:
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tile type | Ceramic is generally the cheapest; porcelain and terrazzo-effect porcelain cost more but wear better in a wet room |
| Tile size | Small mosaics and metro tiles take longer to lay than large format tiles, adding to time even if the DIYer isn’t charging labour |
| Room size | Straightforward more square metres means more tile, adhesive and grout |
| Surface prep | Backer boards, levelling compound and waterproofing membrane add to the materials bill but are rarely optional in a bathroom |
Either way, always buy at least 10% more tile than your measured area to allow for cuts, breakages and future repairs. Additionally, confirm with your supplier which adhesive suits your substrate, since tiling onto floorboards needs a different, more flexible adhesive than tiling onto concrete or existing tile.
Tools & Materials Checklist
Naturally, running out of tile or realising halfway through that you don’t have the right trowel is the fastest way to lose momentum on a tiling job. So, gather everything below before you start:
- Bathroom wall and floor tiles (plus 10% extra)
- Tile adhesive suited to your substrate
- Tile grout, and grout sealer for wet areas
- Notched tiling trowel
- Rubber grout float
- Manual or electric tile cutter
- Angle grinder with a diamond blade for pipe cuts and notches
- Tile spacers and plastic levelling wedges
- Spirit level
- Measuring tape and pencil
- Wooden battens, screws or nails
- Water-resistant tile backer boards
- Waterproofing (tanking) membrane for shower areas
- Self-levelling compound for uneven floors
- Mixing bucket and paddle mixer attachment
- Sponges and clean cloths
- Silicone sealant and applicator gun
Best Tiles for a DIY Bathroom
Signature Black & Gold Polished Porcelain, 60x60cm
Admittedly, not every tile suits a first DIY attempt equally well. In general, full-body porcelain in a mid-size format — 60x60cm or 60x120cm is the most forgiving choice, since it’s less prone to chipping during cuts than ceramic, and larger formats mean fewer joints to keep level and consistent across a wall or floor.
By contrast, smaller-format tiles like metro and mosaic bring a classic bathroom look but do add time, because each row needs its own spacing and levelling checks worth factoring in if it’s your first tiling project.
Terrazzo Gobi White, 60x120cm
Similarly, terrazzo-effect porcelain is another strong option for a bathroom retile, because the speckled pattern is naturally forgiving of small variations in cut edges and grout lines that makes it more relaxed to work with than a plain, uniform colour where every joint has to line up perfectly.
Sage Metro Wall Tile, 300x75mm
Alternatively, for anyone set on the classic metro look, sticking to one feature wall — behind a basin or bath, rather than the whole room — keeps the extra time of a small-format tile manageable, while still giving that traditional bathroom character.
Preparing Your Bathroom for Tiling
In short, preparation is the stage that decides whether the finished job looks professional or not, so it’s worth taking as much time here as on the tiling itself.
- First of all, strip back the room. Remove old tiles, fixtures and fittings, and repair any damage to the wall or floor underneath.
- Next, check for level and plumb. Use a spirit level on every wall and across the floor, since small dips and bulges need addressing now, not worked around later.
- Additionally, fit backer boards where needed. These water-resistant boards add flexibility over timber floors and joints, and they protect the substrate from moisture in wet areas.
- In particular, waterproof shower and bath surrounds. A tanking membrane is not optional here, because moisture that gets behind a tiled shower wall causes damage that’s expensive to put right.
- For this reason, level uneven floors. A self-levelling compound gives large format tiles in particular a flat, even base to sit on.
- Finally, mark your datum lines. Measure one tile height up from the floor and draw a level horizontal line around the wall, then find the vertical centre line — these lines, not the existing walls, are what you’ll tile to.
Step by Step: Tiling Bathroom Walls
- To start, first fix a temporary batten along your horizontal datum line to support the first row of tiles while the adhesive sets.
- Then, mix your adhesive to a smooth, lump-free consistency, following the manufacturer’s ratio.
- After that, spread adhesive in small sections — around one square metre at a time using the flat edge of the trowel first, before combing it into ridges with the notched edge for an even bed.
- Once the bed is ready, press each tile firmly into place with a slight twist, checking it against the spirit level as you go.
- Meanwhile, insert spacers at every corner to keep grout lines consistent, and continue row by row, checking level frequently.
- Instead of rushing, leave the edge and awkward cuts until last measure, mark and cut these once the full tiles are set, then fit them in with adhesive.
- Finally, remove the batten once the adhesive has cured enough to support the tiles on its own, and tile the last bottom row.
Step by Step: Tiling Bathroom Floors
- To begin with, find your starting point at the centre of the room, working outward toward each wall rather than starting from a single edge.
- From there, spread adhesive in manageable sections, combing it into ridges with the notched trowel just as with walls.
- Afterwards, lay full tiles first, working from the centre out toward the corners, checking level constantly across each tile and between tiles.
- Throughout, use spacers between every joint, and press tiles down evenly rather than sliding them into position.
- Once the field is done, cut and fit edge tiles last, once every full tile is down and set.
- Meanwhile, in wet rooms and shower trays, check the fall floors need a slight slope toward the drain, which should already be built into your levelling compound before tiling begins.
- Above all, leave the floor undisturbed for the full drying time on the adhesive packaging, before walking on it or beginning to grout.
Grouting & Sealing
Once the adhesive has fully cured, remove every spacer and wedge before grouting. Leaving them in place is one of the most common DIY mistakes, and it becomes much harder to fix after the grout has gone off.
- First, mix the grout to a firm, spreadable paste, never runny.
- Then, work it into the joints diagonally with a rubber float, pressing firmly to avoid air pockets.
- Meanwhile, wipe excess grout from the tile surface with a damp not wet sponge before it fully sets, rinsing the sponge frequently.
- Once dry, buff away any remaining haze with a clean, dry cloth.
- After that, apply a silicone sealant around the bath, shower tray, and every internal corner where tiled surfaces meet, since grout alone will crack at these movement joints over time.
- Finally, for high-moisture zones, consider an epoxy grout or a separate grout sealer for extra water resistance.
For matched adhesive, grout and prep products, see our tile adhesive range and surface preparation products. Also, use our free tile calculator to work out exact quantities before you order.
Get your bathroom retile started for less
Order a free next-day sample before you commit, and we’ll refund the cost when you place your full order.
FAQs
Can a beginner tile a bathroom themselves?
Yes, in many cases, provided the prep stage is done properly and you’re comfortable working methodically with a spirit level. After all, bathrooms are small, mostly rectangular rooms that make a reasonable first tiling project.
Do I need to remove old tiles before retiling?
Not always. In fact, tiling directly over existing tiles is possible if they’re sound and flat, though a full strip-back gives the most reliable result, especially where waterproofing needs renewing.
How long does grout need to dry before using the bathroom?
Generally speaking, most grout needs 24–48 hours to cure before the area gets wet, though it’s always worth checking the specific product’s packaging for exact timings.
What’s the easiest tile size for a first-time DIY project?
Overall, mid-size formats around 60x60cm or 60x120cm tend to be the most forgiving, since they need fewer joints to keep level than small metro or mosaic tiles, without the handling difficulty of very large format porcelain.
Shop Tiles By Category
Overall, Tiles Deluxe stocks porcelain and ceramic tiles for every room, style and budget, at up to 70% below local tile shop prices, with free next-day UK delivery on samples.
Further Reading On Tiling & Bathrooms
Underfloor Heating Tiles UK: Best Porcelain & Terrazzo Floors
How radiant heating works and which tiles are certified compatible with it.
Bathroom Tile Ideas 2026: Top Trends, Colours & Designs
The colours, textures and layouts shaping UK bathrooms this year.
Wood-Effect Tiles UK: Heritage Porcelain Flooring Guide
Why wood effect porcelain suits wet rooms better than real timber.
Kitchen Floor Tiles Leicester: Porcelain Flooring Guide
Large format porcelain for busy, high-traffic kitchen floors.
9 Top Tile Trends In 2026
The colours and finishes shaping every room of the house this year.
Entryway & Hallway Tile Ideas 2026
Large format and durable tiles for the UK’s hardest-working floors.
For general background on the value a retile can add to a home, see resources like
MyJobQuote’s bathroom tiling cost guide
and the property advice on
LoveProperty. To discuss any of the tiles featured in this guide, or to check adhesive and grout suitability for your specific bathroom, call our team on
0116 410 5020 or visit our showroom at 43 Freemens Common Road, Leicester LE2 7SQ.
Read more about who we are on our About Us page, check delivery times on
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