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.
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Smart Tile Calculator keeps your tile jobs on your phone, offline. On iPhone? It's inside Roofing Calculator & Estimator.
Tools the pros use for this job
Oscillating Tool
Goopreen 5 in 1 Caulking Tool Silicone Caulking Grout Removal Sealant Finishing Tool with Stainless Steel Head, 6 Replaceable Pads, Gap Seam Repair Kit for Kitchen Bathroom Sink Toilet Caulking
$14.99
Check price on AmazonCut the grout lines first and tiles pop up twice as fast.
Grinder + Diamond Blade
ZORUNNA 5Pcs 4.5" Diamond Saw Blades, Tile Cutting Blade for Angle Grinder
$19.99
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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Prices as of Oct 10, 2026, 6:33 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Do this math on the job site — in the free app
Smart Tile Calculator for Android: offline, in your pocket, free.
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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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.