Service
Tile repair and replacement
A tile repair is usually charged at a tiler's half-day or day rate, which Checkatrade's 2026 guide puts at £200 to £350 a day and MyJobQuote at £150 to £200 in its floor and bathroom guides. No guide we use prices a single tile. The real cost often depends on whether you kept spare tiles from the original job.
What this covers
Typical jobs
- Cutting out a cracked floor tile and setting in a spare
- Re-fixing loose wall tiles above a bath
- Replacing tiles damaged by a dropped pan in a kitchen
- Filling a chip in a porcelain tile with a colour-matched repair
- Finding the cause of a line of cracked tiles across a floor
What is involved
Replacing one tile means removing it without disturbing its neighbours. The tiler cuts out the grout round it, scores or drills the broken tile, and chips it out from the centre towards the edges. The old adhesive is cleared back so the new tile sits flush, then the replacement is bedded, left to set and grouted. That usually means a return visit, or a second half of the day, because grout cannot go on until the adhesive has firmed.
The hardest part is the tile. Ranges are discontinued within a few years, and a near match in a different batch can look wrong next to its neighbours. If you have spares from the original job, find them before the tiler comes. If not, a tiler may take a tile from somewhere it will not be seen, such as under a washing machine, and use that in the visible spot. Small chips in porcelain can sometimes be filled with a resin repair kit coloured to match, which avoids removing anything.
It is worth asking why a tile cracked. A single crack from a dropped tin is just bad luck. A line of cracks across a floor, or tiles that sound hollow when tapped, usually points to something underneath: a timber floor that flexes, no movement joint at the edge, or adhesive applied in dabs rather than solid. Replacing tiles without fixing the cause means the new ones crack too. A good tiler will say if the repair is a patch on a bigger problem.
Choosing someone for the job
With a repair, the hard parts are finding a match and finding the cause, so cover both before booking.
- Can you replace the tile without lifting its neighbours?
- Do you need me to find spares from the original job?
- What is the fixed price, including the visit to grout?
- If several tiles are cracked or hollow, what do you think is causing it?
- Can you match the new grout to the old?
Read next
Common questions
Can you replace one cracked tile?
Yes. The grout round it is cut out, the tile broken out carefully, the old adhesive cleared, and a replacement bedded and grouted. The difficulty is usually finding a matching tile.
Why do floor tiles crack?
One crack is often an impact. Several, or cracks in a line, usually mean the floor underneath moves: a timber floor without overboarding, no movement joint at the edge, or tiles laid on dabs of adhesive with hollows beneath.
How do you fix hollow-sounding tiles?
Lightly hollow tiles that are not cracked can sometimes be left. If they rock or crack, they are lifted, the adhesive cleared, and the tiles re-bedded in a solid layer of adhesive.
What does a tiler charge for a small repair?
Usually a half day or a day at their rate, which Checkatrade's 2026 guide gives as £200 to £350 and MyJobQuote's floor and bathroom guides as £150 to £200. Ask for a fixed price once they have seen it.