Tile Flooring Installation cost: Kingsport vs Memphis (2026)
Budget-wise, tile flooring installation in Kingsport ($7,100) runs 5% less than in Memphis ($7,450), a roughly $350 spread.
Kingsport TN
Lower costTypically around $7,100
Memphis TN
Typically around $7,450
Kingsport vs Memphis: full breakdown
| Factor | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical 2026 cost | $7,100 | $7,450 |
| Estimated range | $3,200–$11,000 | $3,350–$11,500 |
| Labor index (vs US) | ×0.92 | ×0.96 |
| Climate zone | Mixed | Mixed |
| Climate factor | ×1 | ×1 |
| Local permit | None | None |
| Labor share | $4,250 | $4,450 |
| Materials/equipment | $2,850 | $3,000 |
These are 2026 planning figures for tile flooring installation, localized to each city — not formal quotes.
How much should this gap actually matter?
A 5% difference on tile flooring installation is minor — you'll typically see a wider spread just from getting multiple quotes in the same city, so don't let location drive the decision.
Tile flooring installation by type: Kingsport vs Memphis
We localize each tile flooring installation type separately for both metros, applying the same labor, climate and permit adjustments each time, so you're comparing like for like.
| Type | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | $3,200–$7,350 | $3,350–$7,650 |
| Porcelain | $4,100–$9,150 | $4,300–$9,600 |
| Natural stone (travertine / slate) | $5,500–$12,800 | $5,750–$13,400 |
| Marble | $7,350–$16,500 | $7,650–$17,250 |
Treat these as 2026 localized estimates for tile flooring installation, not quotes from a contractor.
Tile flooring installation by floor area: Kingsport vs Memphis
Tile is priced around $7–$25/sq ft for a complete installed job — labor-heavy because of mortar, leveling, grouting, and cuts. Intricate patterns and large rooms with many cuts push the per-square-foot cost up.
| Size | Kingsport | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft (bathroom) | $750–$2,300 | $750–$2,400 |
| 200 sq ft (small room) | $1,350–$4,100 | $1,450–$4,300 |
| 500 sq ft (large room) | $3,200–$8,250 | $3,350–$8,650 |
| 1,000+ sq ft (main floor) | $6,400–$14,650 | $6,700–$15,350 |
Tile flooring installation numbers here are 2026 planning ranges, adjusted per city — useful for budgeting, not a substitute for an actual quote.
What flooring pros earn in each metro
About 60% of a tile flooring installation bill goes to labor, so wage differences between these two metros matter more than almost anything else. These are real, government-sourced (BLS OEWS) installer wages, not estimates.
No BLS metro wage series for Kingsport; we use Tennessee regional price parity instead.
Memphis metro · about 7% below the US average installer wage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metro wages for HVAC installers (used as a trade-labor index).
Cheapest time for tile flooring installation in either city
Once the holidays end, flooring demand drops and retailers respond with January clearance sales — which happens to line up with installers having open calendars too.
How should you budget a flooring project?
Material choice and the subfloor underneath drive the real cost. Our editors on the trade-offs.
The hidden-cost case
Look below the surface before you sign anything. Uneven subfloors need leveling, the old material has to come out and get disposed of, and an estimate that leaves those lines blank is one that changes after demolition starts.
The longevity case
The math on solid hardwood favors people who aren't moving soon: it outlasts every cheaper option, refinishes rather than gets replaced when it wears, and buyers pay up for it. Owned long enough, the upfront gap all but disappears.
The material-value case
Laminate and luxury vinyl deliver a hardwood look for a fraction of the price and handle moisture better — the value pick for busy homes and tight budgets.
The material decision should follow your timeline and traffic level; the budget decision should always include the subfloor. Skipping that line is the single costliest mistake in a flooring job.
Kingsport vs Memphis
Is tile flooring installation cheaper in Kingsport or Memphis?
Kingsport comes out ahead here, at roughly $7,100 for tile flooring installation compared with $7,450 in Memphis — a 5% ($350) gap as of 2026.
Why does tile flooring installation cost more in Memphis than Kingsport?
Labor rates explain most of it — 0.96 in Memphis vs 0.92 in Kingsport. A mixed climate versus mixed accounts for the rest.
How much is tile flooring installation in Kingsport, TN?
tile flooring installation in Kingsport runs $3,200–$11,000 as of 2026 — most jobs land near $7,100.
When is the cheapest time to buy tile flooring installation — and does it differ by city?
The best window is the same in both Kingsport and Memphis: Winter and the post-holiday January window, when demand drops and installers discount to keep crews busy — typically 5–10% off peak pricing. The most expensive time anywhere is an emergency replacement during late spring and summer.
Should I choose where to live based on tile flooring installation cost?
Probably not. Yes, $350 is a real gap, but it's a one-time cost you can partly offset in Memphis with off-season timing and tighter bids. Long-term factors like energy prices and home condition matter more than this one number.
Compare tile flooring installation in other cities
Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik