Gifts for tilers sit between $30 and $100: a funny tiler tee ($34.95–$39.95), gear that saves the knees the trade runs on, and nothing that touches his cutting or levelling kit — that's personal equipment with personal opinions attached. Tiling is precision work done on all fours; gift for the human, not the toolbox.
1. A tiler tee (perfect-ish, guaranteed)
Our tiler tees run $34.95–$39.95 on heavyweight 220gsm AS Colour cotton, printed to order in Melbourne. The set: Perfect Grout Lines — Perfect-ish for the wombat who lets the eye do the levelling; Measured the Room — Still Short a Tile for anyone who's done a servo run for one tile; and Tile the Bathroom — Tile It Tomorrow, the koala whose finish date rolls forward daily.
2. Knees first, everything else second
Tiling is a knees-first profession — quality gel knee pads are the single most-used gift you can hand a tiler, and almost none of them buy the good ones for themselves. Round it out with grouting sponges by the pack and nitrile gloves in bulk: $30–$50 of consumables that get destroyed weekly and appreciated daily.
What not to buy
A tile cutter or wet saw (his own, specced, non-negotiable), a spirit level (calibrated, beloved, off-limits), novelty tile coasters (he sees tiles all day, mate), and "World's Best Tiler" mugs — the verdict on that is delivered by the grout lines, not the crockery.
FAQ
How much should I spend on a tiler's gift?
$30–$100. The tee stands alone at $34.95–$39.95; add proper knee pads and a consumables top-up and you're at a complete, daily-use gift around $90. Buying for a renovation crew? Three tees saves $10, four saves $15 — automatic at checkout.
What size tee should I buy?
Size up if you're unsure — the work is physical and layered half the year, and because every tee is printed to order, change-of-mind returns including wrong sizes aren't covered. The size chart on each product page settles it in thirty seconds.
When should I order for Christmas?
First week of December at the latest. Every tee is printed to order in Melbourne with standard delivery at 8–15 business days door to door — and the December queue stretches it, much like his finish dates. Express at checkout if you've left it to the last row.
Mixed trades on your list? The general tradie guide covers every trade, and the full crew's in Tradie Tees & Smoko Gear.