Backsplash cost per square foot
| Material | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic tile | $6–$32 | The most common and cheapest tile |
| Porcelain tile | $7–$35 | Harder than ceramic; a little more |
| Glass tile | $10–$45 | Shiny and easy to wipe clean |
| Natural stone (granite, travertine, slate) | $8–$68 | Granite, travertine or slate; priced by the stone |
| Marble | $10–$150 | The widest range; priced by rarity |
| Stainless steel or metal | $15–$75 | Stainless steel or tin panels or tiles |
The three guides agree on the order. Angi puts the national average at $1,000 for 35 sq ft, HomeGuide at $1,100 for 20 to 40 sq ft and Fixr at $1,000 for 40 sq ft. Each guide contradicts itself in places: HomeGuide lists natural stone at $8 to $35 in its table and $7 to $45 in its text, and Angi lists labor at $40 to $60 per hour in one place and $50 to $100 in another. Forbes Home puts a 30 sq ft backsplash at an average of $800, with most homeowners paying $15 to $35 per sq ft, in line with the table above.
Cost by size of the backsplash
| Area | Ceramic | Glass | Natural stone | Marble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 sq ft | $90–$480 | $150–$680 | $120–$1,020 | $150–$2,250 |
| 20 sq ft | $120–$640 | $200–$900 | $160–$1,360 | $200–$3,000 |
| 30 sq ft | $180–$960 | $300–$1,350 | $240–$2,040 | $300–$4,500 |
| 40 sq ft | $240–$1,280 | $400–$1,800 | $320–$2,720 | $400–$6,000 |
| 50 sq ft | $300–$1,600 | $500–$2,250 | $400–$3,400 | $500–$7,500 |
A typical kitchen backsplash is 30 to 40 sq ft. Add 10% to the measured area for cuts and waste. Slab backsplashes, peel-and-stick and mosaic are not in the calculator, because only one guide prices each.
What changes the price
- Material. Ceramic is the cheapest, and marble and metal are the most expensive.
- Area. The total is the per-square-foot price times the area.
- Layout. A straight set is the cheapest; herringbone and chevron take more cutting.
- The wall. Damaged drywall has to be repaired before tile goes on.
- Outlets. Outlets in the way may need to be moved.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's tile installer wages.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Removing the old backsplash | $2–$6 per sq ft | When it is not in the quote |
| Moving or adding an outlet | $200–$300 | A new GFCI outlet in the wall behind |
A backsplash goes with other kitchen work: see countertop installation cost, kitchen remodel cost and cabinet installation cost. For the tile itself, see tile installation cost. Related jobs: kitchen island cost, recessed lighting installation cost and drywall repair cost if the wall needs patching first.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per square foot, and does it include the tile, the setting materials and grout?
- Do you remove and dispose of the old backsplash, and is that in the price?
- Who moves any outlets, and is that in the price?
- What layout does the quote assume, and what does a pattern add?
- How long until I can use the kitchen again?
Methodology and sources
We price each material from published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's wages. Forbes Home is used as an independent cross-check. Read how we estimate costs.
- Angi: backsplash installation cost — national average, price by material and size, labor
- HomeGuide: backsplash installation cost — price by material, removal, labor
- Fixr: backsplash installation cost — price by material, patterns, outlets, labor share
- Forbes Home: kitchen backsplash cost — used as an independent cross-check
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2031, Carpenters) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Angi |
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| HomeGuide |
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| Fixr |
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Common questions about backsplash installation costs
How much does backsplash installation cost?
A typical job (30 sq ft, ceramic) comes to about $480 nationally, within a range of $180 to $960. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does a backsplash cost per square foot?
About $6–$32 for ceramic, $7–$35 for porcelain, $10–$45 for glass and $8–$68 for natural stone, installed.
How much does a 30 sq ft kitchen backsplash cost?
About $180–$960 in ceramic, $300–$1,350 in glass and $300–$4,500 in marble. Forbes Home puts a 30 sq ft backsplash at $450 to $1,050 in its size table.
How much does a ceramic tile backsplash cost?
About $6–$32 per sq ft installed, or $180–$960 for 30 sq ft.
How much does a glass tile backsplash cost?
About $10–$45 per sq ft installed, or $300–$1,350 for 30 sq ft.
How much does a marble backsplash cost?
About $10–$150 per sq ft installed. HomeGuide puts marble far below Angi and Fixr at the top, so the range is wide.
How much does it cost to remove an old backsplash?
About $2–$6 per sq ft, according to Angi and HomeGuide.
How much do patterns cost?
Fixr says any pattern other than a straight set, such as herringbone, adds 10% to 20%. The calculator adds 15% when you choose a pattern.
How much does it cost to move an outlet?
About $200–$300. Fixr puts a new GFCI outlet installed by an electrician at $200 to $300.
How much of the cost is labor?
Fixr puts labor at 30% to 70% of the total, and Angi at $5 to $20 per sq ft. The calculator uses 50%.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 3 published cost pages from 3 publishers, last checked Oct 9, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 3 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.