How Much Does It Cost to Install a Backsplash?

Reviewed by Adam Graham remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Backsplash installation costs an average of $1,000, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $500 and $1,500, depending on the quantity and quality of materials they need. Prices can sit as low as $200 if you choose a budget-friendly material and just need a small backsplash above a kitchen sink, and they can climb as high as $6,000 for a high-end option in a large kitchen.

Quick Takeaways

• Backsplash installation costs between $15 and $50 per square foot, depending on the type of material you choose.

• A standard-size kitchen has 30 to 40 square feet of backsplash, so the average cost per square foot for backsplash installation ($25) brings the average total to $750 to $1,000.

• Installing a backsplash can be DIY-friendly, depending on materials, but professional installation is a good idea if you’re going with common options like stone or tile.

Backsplash Installation Cost

Backsplash Installation Cost per Square Foot

The average cost per square foot to install a backsplash is $25, but this can range from $5 up to $150, depending on the material. You can get a general estimate by measuring the area of your backsplash and multiplying by the average of $25. In all cases, larger backsplashes will cost more when using similar materials.

Keep in mind that most backsplashes extend from the countertops up to the upper cabinets in a kitchen or up to a mirror or medicine cabinet in a bathroom. This means the square footage is limited. 

If you don’t have a natural upper border for your backsplash, you may want to extend it up the wall to the ceiling. This will drastically increase your backsplash installation costs and can push your total above the high-end cost of $6,000.

Backsplash Cost by Material

You have many options when it comes to the material you choose for your backsplash. Chalkboard paint and wallpaper are the most affordable but least durable options, while porcelain tiles and certain types of natural stone are the most expensive but can last a lifetime.

Below are the average backsplash costs for an average 40-square-foot backsplash based on the material you choose.

Slab Backsplash vs. Tile Cost

When installing a backsplash, most homeowners choose either a slab or tiles. A slab is one solid piece of natural or engineered stone installed on the wall, while tiles are much smaller pieces used to create a pattern, with grout between them to fill in the gaps.

Slabs come with higher material costs, as they need to be extracted from mines, transported, and installed in a single piece. Tiles are significantly more affordable in terms of materials, and even though the installation takes much longer, your total cost will be lower.

Tile backsplashes cost an average of $15 per square foot, while slab backsplashes cost an average of $30 per square foot.

Cost of Tile Backsplash by Tile Size

Backsplash tiles are available in many sizes, shapes, and patterns, all of which will affect your design. However, tile size and shape can also affect costs. 

Larger tiles take less time to install since a larger area is covered with a single tile. Smaller tiles need to be set individually in some cases. Modern backsplash options include tile sheets, though, which allow a pro to install an entire square foot at once, even if there are multiple smaller tiles on that area.

Backsplash Installation Patterns

It is common to install tile or other materials on your backsplash in a pattern. Any pattern other than a straight-set tile increases the home improvement project’s costs by between 10% and 20% due to the extra material needed and the time to cut and lay the tiles. 

The more complicated your design, the higher your costs will be unless you choose a design that’s available on backsplash tile sheets.

Backsplash Labor Cost per Square Foot

Labor can account for anywhere between 30% and 70% of your total backsplash installation costs, or between $300 and $700, on average. You’ll pay toward the lower end of that range if you opt for chalkboard paint or wallpaper, and your labor costs will push toward the higher end for complex tile patterns, like herringbone or mosaic tiles.

Backsplash Replacement Cost

A kitchen backsplash is easy to replace on its own or during a larger kitchen remodel, and it will cost you an average of $1,200 in either case. Keep in mind that this doesn’t include the cost to haul away the old material. 

For a slab backsplash, you’ll pay between an additional $200 and $400 to have your professional handle the haul-away service, while hauling away tile will cost between $100 and $300.

Cost to Replace Kitchen Countertops and Backsplash

Many homeowners choose to replace the kitchen countertops along with their backsplash for a more intensive upgrade or to match each other. 

The cost to install a new countertop in a kitchen averages $3,600 and usually falls between $1,500 and $5,700. Including the cost to replace a backsplash, that puts your total between $2,700 and $6,900.

Bathroom vs. Kitchen Backsplash Installation

Installing a new backsplash in a bathroom averages around $200, while a backsplash for a kitchen costs closer to $1,000, on average. The difference comes down to the size of the backsplash. Most bathrooms have a backsplash that takes up just 8 square feet, while the average kitchen has five times that, at 40 square feet.

Depending on the material you choose, backsplash replacement costs for a bathroom can range from $100 to $1,200, while kitchen backsplash costs range from $200 to $6,000.

Backsplash Material Comparison

Many people start off their backsplash project by considering the look they’re going for in their space and how the material will complement the surrounding countertops and cabinets. This is definitely something you’ll want to consider — and you may even want to hire an interior designer to help — but there are other things to think about besides backsplash design ideas.

Backsplashes serve to protect the drywall behind them from water and splatters from cooking and food preparation. The ideal backsplash material will look good, be easy to clean, and be waterproof or at least highly resistant to water and moisture. In high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms, you also want your backsplash to resist scratching, cracking, and other types of damage.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the different materials to help you decide which is the right option for your home.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

While you’re budgeting to replace your existing backsplash, you may want to consider the following options to elevate your space even further.

Under-Cabinet Lighting

Why not illuminate your new backsplash and the workspace below to draw attention? You can hire an electrician to install permanent under-cabinet lighting for around $300 per fixture. You can also DIY your lighting by running stick-on LED strips to the underside of the wall cabinets. 

You’ll need a GFCI outlet to plug them into, so expect to pay around $200 to $300 to have an electrician install one.

LED Backsplash

If you want to light up your kitchen and crank up the customization and intrigue, you can create a unique LED backsplash. This is typically done with mats that are embedded with hundreds of tiny lights. 

Some materials made of glass or resin can also be installed with lights behind them. These backsplashes cost an average of $3,000 to $6,000 for a 30-square-foot installation and require an electrician to wire them.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Color and pattern: Using a color or pattern that contrasts the rest of the space creates a focal point in the kitchen that improves the space’s aesthetics.

• DIY installation: If you know how to paint or install wallpaper or tile, some backsplash materials can be easy to DIY. If you’re extra handy and have tools to cut ceramic or porcelain, you can even do a backsplash tile installation yourself to save around $700.

• Permits: In most cases, you only need a building permit for structural changes to your kitchen, so backsplash installation does not apply. If you’re installing new GFCI outlets in your backsplash or lighting under your cabinets, though, you’ll need an electrical permit, which costs between $50 and $150.

• Job complexity: Electrical outlets, exhaust vent hoods, corners, and windows all add to the complexity of backsplash installation. If your kitchen has a lot of outlets or edges, tiles will need to be cut accordingly, and you may need to pay more for labor.

• Aesthetics: Remember, your backsplash is functional, but it can also affect the look of the entire room. Let the backsplash stand out by pairing it with a complementary countertop rather than two bold designs that distract from one another.

FAQ: Backsplash Installation Cost