Depending on the backsplash material and square footage of the wall, backsplash installation usually runs from $600 to $1,300.
Tin, brick, and ceramic tiles are the most affordable choices, whereas marble and glass are the most expensive ones, but they give the kitchen or bathroom a premium finish.
We will tackle the costs of backsplash installation further in this simple guide. This includes the factors affecting it, if doing it yourself is practical, and so on.
The Price Factors Affecting Backsplash Installation
Here are several factors that can affect how much you will spend for installing a backsplash:
1) Tiling
As we said earlier, your choice of tiling will dictate a huge slice of the bill you will have to pay, ranging from $10 to $95 per square foot.
Tile materials for your backsplash include tin, ceramic, porcelain, brick, glass, marble, and stainless steel.
Each of them differs in style, durability, and price. We’ll discuss these further in the next section.
The right tiling should suit your kitchen decor and give you value for your money.
2) Style
For this, expect to pay the tile professional about $500 per day or $100 per hour.
This is separate from the tiling cost, as the installer would have to arrange the tiles in the desired way.
Some examples of nice tile patterns are stacked (ordinary flat rectangles), basketweave (two horizontal and vertical bars), herringbone (L shapes), and chevron (V shapes).
You can even go for something as complex as a mosaic formation or even small squares with different colors.
The final price will significantly go up if you choose an elaborate style.
3) Wall Size
The larger the wall on which the backsplash will be installed, the higher you’ll pay, and the smaller the wall, the less you’ll pay.
On average, homeowners spend around $15 to $40 per square foot on backsplash installation. In terms of the total cash cost for installing it, it’s approximately $1,000.
4) Labor
Backsplash installers charge different rates, but most people spend between $40 and $60 per hour.
In case you have an old and worn backsplash that needs to be removed and disposed of, you’d likely have to pay an extra $3 to $6 per square foot.
5) Electrical Obstacles
If you have kitchen or bathroom electrical outlets in the way, the tile contractor will need to get around them and cut tiles accordingly.
They also have to work safer since incorrectly handling wiring or any other electrical parts is dangerous. Thankfully, most tile pros know what they need to do with them.
And since this will take them more time and manual effort to do, your overall price will become higher.
What are the various backsplash materials and their rates?
Below are types of backsplash material and how much it costs below:
- Ceramic – There is a full gamut of ceramic tiles varying in shape, size, color, and style. Standard ceramic backsplash tiles can even be mixed with high-end ones for a unique finish.
The costs for ceramic tiling for backsplash start at $2 per square foot plus installation labor.
- Porcelain – Economical, incredibly water-resistant, and decorative, porcelain is a solid backsplash option.
It comes in many different styles, from light and pastel tones and honeycomb to variegated mosaic designs.
You will have to spend higher between $3 and $6 every square foot for installing a porcelain backsplash near the kitchen or bathroom sink.
- Brick – If you want a backsplash with an old-world charm, then incorporating a brick backsplash might be an excellent idea.
It is inherently heat and weather-resistant, though not completely waterproof. So expect it to have to be repaired or replaced completely after some time.
Brick tiling installation costs between $10 and $40 for every square foot used on the wall.
- Tin – Another classic design, tin backsplashes are still used to this day in many rural and even urban homes.
What’s great about it is its budget-friendly rate, quaint rustic charm, and good strength and durability. It is protected by an external oxide film which keeps it from corrosion.
In all, you can expect to spend from $10 to $30 per square foot for installing a tin backsplash at your home.
- Glass – It is visually pleasing to see a glass backsplash with its subtle, unique design and modernistic style.
Also, it bounces light around the area, making narrow or crowded spaces seem bigger. You can also get more natural sunlight into the house with it.
With regard to maintaining it, it is relatively very easy to clean regularly with just a microfiber cloth and glass cleaning solution.
There are over a hundred designs for glass backsplash tiles, and you can opt for one fitting your bathroom or kitchen decor.
The total cost of installing a glass backsplash for your kitchen, restroom, or laundry room is $30 per square foot.
- Marble – A luxury tile option, marble provides your kitchen wall with unrivaled aesthetics and texture.
However, it is prone to accidental stains and scratches by kitchen appliances or tools. Once a part of it is damaged, a large part of the marble may have to be replaced.
This wonderful material costs from $10 to $95 per square foot. For the labor, you would have to pay an extra $10 to $20 per square foot.
- Stainless Steel – Though it has limited designs and colors, stainless steel tiling is the most durable tile material. It resists scratches, stains, and damages.
Certainly, it is also resistant to rusting and corrosion thanks to its 11 percent chromium content.
Cleaning it is also super-easy. You just need to clean it with a mild detergent and warm water and rinse it thoroughly afterward.
Stainless steel tiles cost higher at $10 to $20 per square foot exclusive of professional labor.
Can I install a backsplash myself?
If the work is simple enough—that is to say if you merely plan to use simple tiling and your kitchen wall has no electrical outlets—then you can perform the backsplash installation yourself.
Simple tiles and patterns are easy to install, but as we said, working with electricals is not advised if you’re not licensed or experienced because it can result in injury or electrocution.
DIYing a hard backsplash project can make you prone to mistakes, which are often hard to sort out by yourself. Getting a pro to fix these will result in you spending a lot higher than if you just called them to do the entire project at the outset.
How much will I spend on DIY backsplash installation?
The entire backsplash DIY install project should cost you about $300 or more, which is a lot cheaper than hiring a pro because there are no labor costs involved. But all the work effort and materials are on you.
First, you’ll need to gather the tools and special equipment (if you don’t already have them at home). These include a trowel, cement backer board, rubber float, spacers, grout, and sealant.
And then, you have to get your desired tiling that costs between $2 and $95 depending on its type.
It’s worth noting that you don’t have to get expensive tiles. As long as the tiles are stylish and resilient, they’re good to go.
But we recommend just getting a peel-and-stick backsplash tiling because it’s relatively inexpensive and easier to install too without the need for heavy carpentry.
That said, this choice of tiling pales in comparison to the tiles we’ve discussed in terms of style, texture, and longevity.
FAQs about Installing a Backsplash
