Kitchen backsplash cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.90 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #220
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Birmingham area: $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 10% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.82 an hour in the Birmingham area, 18% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$590 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $380 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $310 | $490 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Birmingham price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Birmingham wages are 0.82 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Birmingham is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.6: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Birmingham trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Birmingham the blend is 0.82.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $21.82 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.94 and $23.89 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 1.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.23 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $28.95 an hour. About 1,660 work in the metro. That is 31.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $25 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 6.0% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Birmingham has 520,290 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 50th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.94 | $21.82 | $23.89 | $26.77 | 0.82 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.00 | $24.23 | $28.95 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Birmingham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Birmingham. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Birmingham against nearby metros and the rest of Alabama
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Huntsville is the priciest of the group at $820. Montgomery is the cheapest at $810.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Birmingham ranks #220 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | +13% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
Why two Birmingham quotes can differ
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
What nearby projects cost in Birmingham
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Birmingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,600 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,200 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
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Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $590 to $1,050 for Birmingham, AL is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Birmingham?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Birmingham?
About $8.90 to $45.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% less than Birmingham ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $810. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Birmingham?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $21.82 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.94 to $23.89.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Birmingham?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Birmingham
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.