Kitchen backsplash cost in Montgomery, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #241
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Montgomery, plan on $260 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.85 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.54 an hour in the Montgomery area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Montgomery, AL, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Montgomery, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Montgomery number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Montgomery wages are 0.80 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Montgomery metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Montgomery. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Montgomery cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Columbus is the priciest of the group at $820. Dothan is the cheapest at $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, ALthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Auburn, AL50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Birmingham, AL80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +2% |
| Dothan, AL95 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Montgomery comes in at #241 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Montgomery is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Montgomery's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Montgomery against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | +17% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
Montgomery labor market for kitchen backsplash
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Montgomery is 0.80 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Montgomery metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $21.54 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.91 and $22.86 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.77 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.72 and $26.19 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 18.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.86 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $15. At the 25th percentile ($17.91) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 2.1% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 165,550 jobs in the Montgomery area. That makes it the 142nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.91 | $21.54 | $22.86 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $17.72 | $22.77 | $26.19 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Montgomery
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
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.
Planning more than one job in Montgomery?
Because every project leans on different trades, Montgomery's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and kitchen cabinets −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,100 | −12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,500 | −11% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Montgomery
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Montgomery wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$260 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,000
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 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
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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 $1,000 for Montgomery, AL is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Montgomery, AL, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Montgomery, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in Montgomery: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Montgomery?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the Montgomery area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Montgomery?
About $8.85 to $45 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 Montgomery or Auburn?
Auburn is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% more than Montgomery ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Montgomery?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $810. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Montgomery?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Montgomery?
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 Montgomery area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Montgomery expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Alabama?
Montgomery is 0% below 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 Montgomery?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.54 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.91 to $22.86.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Montgomery?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Montgomery
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.