Kitchen backsplash cost in Anchorage, AK
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $310 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $52.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #57
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Anchorage, plan on $310 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $52.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% higher than the national one. Building materials run about 7% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 107.3).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Anchorage, AK, standard level
$690 to $1,200
About $23 to $40 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $720 |
| Labor | $290 | $470 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $690 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Anchorage, AK
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $560 | $970 | 60% |
| Labor | $150 | $380 | $610 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $950 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the Anchorage price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Anchorage is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the area, so we used the national median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Anchorage metro is 107.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $560, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Anchorage. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Anchorage
Because every project leans on different trades, Anchorage's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +16% and tile flooring +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,400 – $34,700 | +10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,750 – $16,200 | +15% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,600 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,400 – $26,800 | +15% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,200 | +16% |
Anchorage against nearby metros and the rest of Alaska
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $950 to $1,150 across Anchorage and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AKthis page | $310 – $1,600 | $950 | |
| Bellingham, WA1410 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +13% |
| Bremerton, WA1450 miles | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +19% |
| Seattle, WA1480 miles | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | +13% |
| Olympia, WA1485 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +12% |
| Spokane, WA1570 miles | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +7% |
| Alaska (statewide) | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Anchorage comes in at #57 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Anchorage is 0% above the Alaska figure.
Anchorage is the only Alaska metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Anchorage's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Anchorage against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −11% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $990 | +4% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −19% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $900 | −4% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Anchorage
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Anchorage
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Anchorage 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
$310 to $820
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$690 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $260 – $680 | $580 – $1,000 | $890 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $820 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
Anchorage 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 Anchorage is 1.02 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Anchorage metro, so we used the national median: $26.77 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.76 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.00 an hour, which is 20% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $44.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,460 of them working in the area, 82.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($33.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($21.73) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 9.3% or 6.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 177,050 jobs in the Anchorage area. That makes it the 131st 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% | $21.73 | $26.77 | $33.76 | $26.77 | 1.00 | US |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.72 | $35.00 | $44.15 | $29.12 | 1.20 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Anchorage, AK, $9
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Kitchen backsplash in Anchorage: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Anchorage?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,600 in the Anchorage area. A standard-spec job lands at $690 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Anchorage?
About $10.50 to $52.50 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 Anchorage or Bellingham?
Bellingham is 1410 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,050, which is 13% more than Anchorage ($950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Anchorage?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $380 out of $950. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Anchorage?
$310 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Anchorage?
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 Anchorage area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Anchorage expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Alaska?
Anchorage is 0% above the Alaska statewide estimate ($940 at the midpoint).
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Anchorage?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the national median of $26.77 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.73 to $33.76.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Anchorage?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $820 and premium work $1,050 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Anchorage
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.