Kitchen backsplash cost in Phoenix, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.55 – $48
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #128
- 1 = most expensive
Phoenix homeowners pay roughly $290 to $1,450 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.55 to $48 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Phoenix is 4% lower. Building materials run about 5% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.0).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Phoenix, AZ, standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $640 |
| Labor | $270 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Phoenix, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 58% |
| Labor | $140 | $360 | $580 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
Why Phoenix prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Phoenix wages are 0.96 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Phoenix metro is 95.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Phoenix is 0.96 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $25.72 an hour, which is 4% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $30.51 an hour. BLS counts 780 of them working in the area, 3.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.00 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.36 and $35.30 an hour. BLS counts 12,710 of them working in the area, 53.5 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 ($30.51 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($19.28) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 7.0% or 9.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,375,760 jobs in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler area. That makes it the 11th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.28 | $25.72 | $30.51 | $26.77 | 0.96 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.36 | $29.00 | $35.30 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
Why two Phoenix quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Phoenix
Because every project leans on different trades, Phoenix's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −2% and tile flooring −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,200 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $910 – $2,750 | −2% |
Phoenix against nearby metros and the rest of Arizona
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Phoenix. Tucson is the lowest at about $840 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| Tucson, AZ75 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ105 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −1% |
| Yuma, AZ110 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Flagstaff, AZ185 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −1% |
| El Centro, CA190 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +11% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Phoenix comes in at #128 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Phoenix is 1% above the Arizona figure.
Other Arizona metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −1% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −1% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Phoenix's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Phoenix against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +24% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +18% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | +1% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | +25% |
Cost by quality level and size in Phoenix
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Phoenix 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
$290 to $750
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$630 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$980 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $620 | $530 – $910 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $750 | $630 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Phoenix: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Phoenix?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Phoenix area. A standard-spec job lands at $630 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Phoenix?
About $9.55 to $48 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 Phoenix or Tucson?
Tucson is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $840, which is 2% less than Phoenix ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Phoenix?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $360 out of $860. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Phoenix?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Phoenix?
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 Phoenix area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Phoenix expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Arizona?
Phoenix is 1% above the Arizona statewide estimate ($850 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Arizona; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Phoenix?
The BLS median is $25.72 an hour in the Phoenix area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.28 to $30.51.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Phoenix?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $750 and premium work $980 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Phoenix
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.