Kitchen backsplash cost in Tucson, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.30 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #152
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Tucson area: $280 to $1,400 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 6% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $24.30 an hour in the Tucson area, 9% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Tucson, AZ, standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Tucson, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $340 | $540 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Where the Tucson price comes from
Labor is 40% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Tucson the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tucson is at 96.2 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 96.9: $0 to $0.
Tucson against nearby metros and the rest of Arizona
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 $840 to $960 across Tucson and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Phoenix, AZ75 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ130 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +1% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ180 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| El Centro, CA215 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +13% |
| Flagstaff, AZ255 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tucson ranks #152 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tucson is 1% below the Arizona figure.
Elsewhere in Arizona
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +1% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +2% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tucson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +4% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Tucson bid
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.
Who does the work: Tucson 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 Tucson the blend is 0.90.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $24.30 an hour, 9% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.66 and $28.99 an hour. About 100 work in the metro. That is 2.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.61 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $28.94 an hour. About 1,380 work in the metro. That is 35.4 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 $60 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $45. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 7.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tucson has 389,630 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 68th 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% | $20.66 | $24.30 | $28.99 | $26.77 | 0.91 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.31 | $23.61 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Tucson?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tucson wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring 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 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,500 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,500 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −6% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Tucson
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tucson. 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
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$950 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $510 – $890 | $800 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $950 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Tucson, AZ, $9
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Kitchen backsplash in Tucson: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Tucson?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Tucson area. A standard-spec job lands at $620 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 Tucson?
About $9.30 to $47 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 Tucson or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 2% more than Tucson ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tucson?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $840. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Tucson?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Tucson?
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 Tucson area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tucson expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Arizona?
Tucson is 1% below 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 Tucson?
The BLS median is $24.30 an hour in the Tucson area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.66 to $28.99.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Tucson?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $950 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Tucson
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.