Kitchen backsplash cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $250 – $1,250
- Per sq ft
- $8.20 – $42
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −16%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #298
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Smith homeowners pay roughly $250 to $1,250 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.20 to $42 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Smith is 16% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $18.74 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 30% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$550 to $960
About $18.50 to $32 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $200 | $330 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $550 | $960 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 65% |
| Labor | $110 | $260 | $420 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $250 | $750 | $1,250 | 100% |
Where the Fort Smith 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 $18.74 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Smith is 0.70 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 35% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $490, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) 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 Fort Smith. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Fort Smith is 0.70 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Smith metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $18.74 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.62 and $21.63 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $20.39 an hour, which is 30% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $23.62 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 25.1 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 ($21.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($17.62) it shrinks by about $15. The total moves by 4.8% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.62 | $18.74 | $21.63 | $26.77 | 0.70 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $17.84 | $20.39 | $23.62 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.70 | |||||
How Fort Smith compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Joplin is the priciest of the group at $890. Little Rock is the cheapest at $750.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $250 – $1,250 | $750 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | +1% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | +5% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +18% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −1% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | +7% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +19% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #298 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Fort Smith is 0% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | +1% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $750 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +9% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +9% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +41% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +39% |
Cost by quality level and size in Fort Smith
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith 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
$250 to $650
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$550 to $960
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$860 to $1,250
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $200 – $540 | $460 – $800 | $710 – $1,050 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $250 – $650 | $550 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $410 – $1,100 | $920 – $1,600 | $1,450 – $2,100 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fort Smith bid
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 Fort Smith?
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −11% and shower pan −19%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,500 – $28,100 | −11% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,400 | −18% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $1,800 – $8,700 | −15% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $3,900 – $19,400 | −17% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $710 – $2,300 | −19% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Fort Smith, AR, $9
Multi-page report for Fort Smith, AR: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Fort Smith?
For 30 sq ft, expect $250 to $1,250 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $550 to $960. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Fort Smith?
About $8.20 to $42 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 Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $760, which is 1% more than Fort Smith ($750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $260 out of $750. Materials are 65% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$250 to $1,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Fort Smith?
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 Fort Smith area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 0% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($760 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Fort Smith?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $18.74 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.62 to $21.63.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Fort Smith?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $250 to $650 and premium work $860 to $1,250. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Fort Smith
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.