Kitchen backsplash cost in Fresno, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $310 – $1,550
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #80
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Fresno, CA usually costs $310 to $1,550 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $10 to $51 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Fresno, CA, standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $280 | $460 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Fresno, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 60% |
| Labor | $150 | $370 | $590 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $920 | $1,550 | 100% |
Why Fresno prices look the way they do
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 Fresno the blended ratio comes out at 0.98.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Fresno is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.2: $0 to $0.
What local crews earn in Fresno
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 Fresno the blend is 0.98.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $26.11 an hour, in line with the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $31.65 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 4.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.52 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.62 and $39.23 an hour. About 1,790 work in the metro. That is 37.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $45. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Fresno has 476,890 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 53rd 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% | $22.41 | $26.11 | $31.65 | $26.77 | 0.98 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.62 | $30.52 | $39.23 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
How Fresno compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Fresno. Modesto is the lowest at about $910 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CAthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | |
| Merced, CA60 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +4% |
| Visalia, CA65 miles | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +11% |
| Modesto, CA85 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −2% |
| San Jose, CA95 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +7% |
| Salinas, CA100 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +3% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +4% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Fresno ranks #80 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Fresno is 4% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +10% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +5% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +7% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fresno against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +1% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −14% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −3% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Fresno 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Fresno
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Fresno. 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
$310 to $800
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$670 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,550
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $660 | $560 – $970 | $870 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $800 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,350 | $1,100 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,550 |
What nearby projects cost in Fresno
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Fresno wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (+5%) and shower pan lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,400 – $33,100 | +5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $14,700 | +5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,400 | +3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $930 – $2,850 | +1% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Fresno: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Fresno?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,550 in the Fresno area. A standard-spec job lands at $670 to $1,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Fresno?
About $10 to $51 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 Fresno or Merced?
Merced is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 4% more than Fresno ($920). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fresno?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $370 out of $920. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Fresno?
$310 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Fresno?
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 Fresno area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fresno expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Fresno is 4% below the California statewide estimate ($960 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Fresno?
The BLS median is $26.11 an hour in the Fresno area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.41 to $31.65.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Fresno?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $800 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Fresno
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.