Kitchen backsplash cost in Los Angeles, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #42
- 1 = most expensive
Los Angeles homeowners pay roughly $320 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10.50 to $53.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Los Angeles is 7% higher. Building materials run about 7% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 106.6).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Los Angeles, CA, standard level
$710 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $40.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $720 |
| Labor | $310 | $500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Los Angeles, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $560 | $960 | 58% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $640 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $960 | $1,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Los Angeles number
Labor is 42% 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 Los Angeles the blended ratio comes out at 1.07.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Los Angeles metro is 106.6 (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 (113.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Los Angeles
Because every project leans on different trades, Los Angeles's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +15% and tile flooring +7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,200 – $34,400 | +9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,750 – $16,200 | +15% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,700 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,200 – $25,700 | +11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $3,050 | +9% |
Los Angeles against nearby metros and the rest of California
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 $910 to $970 across Los Angeles and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CAthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | |
| Oxnard, CA55 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −3% |
| Bakersfield, CA90 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −1% |
| Santa Maria, CA110 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −1% |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| Riverside, CA120 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Los Angeles comes in at #42 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Los Angeles is 0% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −2% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Los Angeles's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Los Angeles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +4% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +11% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −11% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −12% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Los Angeles
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Los Angeles 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
$320 to $830
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $690 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $830 | $710 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $530 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Los Angeles
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
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 Los Angeles is 1.07 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $28.18 an hour, which is 5% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.27 and $35.52 an hour. BLS counts 2,170 of them working in the area, 3.5 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 $36.41 an hour, which is 25% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.59 and $48.37 an hour. BLS counts 30,600 of them working in the area, 48.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($23.27) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 9.6% or 6.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 6,271,560 jobs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area. That makes it the 2nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 4.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.27 | $28.18 | $35.52 | $26.77 | 1.05 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.59 | $36.41 | $48.37 | $29.12 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Los Angeles: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Los Angeles?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the Los Angeles area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 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 Los Angeles?
About $10.50 to $53.50 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 Los Angeles or Oxnard?
Oxnard is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $930, which is 3% less than Los Angeles ($960). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Los Angeles?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $960. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Los Angeles?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Los Angeles expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Los Angeles is 0% above 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 Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $28.18 an hour in the Los Angeles area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.27 to $35.52.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Los Angeles?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $830 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Los Angeles
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.