Kitchen backsplash cost in Sacramento, 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
- $10.50 – $52
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #65
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Sacramento area: $310 to $1,550 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 4% higher than the US figure. 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 Sacramento, CA, standard level
$690 to $1,200
About $23 to $39.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $290 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $690 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Sacramento, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 59% |
| Labor | $150 | $390 | $620 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $940 | $1,550 | 100% |
Where the Sacramento price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Sacramento wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sacramento 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 106.7: $0 to $0.
How Sacramento compares
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 $890 to $960 across Sacramento and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CAthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +1% |
| Vallejo, CA60 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +2% |
| Chico, CA70 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −5% |
| Napa, CA75 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +2% |
| Modesto, CA85 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −3% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sacramento ranks #65 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sacramento is 2% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sacramento against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | −6% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −11% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −14% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −10% |
Who does the work: Sacramento 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 Sacramento the blend is 1.03.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $27.04 an hour, in line with the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.56 and $35.39 an hour. About 790 work in the metro. That is 7.3 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 $35.79 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $40.70 an hour. About 9,730 work in the metro. That is 90.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $70. That is a swing of roughly 7.4% to 11.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom has 1,080,590 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 35th 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% | $21.56 | $27.04 | $35.39 | $26.77 | 1.01 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $27.45 | $35.79 | $40.70 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Sacramento
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sacramento. 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 $810
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$690 to $1,200
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) | $260 – $680 | $570 – $990 | $890 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $810 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $2,000 | $1,750 – $2,600 |
Planning more than one job in Sacramento?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sacramento wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+13%) and shower pan lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,800 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,650 – $15,900 | +13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,500 | +5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,100 | +8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,900 | +3% |
Why two Sacramento quotes can differ
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $690 to $1,200 for Sacramento, CA is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Sacramento: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Sacramento?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,550 in the Sacramento area. A standard-spec job lands at $690 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 Sacramento?
About $10.50 to $52 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 Sacramento or Stockton?
Stockton is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $950, which is 1% more than Sacramento ($940). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sacramento?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $940. Materials are 59% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Sacramento?
$310 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Sacramento?
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 Sacramento area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sacramento expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Sacramento is 2% 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 Sacramento?
The BLS median is $27.04 an hour in the Sacramento area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.56 to $35.39.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Sacramento?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $810 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Sacramento
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.