Kitchen backsplash cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $340 – $1,700
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #16
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the San Francisco area: $340 to $1,700 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 13% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.98 an hour in the San Francisco area, 16% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$750 to $1,300
About $25 to $43 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $410 | $730 |
| Labor | $340 | $550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $750 | $1,300 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $570 | $980 | 56% |
| Labor | $180 | $450 | $710 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $340 | $1,000 | $1,700 | 100% |
What is behind the San Francisco number
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 $30.98 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for San Francisco is 1.19 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Francisco is at 108.5 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $570 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 115.6: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: San Francisco 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 San Francisco the blend is 1.19.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $30.98 an hour, 16% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $38.43 an hour. About 1,020 work in the metro. That is 4.3 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 $42.89 an hour, 47% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.45 and $48.26 an hour. About 14,010 work in the metro. That is 59.0 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 $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $85. That is a swing of roughly 8.6% to 9.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has 2,373,920 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 12th 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% | $24.06 | $30.98 | $38.43 | $26.77 | 1.16 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $29.12 | 1.47 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
Planning more than one job in San Francisco?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Francisco wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+27%) and tile flooring lowest (+14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,200 – $36,100 | +15% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $5,100 – $18,000 | +27% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,200 | +14% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,650 – $28,000 | +20% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,200 | +15% |
Cost by quality level and size in San Francisco
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Francisco. 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
$340 to $880
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$750 to $1,300
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,700
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $340 – $880 | $750 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,700 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $570 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $2,800 |
Is San Francisco cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than San Francisco. Stockton is the lowest at about $950 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −6% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −6% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −5% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −6% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −6% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Francisco ranks #16 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Francisco is 6% above the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −5% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −10% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | −5% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | −3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Francisco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −15% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | +6% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +1% |
Why two San Francisco 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.
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Kitchen backsplash in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in San Francisco?
For 30 sq ft, expect $340 to $1,700 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $750 to $1,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in San Francisco?
About $11.50 to $56.50 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 San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 6% less than San Francisco ($1,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $450 out of $1,000. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in San Francisco?
$340 to $1,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in San Francisco?
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 San Francisco area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 6% 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 San Francisco?
The BLS median is $30.98 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.06 to $38.43.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in San Francisco?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $340 to $880 and premium work $1,150 to $1,700. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near San Francisco
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.