Kitchen backsplash cost in Colorado
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install a backsplash in Colorado? Plan on $300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft. Wages (1.04x the US blend), materials (price index 98.7) and permit costs (103.1) put the state above the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Colorado, the metros we cover range from $860 (Colorado Springs) to $920 (Denver) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Colorado (statewide), standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $300 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Colorado
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $890 | 57% |
| Labor | $160 | $390 | $620 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $910 | $1,500 | 100% |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in Colorado
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.04 for Colorado.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $27.74 an hour, which is 4% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $34.59 an hour. BLS counts 870 of them working in the state, 3.0 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 $30.21 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.97 and $35.78 an hour. BLS counts 12,740 of them working in the state, 44.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($34.59 an hour) would add about $85 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.40) would take off about $130. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,873,900 jobs across Colorado (May 2025), which is 1.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.40 | $27.74 | $34.59 | $26.77 | 1.04 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.97 | $30.21 | $35.78 | $29.12 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Colorado
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.
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Colorado
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Colorado wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$300 to $790
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$670 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $660 | $550 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $790 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
If you are planning more than one job in Colorado
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Colorado wages and prices. Against national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+1%) and kitchen remodel lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,750 – $23,500 | +1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $940 – $2,800 | +1% |
Colorado metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $910, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +1% |
| Grand Junction, CO | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
| Boulder, CO | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −2% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −2% |
| Greeley, CO | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −6% |
Colorado versus the states around it
Colorado ranks 18 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. Colorado sits at $910. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 120 miles away | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | −4% |
| New Mexico | 340 miles away | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −10% |
| Utah | 410 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −8% |
| South Dakota | 440 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −8% |
| Kansas | 450 miles away | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −5% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Colorado, $9
Multi-page report for Colorado: 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 Colorado: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Colorado?
$300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Colorado can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Colorado is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Colorado Springs at about $860 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Denver at $920.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Colorado than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $910 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Colorado?
About 43% ($390). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Colorado?
The BLS statewide median is $27.74 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.40 to $34.59.
+Where does Colorado rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
18th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $910 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Colorado?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $790 and premium work $1,050 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Colorado
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.