Kitchen backsplash cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $9.95 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #111
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Boulder, CO usually costs $300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.95 to $49.50 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 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Boulder, CO, standard level
$650 to $1,150
About $22 to $37.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $290 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $650 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $390 | $620 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $890 | $1,500 | 100% |
Where the Boulder price comes from
Labor is 43% 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 Boulder the blended ratio comes out at 1.03. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boulder is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.2: $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Boulder. The wage table below marks each row.
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boulder. 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
$300 to $770
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$650 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $640 | $550 – $940 | $840 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $770 | $650 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
What local crews earn in Boulder
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 Boulder the blend is 1.03.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boulder metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $27.74 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $34.59 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.73 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 28.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $85 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 14.6% to 9.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boulder has 192,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 119th 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% | $17.40 | $27.74 | $34.59 | $26.77 | 1.04 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Boulder against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Boulder. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $860 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +3% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | −2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −4% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boulder ranks #111 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boulder is 2% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −9% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −9% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −10% |
Why two Boulder 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.
Related projects, priced for Boulder
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boulder wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+1%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,700 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,800 | −1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,800 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,700 – $23,200 | level |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,800 | +1% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Boulder?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $650 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 Boulder?
About $9.95 to $49.50 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 Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $890, which is 0% less than Boulder ($890). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $890. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Boulder?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Boulder?
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 Boulder area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 2% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($910 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Boulder?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $27.74 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.40 to $34.59.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Boulder?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $770 and premium work $1,000 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Boulder
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.