Kitchen backsplash cost in Denver, CO
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 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #81
- 1 = most expensive
Denver homeowners pay roughly $310 to $1,550 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10 to $51 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Denver is almost level. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $27.74 an hour in the Denver area, 4% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $300 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $910 | 58% |
| Labor | $160 | $390 | $620 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $920 | $1,550 | 100% |
Where the Denver 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, Denver wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Denver metro is 101.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $530, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.8) and land at $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 Denver. The wage table below marks each row.
Denver against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
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 $860 to $920 across Denver and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Denver comes in at #81 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Denver is 1% above the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −7% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Denver's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +5% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −8% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −12% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Denver bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Denver
Because every project leans on different trades, Denver's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +4% and tile flooring +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,600 | +4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,850 | +2% |
Denver: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Denver 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
$310 to $800
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$670 to $1,150
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 – $660 | $560 – $970 | $870 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $800 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,350 | $1,100 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,550 |
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 Denver is 1.04 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Denver 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.21 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $36.14 an hour. BLS counts 7,250 of them working in the area, 45.0 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 ($34.59 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($17.40) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 9.4% or 14.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,609,350 jobs in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial area. That makes it the 17th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.03% 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% | $27.70 | $31.21 | $36.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Denver?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,550 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $670 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 Denver?
About $10 to $51 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 Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 7% less than Denver ($920). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $920. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$310 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Denver?
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 Denver area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 1% above 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 Denver?
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 Denver?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $800 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Denver
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.