Kitchen backsplash cost in Fort Collins, 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
- #112
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Fort Collins, plan on $300 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.95 to $49.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins, 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% |
What is behind the Fort Collins 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 $27.74 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Fort Collins is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total. 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 Fort Collins metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.1) 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 Fort Collins. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Fort Collins
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Collins's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, tile flooring runs −1% and kitchen remodel −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,400 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,800 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,800 | −2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $920 – $2,750 | −1% |
Is Fort Collins cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Fort Collins. Colorado Springs is the lowest at about $860 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, COthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | |
| Boulder, CO40 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | level |
| Cheyenne, WY60 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | −2% |
| Denver, CO90 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO135 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −4% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Collins comes in at #112 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Fort Collins is 2% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| 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% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 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 |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Collins's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Collins against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −7% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +6% |
| Visalia, CA | 171,140 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +15% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −10% |
Cost by quality level and size in Fort Collins
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Collins 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
$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 | $540 – $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 |
Why two Fort Collins quotes can differ
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Fort Collins labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Fort Collins is 1.03 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Fort Collins 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 $28.04 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.36 and $30.74 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 30.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than 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 9.7% or 14.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 169,430 jobs in the Fort Collins-Loveland area. That makes it the 138th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% 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% | $23.36 | $28.04 | $30.74 | $29.12 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
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 $650 to $1,150 for Fort Collins, CO is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Fort Collins, CO: 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 Fort Collins: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Fort Collins?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins or Boulder?
Boulder is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $890, which is 0% more than Fort Collins ($890). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Collins expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Colorado?
Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins?
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 Fort Collins
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.