Kitchen backsplash cost in Hartford, CT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,550
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $52
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #68
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Hartford area: $320 to $1,550 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 4% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.36 an hour in the Hartford area, 13% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Hartford, CT, standard level
$690 to $1,200
About $23 to $39.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $660 |
| Labor | $320 | $520 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $690 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Hartford, CT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $880 | 55% |
| Labor | $170 | $420 | $680 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $930 | $1,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Hartford number
Labor is 45% 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 Hartford the blended ratio comes out at 1.13. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hartford is at 97.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.7: $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 Hartford. The wage table below marks each row.
Hartford against nearby metros and the rest of Connecticut
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Hartford. New Haven is the lowest at about $930 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CTthis page | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | |
| Norwich, CT25 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Waterbury, CT30 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Springfield, MA30 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +3% |
| New Haven, CT30 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Amherst, MA45 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +12% |
| Connecticut (statewide) | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hartford ranks #68 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hartford is 0% above the Connecticut figure.
Elsewhere in Connecticut
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | +1% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Waterbury, CT | 160,710 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hartford against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −13% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −13% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −10% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | −2% |
Cost by quality level and size in Hartford
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hartford. 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
$320 to $810
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$690 to $1,200
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 – $680 | $570 – $980 | $880 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $810 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $530 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,600 |
Who does the work: Hartford 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 Hartford the blend is 1.13.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hartford metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median: $30.36 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $33.90 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $31.14 an hour, 7% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.29 and $40.07 an hour. About 1,660 work in the metro. That is 27.7 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 $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $80. That is a swing of roughly 8.6% to 4.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford has 599,770 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 47th 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% | $23.96 | $30.36 | $33.90 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.29 | $31.14 | $40.07 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Hartford?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hartford wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,300 – $14,700 | +4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,200 | +4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,000 – $24,800 | +7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Hartford
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.
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Kitchen backsplash in Hartford: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Hartford?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,550 in the Hartford area. A standard-spec job lands at $690 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Hartford?
About $10.50 to $52 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 Hartford or Norwich?
Norwich is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $930, which is 0% less than Hartford ($930). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hartford?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $420 out of $930. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Hartford?
$320 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Hartford?
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 Hartford area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hartford expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Connecticut?
Hartford is 0% above the Connecticut statewide estimate ($930 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Connecticut; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Hartford?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $30.36 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.96 to $33.90.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Hartford?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $810 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Hartford
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.