Kitchen backsplash cost in Washington, DC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $9.70 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #117
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Washington area: $290 to $1,500 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 lands close to the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.65 an hour in the Washington area, 12% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Washington, DC, standard level
$650 to $1,100
About $21.50 to $37.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $650 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Washington, DC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $940 | 62% |
| Labor | $130 | $340 | $540 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $890 | $1,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Washington 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 $23.65 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Washington is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 38% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Washington is at 104.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.9: $0 to $0.
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Washington
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.
Planning more than one job in Washington?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Washington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (+5%) and tile flooring lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,400 – $33,000 | +5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $14,600 | +5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $10,000 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $940 – $2,900 | +3% |
Washington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Washington. 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
$290 to $770
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$650 to $1,100
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) | $240 – $640 | $540 – $940 | $840 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $770 | $650 – $1,100 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $490 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
Who does the work: Washington 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 Washington the blend is 0.90.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $23.65 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.22 and $31.25 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 1.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.23 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.62 and $35.56 an hour. About 13,280 work in the metro. That is 42.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 6.3% to 10.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has 3,136,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 6th 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% | $19.22 | $23.65 | $31.25 | $26.77 | 0.88 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $26.62 | $29.23 | $35.56 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
How Washington compares
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 $820 to $980 across Washington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | |
| Hagerstown, MD55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −8% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | −4% |
| Winchester, VA60 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −6% |
| Lexington Park, MD65 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −5% |
| Chambersburg, PA75 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +11% |
| District of Columbia (statewide) | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Washington ranks #117 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Washington is 5% below the District of Columbia figure.
Washington is the only District of Columbia metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Washington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −5% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +10% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −3% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −4% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Washington?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,500 in the Washington area. A standard-spec job lands at $650 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Washington?
About $9.70 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 Washington or Hagerstown?
Hagerstown is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 8% less than Washington ($890). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Washington?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $890. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Washington?
$290 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Washington?
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 Washington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Washington expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington is 5% below the District of Columbia statewide estimate ($930 at the midpoint).
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Washington?
The BLS median is $23.65 an hour in the Washington area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.22 to $31.25.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Washington?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 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 Washington
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.