Kitchen backsplash cost in Lakeland, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #239
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Lakeland, plan on $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.85 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.69 an hour in the Lakeland area, 19% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Lakeland, FL, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Lakeland, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Lakeland 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, Lakeland wages are 0.81 times the national level. Labor makes up about 37% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lakeland metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Lakeland bid
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.
Related projects, priced for Lakeland
Because every project leans on different trades, Lakeland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and kitchen cabinets −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,200 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,150 – $20,600 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $780 – $2,500 | −12% |
How Lakeland compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Orlando is the priciest of the group at $820.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland, FLthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Orlando, FL40 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +2% |
| Tampa, FL50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| North Port, FL60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Palm Bay, FL65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Sebastian, FL70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Florida (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Lakeland comes in at #239 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Lakeland is 3% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | +8% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +2% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Lakeland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lakeland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +26% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −6% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +23% |
Lakeland 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 Lakeland is 0.81 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $21.69 an hour, which is 19% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.76 and $24.29 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 3.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.10 an hour, which is 24% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.69 and $25.50 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 30.2 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 ($24.29 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($16.76) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 4.1% or 7.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 265,280 jobs in the Lakeland-Winter Haven area. That makes it the 100th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.17% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $16.76 | $21.69 | $24.29 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $18.69 | $22.10 | $25.50 | $29.12 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Lakeland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lakeland 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Lakeland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Lakeland?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Lakeland area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Lakeland?
About $8.85 to $45 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 Lakeland or Orlando?
Orlando is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 2% more than Lakeland ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lakeland?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $810. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Lakeland?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Lakeland?
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 Lakeland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lakeland expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Florida?
Lakeland is 3% below the Florida statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 19 metros in Florida; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Lakeland?
The BLS median is $21.69 an hour in the Lakeland area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.76 to $24.29.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Lakeland?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Lakeland
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.