Kitchen backsplash cost in Tampa, 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
- $8.95 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #215
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Tampa, FL usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.95 to $45.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $85 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.25 an hour in the Tampa area, 17% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Tampa, FL, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $640 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Tampa, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 62% |
| Labor | $130 | $310 | $500 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Tampa price comes from
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 $22.25 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Tampa is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 38% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tampa is at 95.5 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.9: $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Tampa
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tampa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,700 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,200 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,100 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $790 – $2,500 | −11% |
Tampa against nearby metros and the rest of Florida
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Tampa. Lakeland is the lowest at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FLthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Lakeland, FL50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| North Port, FL55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Orlando, FL75 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +1% |
| Ocala, FL80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Punta Gorda, FL90 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Florida (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tampa ranks #215 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tampa is 2% below the Florida figure.
Elsewhere in Florida
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | +7% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +1% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tampa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +19% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +1% |
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +13% |
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Tampa
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tampa. 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
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 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
What local crews earn in Tampa
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 Tampa the blend is 0.83.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.25 an hour, 17% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $18.41 and $28.05 an hour. About 480 work in the metro. That is 3.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $25.06 an hour, 14% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $29.31 an hour. About 6,010 work in the metro. That is 41.5 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 $75 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 9.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has 1,447,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 19th 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% | $18.41 | $22.25 | $28.05 | $26.77 | 0.83 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.58 | $25.06 | $29.31 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Tampa bid
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
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Kitchen backsplash in Tampa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Tampa?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Tampa area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Tampa?
About $8.95 to $45.50 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 Tampa or Lakeland?
Lakeland is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 1% less than Tampa ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tampa?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $810. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Tampa?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Tampa?
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 Tampa area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tampa expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Florida?
Tampa is 2% 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 Tampa?
The BLS median is $22.25 an hour in the Tampa area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.41 to $28.05.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Tampa?
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 Tampa
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.