Kitchen backsplash cost in Columbus, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.05 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #183
- 1 = most expensive
Columbus homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,400 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.05 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Columbus is 8% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.00 an hour in the Columbus area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Columbus, GA, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Columbus, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $820 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Columbus prices look the way they do
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 $23.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Columbus is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Columbus metro is 96.3 (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 (89.3) 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 Columbus. The wage table below marks each row.
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Columbus
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 Columbus?
Because every project leans on different trades, Columbus's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and kitchen cabinets −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,800 | −15% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,300 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,150 – $20,500 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
Columbus against nearby metros and the rest of Georgia
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 $800 to $820 across Columbus and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GAthis page | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | |
| Auburn, AL40 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Warner Robins, GA65 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Albany, GA70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Macon, GA70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Dothan, AL90 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Columbus comes in at #183 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Columbus is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Columbus's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbus against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +4% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +13% |
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Columbus is 0.85 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Columbus metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $23.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.94 and $27.57 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.67 an hour, which is 26% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.12 and $23.33 an hour. BLS counts 140 of them working in the area, 12.0 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 ($27.57 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($20.94) it shrinks by about $25. The total moves by 7.0% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 116,380 jobs in the Columbus area. That makes it the 187th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.94 | $23.00 | $27.57 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $18.12 | $21.67 | $23.33 | $29.12 | 0.74 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Columbus
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Columbus 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 $710
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$930 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $590 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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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 $600 to $1,050 for Columbus, GA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Columbus, GA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Columbus, GA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Columbus: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Columbus?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,400 in the Columbus 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 Columbus?
About $9.05 to $46 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 Columbus or Auburn?
Auburn is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 2% less than Columbus ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbus?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $820. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Columbus?
$270 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Columbus?
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 Columbus area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbus expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Georgia?
Columbus is 2% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($840 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Columbus?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.00 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.94 to $27.57.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Columbus?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Columbus
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.