Kitchen backsplash cost in Dalton, GA
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
- $9.05 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #190
- 1 = most expensive
Dalton homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.05 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dalton is 9% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.00 an hour in the Dalton area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Dalton, GA, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 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 Dalton, 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 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Dalton number
Labor is 39% 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 Dalton the blended ratio comes out at 0.84. 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 Dalton 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 (89.8) 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 Dalton. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Dalton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dalton 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 $1,350
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 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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 Dalton is 0.84 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dalton 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 $20.55 an hour, which is 29% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $15.16 and $22.17 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 6.1 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 65,300 jobs in the Dalton area. That makes it the 276th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% 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% | $15.16 | $20.55 | $22.17 | $29.12 | 0.71 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Dalton 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.
Is Dalton cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Dalton. Chattanooga is the lowest at about $760 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 35 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GAthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Chattanooga, TN35 miles | $250 – $1,250 | $760 | −8% |
| Gainesville, GA70 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Atlanta, GA80 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −3% |
| Huntsville, AL105 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Georgia (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Dalton comes in at #190 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Dalton 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 |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Dalton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dalton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +16% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +2% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
What nearby projects cost in Dalton
Because every project leans on different trades, Dalton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and kitchen cabinets −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,600 | −16% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
Get 3 local quotes
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 Dalton, GA is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Dalton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Dalton?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Dalton 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 Dalton?
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 Dalton or Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $760, which is 8% less than Dalton ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dalton?
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 Dalton?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Dalton?
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 Dalton area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dalton expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Georgia?
Dalton 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 Dalton?
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 Dalton?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Dalton
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.