Kitchen backsplash cost in Hawaii
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $380 – $1,850
- Per sq ft
- $12.50 – $62
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +24%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to install a backsplash in Hawaii? Plan on $380 to $1,850 for 30 sq ft. Wages (1.42x the US blend), materials (price index 111.6) and permit costs (110.0) put the state above the national midpoint by 24%.
Inside Hawaii, the metros we cover range from $1,050 (Kahului) to $1,150 (Honolulu) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Hawaii (statewide), standard level
$820 to $1,400
About $27.50 to $47 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $750 |
| Labor | $410 | $660 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $820 | $1,400 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Hawaii
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $170 | $590 | $1,000 | 52% |
| Labor | $210 | $530 | $850 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $380 | $1,100 | $1,850 | 100% |
Hawaii against its neighbors
Hawaii ranks 1 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. Hawaii sits at $1,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2530 miles away | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −14% |
| Oregon | 2590 miles away | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −15% |
| Washington | 2710 miles away | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | −5% |
| Nevada | 2730 miles away | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −18% |
| Alaska | 2850 miles away | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −16% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Hawaii
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.
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.
Hawaii metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,100, and the top-to-bottom gap is 14%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +5% |
| Kahului, HI | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | −8% |
Related projects, priced for Hawaii
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Hawaii wages and prices. Against national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+27%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+18%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,800 – $37,100 | +18% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $5,100 – $17,700 | +25% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,350 – $12,200 | +25% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,950 – $29,600 | +27% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,400 | +23% |
Quality levels and sizes in Hawaii
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Hawaii wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$380 to $970
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$820 to $1,400
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,250 to $1,850
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $320 – $810 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $380 – $970 | $820 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,850 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $630 – $1,600 | $1,350 – $2,350 | $2,100 – $3,100 |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in Hawaii
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.42 for Hawaii.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $38.11 an hour, which is 42% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $29.50 and $49.03 an hour. BLS counts 440 of them working in the state, 7.0 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 $41.00 an hour, which is 41% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $31.91 and $53.36 an hour. BLS counts 4,810 of them working in the state, 76.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($49.03 an hour) would add about $140 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.50) would take off about $110. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 627,530 jobs across Hawaii (May 2025), which is 0.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $29.50 | $38.11 | $49.03 | $26.77 | 1.42 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $31.91 | $41.00 | $53.36 | $29.12 | 1.41 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.42 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Hawaii: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Hawaii?
$380 to $1,850 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Hawaii can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Hawaii is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Kahului at about $1,050 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Honolulu at $1,150.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Hawaii than the US average?
It is 24% more expensive: $1,100 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Hawaii?
About 48% ($530). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.42x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Hawaii?
The BLS statewide median is $38.11 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.50 to $49.03.
+Where does Hawaii rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
1st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,100 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Hawaii?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $380 to $970 and premium work $1,250 to $1,850. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Hawaii
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.