Kitchen backsplash cost in Honolulu, HI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $400 – $1,950
- Per sq ft
- $13.50 – $64.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +30%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #1
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Honolulu, HI usually costs $400 to $1,950 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $13.50 to $64.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $270 more. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $41.76 an hour in the Honolulu area, 56% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Honolulu, HI, standard level
$860 to $1,500
About $29 to $49.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $750 |
| Labor | $440 | $730 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $860 | $1,500 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Honolulu, HI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $170 | $590 | $1,000 | 50% |
| Labor | $230 | $580 | $940 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $400 | $1,150 | $1,950 | 100% |
What is behind the Honolulu number
Labor is 50% 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 Honolulu the blended ratio comes out at 1.56.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Honolulu is at 111.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $590 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 111.0: $0 to $0.
Why two Honolulu quotes can differ
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 Honolulu
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Honolulu wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+31%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+20%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $22,200 – $37,700 | +20% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $5,250 – $18,700 | +31% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,600 – $12,500 | +30% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $6,150 – $30,600 | +31% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,550 | +28% |
Cost by quality level and size in Honolulu
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Honolulu. 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
$400 to $1,000
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$860 to $1,500
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,300 to $1,950
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $330 – $850 | $720 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $400 – $1,000 | $860 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $1,950 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $670 – $1,700 | $1,450 – $2,450 | $2,200 – $3,250 |
What local crews earn in Honolulu
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 Honolulu the blend is 1.56.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $41.76 an hour, 56% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $34.17 and $51.75 an hour. About 290 work in the metro. That is 6.5 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 $45.34 an hour, 56% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $33.49 and $55.04 an hour. About 3,120 work in the metro. That is 69.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 8.2% to 10.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Urban Honolulu has 446,380 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 56th 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% | $34.17 | $41.76 | $51.75 | $26.77 | 1.56 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $33.49 | $45.34 | $55.04 | $29.12 | 1.56 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.56 | |||||
Is Honolulu cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Honolulu is the priciest of the group. Santa Rosa is the cheapest at $950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HIthis page | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | |
| Kahului, HI110 miles | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | −12% |
| Santa Rosa, CA2395 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −19% |
| Santa Cruz, CA2415 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −18% |
| San Francisco, CA2415 miles | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −13% |
| Napa, CA2425 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −18% |
| Hawaii (statewide) | $380 – $1,850 | $1,100 | −4% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −23% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Honolulu ranks #1 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Honolulu is 5% above the Hawaii figure.
Elsewhere in Hawaii
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | −12% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Honolulu against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −22% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −32% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −33% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −32% |
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The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Honolulu, HI 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 Honolulu: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Honolulu?
For 30 sq ft, expect $400 to $1,950 in the Honolulu area. A standard-spec job lands at $860 to $1,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Honolulu?
About $13.50 to $64.50 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 Honolulu or Kahului?
Kahului is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,050, which is 12% less than Honolulu ($1,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Honolulu?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $580 out of $1,150. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Honolulu?
$400 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Honolulu?
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 Honolulu area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Honolulu expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Hawaii?
Honolulu is 5% above the Hawaii statewide estimate ($1,100 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Hawaii; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Honolulu?
The BLS median is $41.76 an hour in the Honolulu area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $34.17 to $51.75.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Honolulu?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $400 to $1,000 and premium work $1,300 to $1,950. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Honolulu
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.