Kitchen backsplash cost in Kahului, HI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $340 – $1,700
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $57
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #13
- 1 = most expensive
Kahului homeowners pay roughly $340 to $1,700 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11.50 to $57 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Kahului is 14% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.93 an hour in the Kahului area, 16% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Kahului, HI, standard level
$750 to $1,300
About $25 to $43.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $750 |
| Labor | $330 | $550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $750 | $1,300 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Kahului, HI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $170 | $590 | $1,000 | 57% |
| Labor | $180 | $440 | $710 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $340 | $1,050 | $1,700 | 100% |
Where the Kahului price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Kahului wages are 1.18 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kahului metro is 111.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $590, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (109.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Kahului: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kahului 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
$340 to $890
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$750 to $1,300
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,700
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $290 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $340 – $890 | $750 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,700 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $570 – $1,500 | $1,250 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,850 |
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 Kahului is 1.18 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $30.93 an hour, which is 16% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $38.87 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 10.8 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 $39.47 an hour, which is 36% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.77 and $48.89 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 94.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.87 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($23.00) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 9.8% or 9.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 73,750 jobs in the Kahului-Wailuku area. That makes it the 250th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.00 | $30.93 | $38.87 | $26.77 | 1.16 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $30.77 | $39.47 | $48.89 | $29.12 | 1.36 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Kahului?
Because every project leans on different trades, Kahului's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +23% and shower pan +15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,500 – $36,600 | +16% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $5,050 – $17,400 | +23% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,500 | +16% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,700 – $28,400 | +22% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,200 | +15% |
Is Kahului 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 at $1,150. Santa Rosa is the cheapest at $950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HIthis page | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | |
| Honolulu, HI110 miles | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +14% |
| Santa Rosa, CA2340 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −7% |
| Santa Cruz, CA2350 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −6% |
| San Francisco, CA2355 miles | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −1% |
| Napa, CA2370 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −7% |
| Hawaii (statewide) | $380 – $1,850 | $1,100 | +9% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Kahului comes in at #13 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Kahului is 8% below the Hawaii figure.
Other Hawaii metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +14% |
Cities with a workforce like Kahului's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kahului against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −18% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −19% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −19% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −21% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Kahului
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.
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 $750 to $1,300 for Kahului, HI is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Kahului, 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 Kahului: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Kahului?
For 30 sq ft, expect $340 to $1,700 in the Kahului area. A standard-spec job lands at $750 to $1,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Kahului?
About $11.50 to $57 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 Kahului or Honolulu?
Honolulu is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,150, which is 14% more than Kahului ($1,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kahului?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $440 out of $1,050. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Kahului?
$340 to $1,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Kahului?
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 Kahului area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kahului expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Hawaii?
Kahului is 8% below 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 Kahului?
The BLS median is $30.93 an hour in the Kahului area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.00 to $38.87.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Kahului?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $340 to $890 and premium work $1,150 to $1,700. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Kahului
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.