Kitchen backsplash cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $340 – $1,650
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $55.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 6
Illinois prices for kitchen backsplash: $340 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft, or $11.50 to $55.50 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 11% above the national one. Local wages for tile and stone setters are $32.29 an hour.
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $940 (Champaign) to $1,050 (Chicago) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Illinois (statewide), standard level
$740 to $1,250
About $24.50 to $42 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $700 |
| Labor | $350 | $570 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $740 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $930 | 54% |
| Labor | $180 | $460 | $730 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $340 | $1,000 | $1,650 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Illinois
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Illinois wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$340 to $870
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$740 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,650
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $340 – $870 | $740 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,650 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $560 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,750 |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in Illinois
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 1.22 for Illinois.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $32.29 an hour, which is 21% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $44.83 an hour. BLS counts 730 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $37.98 an hour, which is 30% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $51.42 an hour. BLS counts 19,570 of them working in the state, 32.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($44.83 an hour) would add about $160 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.20) 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 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.20 | $32.29 | $44.83 | $26.77 | 1.21 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $27.00 | $37.98 | $51.42 | $29.12 | 1.30 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Illinois
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.
Other Illinois jobs that often go with kitchen backsplash
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Illinois wages and prices. Against national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+23%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,300 – $34,600 | +10% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,800 – $16,900 | +19% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,900 | +11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,650 – $27,900 | +20% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,350 | +23% |
Illinois against its neighbors
Illinois ranks 4 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. Illinois sits at $1,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
Kitchen backsplash cost by metro in Illinois
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,000, and the top-to-bottom gap is 13%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +6% |
| Springfield, IL | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −5% |
| Bloomington, IL | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −6% |
| Peoria, IL | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −6% |
| Rockford, IL | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −6% |
| Champaign, IL | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −6% |
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 $740 to $1,250 for Illinois is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Illinois: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Illinois?
$340 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Champaign at about $940 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Chicago at $1,050.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 11% more expensive: $1,000 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 46% ($460). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.22x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $32.29 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.20 to $44.83.
+Where does Illinois rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
4th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,000 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Illinois?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $340 to $870 and premium work $1,150 to $1,650. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Illinois
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.