Kitchen backsplash cost in Bloomington, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.15 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #175
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Bloomington, IN usually costs $270 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.15 to $46 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $75 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.29 an hour in the Bloomington area, 13% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Bloomington, IN, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $640 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Bloomington, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $850 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Bloomington prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.29 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bloomington is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bloomington is at 94.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.1: $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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Bloomington
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 Bloomington the blend is 0.88.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bloomington metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $23.29 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.64 and $27.66 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.50 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.82 and $35.36 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 36.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $55 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 4.0% to 6.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bloomington has 73,240 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 251st 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% | $20.64 | $23.29 | $27.66 | $26.77 | 0.87 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.82 | $29.50 | $35.36 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Bloomington
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bloomington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and tile flooring lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,300 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,900 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Bloomington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bloomington. 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
$270 to $720
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$940 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
Why two Bloomington 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.
Is Bloomington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Evansville is the priciest of the group at $900. Terre Haute is the cheapest at $830.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, INthis page | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Terre Haute, IN40 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Indianapolis, IN50 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +2% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Lafayette, IN90 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bloomington ranks #175 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bloomington is 1% below the Indiana figure.
Elsewhere in Indiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +24% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +3% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Bloomington?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,400 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 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 Bloomington?
About $9.15 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 Bloomington or Terre Haute?
Terre Haute is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $830, which is 0% less than Bloomington ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $830. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Bloomington?
$270 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Bloomington?
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 Bloomington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Indiana?
Bloomington is 1% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Bloomington?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.29 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.64 to $27.66.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Bloomington?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $720 and premium work $940 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Bloomington
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.