Kitchen backsplash cost in Indianapolis, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.35 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #153
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Indianapolis, plan on $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.35 to $47 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.3).
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 Indianapolis, IN, standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $640 |
| Labor | $260 | $430 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Indianapolis, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $850 | 59% |
| Labor | $140 | $350 | $550 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Indianapolis prices look the way they do
Labor is 41% 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 Indianapolis the blended ratio comes out at 0.92.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Indianapolis metro is 94.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Indianapolis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Indianapolis 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
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$950 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $510 – $890 | $800 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $950 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
How Indianapolis compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $810 to $840 across Indianapolis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, INthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Bloomington, IN50 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Lafayette, IN65 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Terre Haute, IN70 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Fort Wayne, IN95 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Cincinnati, OH100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Indianapolis comes in at #153 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Indianapolis is 1% above the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Indianapolis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Indianapolis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +15% |
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
Indianapolis labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Indianapolis is 0.92 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $24.31 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.03 and $27.66 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 2.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.28 an hour, which is 7% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.02 and $37.14 an hour. BLS counts 4,960 of them working in the area, 44.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($23.03) it shrinks by about $15. The total moves by 5.0% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,105,170 jobs in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood area. That makes it the 31st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.71% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.03 | $24.31 | $27.66 | $26.77 | 0.91 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.02 | $31.28 | $37.14 | $29.12 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Indianapolis
Because every project leans on different trades, Indianapolis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +1% and tile flooring −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $14,300 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,700 – $23,400 | level |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $960 – $2,800 | +1% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Indianapolis
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
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 $620 to $1,050 for Indianapolis, IN is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Indianapolis, IN, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Indianapolis, IN 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 Indianapolis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Indianapolis?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Indianapolis area. A standard-spec job lands at $620 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 Indianapolis?
About $9.35 to $47 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 Indianapolis or Bloomington?
Bloomington is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $830, which is 2% less than Indianapolis ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Indianapolis?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $350 out of $840. Materials are 59% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Indianapolis?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Indianapolis?
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 Indianapolis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Indianapolis expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Indiana?
Indianapolis is 1% above 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 Indianapolis?
The BLS median is $24.31 an hour in the Indianapolis area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.03 to $27.66.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Indianapolis?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $950 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Indianapolis
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.