Kitchen backsplash cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.55 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install a backsplash in Iowa? Plan on $290 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft. Wages (0.97x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 5%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $850 (Iowa City) to $860 (Davenport) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $280 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $370 | $580 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
Why two Iowa quotes can differ
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.
Iowa labor market for kitchen backsplash
Iowa's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.97 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $26.13 an hour, in line with the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour. About 240 work in the state. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.75 an hour, 5% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. About 5,770 work in the state. That is 37.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($34.11 an hour) would add about $100 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.11) would take off about $40. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Iowa versus the states around it
Iowa ranks 27 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. Iowa sits at $860. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
Related projects, priced for Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, shower pan is −4% and kitchen remodel −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,200 | −6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,500 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,200 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $910 – $2,650 | −4% |
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$290 to $740
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$630 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$970 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $620 | $520 – $900 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,400 |
Which Iowa city is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
0 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $860, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Des Moines, IA | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $290 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
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 $630 to $1,100 for Iowa is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Iowa: 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Iowa?
$290 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Iowa City at about $850 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Davenport at $860.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $860 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 43% ($370). Materials are 57%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $26.13 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.11 to $34.11.
+Where does Iowa rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
27th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $860 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Iowa?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $740 and premium work $970 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Iowa
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.