Kitchen backsplash cost in Cedar Rapids, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.55 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #132
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Cedar Rapids, IA usually costs $290 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.55 to $47.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $40 less. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Cedar Rapids, IA, 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 Cedar Rapids, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $370 | $590 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Cedar Rapids number
Labor is 43% 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 Cedar Rapids the blended ratio comes out at 0.98. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Cedar Rapids is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.0: $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 Cedar Rapids. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Cedar Rapids
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Cedar Rapids. 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
$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 – $910 | $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 |
Why two Cedar Rapids quotes can differ
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.
What local crews earn in Cedar Rapids
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 Cedar Rapids the blend is 0.98.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Cedar Rapids metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.33 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $31.75 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 38.1 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 $100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 11.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Cedar Rapids has 139,260 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 160th 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% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.11 | $28.33 | $31.75 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
How Cedar Rapids 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 $850 to $910 across Cedar Rapids and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IAthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| Iowa City, IA40 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA45 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Waterloo, IA55 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| La Crosse, WI115 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +6% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Cedar Rapids ranks #132 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Cedar Rapids is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $290 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cedar Rapids against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +10% |
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +11% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Planning more than one job in Cedar Rapids?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Cedar Rapids wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+4%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,500 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,900 | −2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,850 | +4% |
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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 Cedar Rapids, IA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Cedar Rapids, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Cedar Rapids, IA: 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 Cedar Rapids: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Cedar Rapids?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Cedar Rapids area. A standard-spec job lands at $630 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Cedar Rapids?
About $9.55 to $47.50 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 Cedar Rapids or Iowa City?
Iowa City is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $850, which is 1% less than Cedar Rapids ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cedar Rapids?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $370 out of $860. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Cedar Rapids?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Cedar Rapids?
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 Cedar Rapids area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cedar Rapids expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Iowa?
Cedar Rapids is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($860 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Cedar Rapids?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.13 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.11 to $34.11.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Cedar Rapids?
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 near Cedar Rapids
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.