Kitchen backsplash cost in Des Moines, 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
- $9.60 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #129
- 1 = most expensive
Des Moines homeowners pay roughly $290 to $1,450 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.60 to $47.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Des Moines is 4% lower. 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 Des Moines, IA, standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $280 | $460 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Des Moines, 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% |
Where the Des Moines price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Des Moines wages are 0.98 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $490, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.7) and land at $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 Des Moines. The wage table below marks each row.
How Des Moines 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 $900 across Des Moines and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +4% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $290 – $1,400 | $850 | −1% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #129 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Des Moines is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 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 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | +10% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −7% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −4% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −7% |
What nearby projects cost in Des Moines
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +1% and kitchen remodel −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,650 – $23,100 | −1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $980 – $2,800 | +1% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Des Moines is 0.98 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Des Moines 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.50 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.03 and $35.68 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 44.8 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 ($34.11 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($23.11) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 11.7% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% 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% | $24.03 | $29.50 | $35.68 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Des Moines
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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
$290 to $750
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 | $530 – $910 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $750 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,400 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Des Moines
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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Kitchen backsplash in Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Des Moines?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
About $9.60 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 Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 0% less than Des Moines ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
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 Des Moines?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $750 and premium work $970 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Des Moines
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.