Kitchen backsplash cost in Iowa City, IA
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
- $9.50 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #141
- 1 = most expensive
Iowa City homeowners pay roughly $280 to $1,400 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.50 to $47.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Iowa City is 5% 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 Iowa City, IA, standard level
$630 to $1,100
About $21 to $36 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $270 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 58% |
| Labor | $140 | $360 | $580 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $850 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Iowa City 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 $26.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Iowa City is 0.96 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total. 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 Iowa City 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 (91.5) 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 Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Iowa City
Because every project leans on different trades, Iowa City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, tile flooring runs −4% and kitchen cabinets −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,400 | −11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,500 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $890 – $2,650 | −5% |
Is Iowa City cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Iowa City. Waterloo comes closest at about $860.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Iowa City comes in at #141 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Iowa City is 1% below the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +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 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Iowa City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +8% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +23% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +33% |
Cost by quality level and size in Iowa City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Iowa City 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 $740
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$630 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$970 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $620 | $520 – $900 | $800 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
Why two Iowa City 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.
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 Iowa City is 0.96 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City 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 $23.89 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.98 and $29.70 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 38.4 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 11.8% or 4.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,760 jobs in the Iowa City area. That makes it the 214th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% 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% | $21.98 | $23.89 | $29.70 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Iowa City?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
About $9.50 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 1% more than Iowa City ($850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $360 out of $850. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Iowa City?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 1% below 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 Iowa City?
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 Iowa City?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $740 and premium work $970 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Iowa City
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.