Kitchen backsplash cost in Waterloo, 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
- #134
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Waterloo area: $290 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. 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 Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $360 | $580 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Waterloo 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 Waterloo the blended ratio comes out at 0.97. 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. Waterloo 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 87.1: $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 Waterloo. The wage table below marks each row.
Who does the work: Waterloo trade wages
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 Waterloo the blend is 0.97.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterloo 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 $26.85 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.07 and $29.81 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 30.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
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 11.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has 84,260 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 229th 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% | $23.07 | $26.85 | $29.81 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Waterloo bid
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Waterloo
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Waterloo. 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 – $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 |
How Waterloo compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Waterloo. Iowa City is the lowest at about $850 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IAthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA55 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Iowa City, IA80 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| Des Moines, IA95 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Rochester, MN100 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +13% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Waterloo ranks #134 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Waterloo is 0% below 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 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | 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 Waterloo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +6% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −7% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −7% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −4% |
Planning more than one job in Waterloo?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Waterloo wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $13,000 | −7% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,200 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,650 | −5% |
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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 Waterloo, IA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Waterloo, IA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Waterloo, IA 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 Waterloo: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Waterloo?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Waterloo 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 Waterloo?
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 Waterloo or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 0% more than Waterloo ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterloo?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $360 out of $860. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Waterloo?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Waterloo?
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 Waterloo area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterloo expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Iowa?
Waterloo is 0% 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 Waterloo?
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 Waterloo?
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 Waterloo
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.