Kitchen backsplash cost in Topeka, KS
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
- #131
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Topeka, plan on $290 to $1,450 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.55 to $47.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.0).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Topeka, KS, 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 | $280 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $630 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Topeka, KS
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $850 | 58% |
| Labor | $150 | $360 | $580 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $860 | $1,450 | 100% |
Where the Topeka price comes from
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 $26.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Topeka is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Kansas statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Topeka metro is 94.0 (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 (88.8) 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 Topeka. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Topeka
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Topeka 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 $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 |
How Topeka 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 $820 to $900 across Topeka and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KSthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | |
| Kansas City, MO75 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +2% |
| Wichita, KS125 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −5% |
| Lincoln, NE135 miles | $300 – $1,450 | $880 | +3% |
| Joplin, MO150 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +4% |
| Omaha, NE155 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +4% |
| Kansas (statewide) | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Topeka comes in at #131 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Topeka is 0% below the Kansas figure.
Other Kansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 308,570 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Topeka's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Topeka against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −4% |
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −6% |
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −6% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
Topeka labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Topeka is 0.97 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Topeka metro, so we used the Kansas statewide median: $26.40 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.50 and $29.74 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.62 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.76 and $29.63 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 31.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.74 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($23.50) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 4.9% or 4.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 115,750 jobs in the Topeka area. That makes it the 188th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.50 | $26.40 | $29.74 | $26.77 | 0.99 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.76 | $24.62 | $29.63 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Topeka bid
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Planning more than one job in Topeka?
Because every project leans on different trades, Topeka's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +1% and kitchen cabinets −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,800 | −9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,500 – $22,300 | −4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $980 – $2,800 | +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 Topeka, KS is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Topeka: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Topeka?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Topeka 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 Topeka?
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 Topeka or Kansas City?
Kansas City is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $880, which is 2% more than Topeka ($860). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Topeka?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $360 out of $860. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Topeka?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Topeka?
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 Topeka area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Topeka expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Kansas?
Topeka is 0% below the Kansas statewide estimate ($860 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Kansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Topeka?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.40 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.50 to $29.74.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Topeka?
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 Topeka
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.