Kitchen backsplash cost in Lexington, KY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.10 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #174
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Lexington, plan on $270 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.10 to $46 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.00 an hour in the Lexington area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Lexington, KY, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $240 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Lexington, KY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $520 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
Where the Lexington 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 $23.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lexington is 0.86 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lexington metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Lexington 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 Lexington is 0.86 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $23.00 an hour, which is 14% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $26.32 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.01 an hour, which is 14% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.63 and $29.61 an hour. BLS counts 1,200 of them working in the area, 41.8 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 ($26.32 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($22.34) it shrinks by about $10. The total moves by 5.1% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 286,910 jobs in the Lexington-Fayette area. That makes it the 90th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.18% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $22.34 | $23.00 | $26.32 | $26.77 | 0.86 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.63 | $25.01 | $29.61 | $29.12 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Lexington
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.
Lexington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lexington 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
$270 to $720
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$940 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
What nearby projects cost in Lexington
Because every project leans on different trades, Lexington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and kitchen cabinets −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,350 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
How Lexington compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Lexington. Dayton is the lowest at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 120 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, KYthis page | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Cincinnati, OH65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Louisville, KY70 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Huntington, WV100 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +2% |
| Dayton, OH120 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Bowling Green, KY130 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Kentucky (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Lexington comes in at #174 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Lexington is 0% above the Kentucky figure.
Other Kentucky metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Lexington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lexington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | +18% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +13% |
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +15% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Lexington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Lexington?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,400 in the Lexington area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Lexington?
About $9.10 to $46 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 Lexington or Cincinnati?
Cincinnati is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 2% less than Lexington ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lexington?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $830. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Lexington?
$270 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Lexington?
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 Lexington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lexington expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Kentucky?
Lexington is 0% above the Kentucky statewide estimate ($820 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Kentucky; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Lexington?
The BLS median is $23.00 an hour in the Lexington area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.34 to $26.32.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Lexington?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $720 and premium work $940 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Lexington
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.