Kitchen backsplash cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,300
- Per sq ft
- $8.65 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #285
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in New Orleans, plan on $260 to $1,300 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.65 to $44 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.22 an hour in the New Orleans area, 21% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$580 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $33.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $580 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 62% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $790 | $1,300 | 100% |
Why New Orleans prices look the way they do
Labor is 38% 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 New Orleans the blended ratio comes out at 0.80.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the New Orleans 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 (92.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two New Orleans quotes can differ
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
New Orleans against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Mobile is the priciest of the group at $810. Gulfport is the cheapest at $770.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | level |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | level |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +2% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, New Orleans comes in at #285 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, New Orleans is 0% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +1% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −3% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | level |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | level |
Cities with a workforce like New Orleans's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +48% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +1% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +15% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in New Orleans
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for New Orleans 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
$260 to $680
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$580 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$900 to $1,300
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $570 | $480 – $840 | $750 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $260 – $680 | $580 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,300 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $430 – $1,150 | $960 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
New Orleans 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 New Orleans is 0.80 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $21.22 an hour, which is 21% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.20 and $22.99 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.1 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 $24.10 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $29.75 an hour. BLS counts 1,390 of them working in the area, 31.2 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 ($22.99 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $20. At the 25th percentile ($19.20) it shrinks by about $25. The total moves by 2.8% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 445,550 jobs in the New Orleans-Metairie area. That makes it the 57th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.29% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.20 | $21.22 | $22.99 | $26.77 | 0.79 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.55 | $24.10 | $29.75 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in New Orleans
Because every project leans on different trades, New Orleans's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −8% and tile flooring −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,100 | −8% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $1,950 – $8,950 | −12% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for New Orleans, LA, $9
Multi-page report for New Orleans, LA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in New Orleans?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,300 in the New Orleans area. A standard-spec job lands at $580 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in New Orleans?
About $8.65 to $44 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 New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $790, which is 0% more than New Orleans ($790). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $790. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in New Orleans?
$260 to $1,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 0% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($790 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in New Orleans?
The BLS median is $21.22 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.20 to $22.99.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in New Orleans?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $680 and premium work $900 to $1,300. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near New Orleans
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.