Kitchen backsplash cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $54
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #29
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Portland, plan on $330 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $11 to $54 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% higher than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $34.00 an hour in the Portland area, 27% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Portland, ME, standard level
$720 to $1,250
About $24 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $660 |
| Labor | $360 | $580 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $720 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 52% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $750 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $980 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
Labor is 48% 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 Portland the blended ratio comes out at 1.25. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Maine statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Portland metro is 97.2 (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 (101.9) 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 Portland. The wage table below marks each row.
How Portland compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Portland. Manchester is the lowest at about $850 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −13% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +9% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −7% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +7% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −9% |
| Maine (statewide) | $330 – $1,600 | $980 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Portland comes in at #29 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Portland is 0% above the Maine figure.
Other Maine metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Portland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −15% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −18% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −5% |
Portland 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 Portland is 1.25 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Portland metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $34.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $31.33 and $44.08 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.91 an hour, which is 6% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.45 and $35.95 an hour. BLS counts 2,230 of them working in the area, 77.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($44.08 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($31.33) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 13.0% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 288,480 jobs in the Portland-South Portland area. That makes it the 89th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.19% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $31.33 | $34.00 | $44.08 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.45 | $30.91 | $35.95 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Portland
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 Portland?
Because every project leans on different trades, Portland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, tile flooring runs +8% and kitchen remodel level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Portland 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
$330 to $850
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$720 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $280 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $850 | $720 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $560 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Portland?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $720 to $1,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Portland?
About $11 to $54 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 Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $850, which is 13% less than Portland ($980). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $470 out of $980. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 0% above the Maine statewide estimate ($980 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Portland?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $34.00 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $31.33 to $44.08.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Portland?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $850 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Portland
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.