Kitchen backsplash cost in Baltimore, MD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.30 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #140
- 1 = most expensive
Baltimore homeowners pay roughly $280 to $1,450 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.30 to $47.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Baltimore is 5% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.96 an hour in the Baltimore area, 18% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Baltimore, MD, standard level
$620 to $1,100
About $21 to $36 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $690 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Baltimore, MD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $540 | $920 | 63% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $500 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $850 | $1,450 | 100% |
Why Baltimore prices look the way they do
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 $21.96 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Baltimore is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Maryland statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Baltimore metro is 102.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $540, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.5) 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 Baltimore. The wage table below marks each row.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Baltimore is 0.84 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Baltimore metro, so we used the Maryland statewide median: $21.96 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.57 and $25.00 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.99 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.96 and $36.06 an hour. BLS counts 3,870 of them working in the area, 28.5 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 ($25.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($18.57) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 4.5% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,356,680 jobs in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area. That makes it the 22nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.87% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $18.57 | $21.96 | $25.00 | $26.77 | 0.82 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.96 | $29.99 | $36.06 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Baltimore
Because every project leans on different trades, Baltimore's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +3% and tile flooring −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $32,000 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,400 | +3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,700 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,900 | −2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,700 | −4% |
Is Baltimore cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. York is the priciest of the group at $990. Lexington Park is the cheapest at $840.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MDthis page | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | |
| York, PA45 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +16% |
| Lancaster, PA55 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +13% |
| Dover, DE60 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | +3% |
| Washington, DC60 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | +4% |
| Lexington Park, MD70 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
| Maryland (statewide) | $280 – $1,450 | $850 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Baltimore comes in at #140 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Baltimore is 0% below the Maryland figure.
Other Maryland metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −4% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Baltimore's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baltimore against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −5% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +12% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −5% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Baltimore
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Baltimore
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Baltimore 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
$280 to $740
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 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) | $230 – $620 | $520 – $900 | $810 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $740 | $620 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,400 |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Baltimore, MD, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Baltimore, MD 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 Baltimore: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Baltimore?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,450 in the Baltimore area. A standard-spec job lands at $620 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 Baltimore?
About $9.30 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 Baltimore or York?
York is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $990, which is 16% more than Baltimore ($850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baltimore?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $850. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Baltimore?
$280 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Baltimore?
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 Baltimore area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baltimore expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Maryland?
Baltimore is 0% below the Maryland statewide estimate ($850 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Maryland; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Baltimore?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.96 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.57 to $25.00.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Baltimore?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $740 and premium work $970 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Baltimore
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.