Kitchen backsplash cost in Michigan
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.20 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 10
Across Michigan, a kitchen backsplash costs about $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 7% below the US figure of $900. Tile and stone setters earn a median $23.05 an hour in Michigan (US: $26.77).
Inside Michigan, the metros we cover range from $810 (Grand Rapids) to $890 (Kalamazoo) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Michigan (statewide), standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Michigan
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
How Michigan compares with nearby states
Michigan ranks 36 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen backsplash, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,100 and the cheapest Arkansas at $760, both for 30 sq ft at the midpoint. Michigan sits at $830. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 180 miles away | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
| Illinois | 220 miles away | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +20% |
| Indiana | 220 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | level |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +10% |
| West Virginia | 310 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +2% |
If you are planning more than one job in Michigan
Each project weights the trades differently, so Michigan's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, shower pan is +2% and tile flooring −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $30,900 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,400 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,750 – $23,600 | +1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $970 – $2,800 | +2% |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in Michigan
Michigan's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.88 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $23.05 an hour, 14% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.17 and $30.08 an hour. About 1,010 work in the state. That is 2.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.66 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $35.09 an hour. About 18,590 work in the state. That is 42.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($30.08 an hour) would add about $90 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.17) would take off about $35. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,403,730 jobs across Michigan (May 2025), which is 2.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.17 | $23.05 | $30.08 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.80 | $29.66 | $35.09 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Why two Michigan quotes can differ
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.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Kitchen backsplash cost by metro in Michigan
2 of the 10 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $830, and the top-to-bottom gap is 10%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (30 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo, MI | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +7% |
| Detroit, MI | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +2% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Lansing, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Saginaw, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Flint, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Traverse City, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Niles, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −2% |
| Muskegon, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −3% |
Basic, standard or premium: Michigan prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$280 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 | $510 – $880 | $790 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Michigan: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Michigan?
$280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Michigan can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Michigan is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Grand Rapids at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Kalamazoo at $890.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Michigan than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $830 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Michigan?
About 39% ($330). Materials are 61%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Michigan?
The BLS statewide median is $23.05 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.17 to $30.08.
+Where does Michigan rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
36th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $830 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Michigan?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $720 and premium work $940 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Michigan
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.