Kitchen backsplash cost in Ann Arbor, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $9.10 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Ann Arbor homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.10 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Ann Arbor is 9% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.05 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Ann Arbor, MI, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Ann Arbor, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 60% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $820 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Ann Arbor number
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 $23.05 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Ann Arbor is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Ann Arbor 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 (100.9) 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 Ann Arbor. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Ann Arbor cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Detroit is the priciest of the group at $850. Toledo is the cheapest at $800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MIthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Detroit, MI45 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Toledo, OH50 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Lansing, MI50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Flint, MI55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Saginaw, MI75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Michigan (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Ann Arbor comes in at #187 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Ann Arbor is 1% below the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +9% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Ann Arbor's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ann Arbor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona, FL | 219,740 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $780 | −5% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 205,260 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +16% |
Why two Ann Arbor 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.
Ann Arbor: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Ann Arbor 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 $710
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$930 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $590 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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 Ann Arbor is 0.88 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Ann Arbor metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $23.05 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.17 and $30.08 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.33 an hour, which is 8% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.61 and $36.52 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 29.1 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 ($30.08 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($20.17) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 10.8% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 219,730 jobs in the Ann Arbor area. That makes it the 110th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.14% 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% | $26.61 | $31.33 | $36.52 | $29.12 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Ann Arbor
Because every project leans on different trades, Ann Arbor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +3% and tile flooring −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,700 | −3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,500 | +3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,700 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,800 | +1% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Ann Arbor: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Ann Arbor?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Ann Arbor area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 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 Ann Arbor?
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 Ann Arbor or Detroit?
Detroit is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $850, which is 3% more than Ann Arbor ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ann Arbor?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $820. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Ann Arbor?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Ann Arbor?
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 Ann Arbor area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ann Arbor expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Michigan?
Ann Arbor is 1% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Ann Arbor?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.05 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.17 to $30.08.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Ann Arbor?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Ann Arbor
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.