Kitchen backsplash cost in Detroit, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.35 – $47.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #143
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Detroit area: $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.98 an hour in the Detroit area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Detroit, MI, standard level
$620 to $1,100
About $20.50 to $36 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $250 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Detroit, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $890 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $530 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $850 | $1,400 | 100% |
Where the Detroit price comes from
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 $22.98 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Detroit is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Detroit is at 98.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $520 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.3: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Detroit trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Detroit the blend is 0.88.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.98 an hour, 14% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.51 and $30.71 an hour. About 470 work in the metro. That is 2.5 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 $31.64 an hour, 9% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.05 and $38.49 an hour. About 7,610 work in the metro. That is 40.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 11.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn has 1,904,530 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 15th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.51 | $22.98 | $30.71 | $26.77 | 0.86 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.05 | $31.64 | $38.49 | $29.12 | 1.09 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Detroit
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Detroit. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$280 to $740
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$960 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $520 – $900 | $800 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $740 | $620 – $1,100 | $960 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
Planning more than one job in Detroit?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Detroit wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+6%) and tile flooring lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $32,000 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,400 – $15,000 | +6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,650 | −4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +6% |
Why two Detroit quotes can differ
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.
Detroit against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Detroit. Toledo is the lowest at about $800 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MIthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | |
| Flint, MI35 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Ann Arbor, MI45 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Saginaw, MI60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Lansing, MI70 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Toledo, OH85 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −5% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Detroit ranks #143 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Detroit is 2% above the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −5% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +5% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Detroit against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +20% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +7% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | +26% |
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +8% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $620 to $1,100 for Detroit, MI is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Detroit, MI 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 Detroit: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Detroit?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Detroit 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 Detroit?
About $9.35 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 Detroit or Flint?
Flint is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 3% less than Detroit ($850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Detroit?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $850. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Detroit?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Detroit?
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 Detroit area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Detroit expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Michigan?
Detroit is 2% above 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 Detroit?
The BLS median is $22.98 an hour in the Detroit area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.51 to $30.71.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Detroit?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $740 and premium work $960 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Detroit
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.