Kitchen backsplash cost in Flint, 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
- $9.05 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #198
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Flint area: $270 to $1,350 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 9% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.05 an hour in the Flint 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 Flint, MI, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 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 Flint, 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% |
Why Flint prices look the way they do
Labor is 40% 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 Flint the blended ratio comes out at 0.88. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Flint is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.0: $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 Flint. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Flint
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Flint wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+1%) and tile flooring lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,400 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,000 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,750 – $23,600 | +1% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $960 – $2,800 | +1% |
Is Flint cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $810 to $850 across Flint and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MIthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Saginaw, MI30 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Detroit, MI35 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +3% |
| Lansing, MI50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Ann Arbor, MI55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Grand Rapids, MI100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Flint ranks #198 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Flint is 1% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| 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 | −1% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 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 |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Flint against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
| College Station, TX | 134,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +15% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
Who does the work: Flint 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 Flint the blend is 0.88.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Flint 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.50 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $33.59 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 24.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 4.4% to 10.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Flint has 135,040 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 163rd 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% | $20.17 | $23.05 | $30.08 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.41 | $29.50 | $33.59 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Flint
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Flint
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Flint. 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
$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 |
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 $600 to $1,050 for Flint, MI is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Flint, MI, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Flint, 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 Flint: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Flint?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Flint 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 Flint?
About $9.05 to $45.50 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 Flint or Saginaw?
Saginaw is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 0% more than Flint ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Flint?
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 Flint?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Flint?
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 Flint area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Flint expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Michigan?
Flint 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 Flint?
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 Flint?
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 Flint
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.