Kitchen backsplash cost in Grand Rapids, 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
- $8.95 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #225
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Grand Rapids, plan on $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.95 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.36 an hour in the Grand Rapids area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Grand Rapids, MI, standard level
$590 to $1,050
About $20 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Grand Rapids, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Grand Rapids 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 $22.36 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Grand Rapids is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Grand Rapids 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 (95.5) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Grand Rapids quotes can differ
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Grand Rapids against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan
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 $890 across Grand Rapids and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MIthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Muskegon, MI45 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Kalamazoo, MI50 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +10% |
| Lansing, MI60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| South Bend, IN85 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Saginaw, MI85 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Grand Rapids comes in at #225 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Grand Rapids is 3% below the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +5% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +10% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Grand Rapids's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Grand Rapids against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | +13% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cost by quality level and size in Grand Rapids
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Grand Rapids 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 $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Related projects, priced for Grand Rapids
Because every project leans on different trades, Grand Rapids's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs level and tile flooring −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,600 – $22,800 | −2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $960 – $2,800 | level |
Grand Rapids labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 Grand Rapids is 0.85 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $22.36 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.07 and $27.20 an hour. BLS counts 180 of them working in the area, 3.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.36 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.88 and $31.12 an hour. BLS counts 2,840 of them working in the area, 47.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($19.07) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 7.5% or 5.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 598,260 jobs in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood area. That makes it the 48th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.38% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.07 | $22.36 | $27.20 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.88 | $28.36 | $31.12 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Grand Rapids: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Grand Rapids?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Grand Rapids area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 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 Grand Rapids?
About $8.95 to $45 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 Grand Rapids or Muskegon?
Muskegon is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% more than Grand Rapids ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Grand Rapids?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $810. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Grand Rapids?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Grand Rapids?
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 Grand Rapids area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Grand Rapids expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Michigan?
Grand Rapids is 3% 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 Grand Rapids?
The BLS median is $22.36 an hour in the Grand Rapids area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.07 to $27.20.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Grand Rapids?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Grand Rapids
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.