Kitchen backsplash cost in Minnesota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (30 sq ft)
- $340 – $1,650
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $55
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $900
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Minnesota, a kitchen backsplash costs about $340 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 11% above the US figure of $900. Tile and stone setters earn a median $33.92 an hour in Minnesota (US: $26.77).
Inside Minnesota, the metros we cover range from $970 (Duluth) to $1,000 (Minneapolis) 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 Minnesota (statewide), standard level
$730 to $1,250
About $24.50 to $42 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $360 | $580 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $730 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Minnesota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $900 | 53% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $750 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $340 | $1,000 | $1,650 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Minnesota 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
$340 to $860
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$730 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,650
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $340 – $860 | $730 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,650 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $560 – $1,450 | $1,200 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,750 |
Kitchen backsplash cost by metro in Minnesota
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,000, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +3% |
| Rochester, MN | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −3% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −3% |
| Duluth, MN | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −3% |
Why two Minnesota 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.
If you are planning more than one job in Minnesota
Each project weights the trades differently, so Minnesota's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, shower pan is +21% and kitchen remodel +4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,200 – $32,700 | +4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,400 – $15,000 | +6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,950 – $10,800 | +11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,300 – $26,400 | +13% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,300 | +21% |
What tile and stone setters and the other trades earn in Minnesota
Minnesota'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 1.25 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $33.92 an hour, 27% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $29.69 and $34.50 an hour. About 610 work in the state. That is 2.1 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 $31.22 an hour, 7% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.56 and $40.58 an hour. About 14,930 work in the state. That is 50.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for tile and stone setters ($34.50 an hour) would add about $5 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($29.69) would take off about $55. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,949,820 jobs across Minnesota (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $29.69 | $33.92 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $26.56 | $31.22 | $40.58 | $29.12 | 1.07 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
How Minnesota compares with nearby states
Minnesota ranks 5 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. Minnesota sits at $1,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −14% |
| Wisconsin | 260 miles away | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −8% |
| North Dakota | 270 miles away | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −20% |
| South Dakota | 290 miles away | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −16% |
| Nebraska | 320 miles away | $300 – $1,450 | $880 | −11% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Minnesota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Minnesota?
$340 to $1,650 for 30 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Minnesota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Minnesota is cheapest for kitchen backsplash?
Duluth at about $970 (midpoint, 30 sq ft). The priciest is Minneapolis at $1,000.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Minnesota than the US average?
It is 11% more expensive: $1,000 against $900 for 30 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Minnesota?
About 47% ($470). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.25x the national wage level.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Minnesota?
The BLS statewide median is $33.92 an hour, against $26.77 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.69 to $34.50.
+Where does Minnesota rank for kitchen backsplash costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,000 for 30 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Minnesota?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $340 to $860 and premium work $1,150 to $1,650. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash by city in Minnesota
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.