Kitchen backsplash cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Duluth area: $330 to $1,600 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 7% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $33.92 an hour in the Duluth area, 27% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Duluth, MN, standard level
$710 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $40.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $640 |
| Labor | $350 | $580 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 52% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $740 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $970 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the Duluth 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 $33.92 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Duluth is 1.24 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Duluth is at 95.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.8: $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 Duluth. The wage table below marks each row.
Who does the work: Duluth 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 Duluth the blend is 1.24.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Duluth metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $33.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.69 and $34.50 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.10 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $36.50 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 49.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $5 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 0.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Duluth has 124,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 173rd 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% | $29.69 | $33.92 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.05 | $29.10 | $36.50 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Why two Duluth 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.
Duluth: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Duluth. 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
$330 to $840
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $840 | $710 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $550 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
Duluth against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
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 $860 to $1,000 across Duluth and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −11% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Duluth ranks #36 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −15% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | −3% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −16% |
What nearby projects cost in Duluth
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Duluth wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+14%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $31,000 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,950 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +14% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Duluth?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Duluth?
About $11 to $53.50 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 Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 0% more than Duluth ($970). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $470 out of $970. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Duluth?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Duluth?
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 Duluth area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($1,000 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Duluth?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.92 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.69 to $34.50.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Duluth?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $840 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Duluth
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.