Kitchen backsplash cost in Minneapolis, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $350 – $1,700
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #15
- 1 = most expensive
Minneapolis homeowners pay roughly $350 to $1,700 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11.50 to $56.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Minneapolis is 14% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $34.50 an hour in the Minneapolis area, 29% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Minneapolis, MN, standard level
$750 to $1,300
About $25 to $43 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $700 |
| Labor | $370 | $600 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $750 | $1,300 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Minneapolis, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $540 | $930 | 53% |
| Labor | $190 | $480 | $770 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $350 | $1,000 | $1,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Minneapolis number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Minneapolis wages are 1.28 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Minneapolis metro is 103.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $540, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.8) and land at $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Minneapolis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Minneapolis's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +26% and kitchen remodel +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,000 – $34,100 | +8% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,700 – $16,200 | +15% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,000 – $11,100 | +14% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,600 – $27,700 | +19% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,450 | +26% |
Minneapolis against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group. La Crosse is the cheapest at $910.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MNthis page | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | |
| St. Cloud, MN70 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −5% |
| Rochester, MN90 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −5% |
| Eau Claire, WI100 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −11% |
| La Crosse, WI145 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −11% |
| Duluth, MN160 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −6% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | −3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Minneapolis comes in at #15 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Minneapolis is 3% above the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −6% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −5% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Minneapolis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Minneapolis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $370 – $1,800 | $1,050 | +5% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −17% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | −1% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −11% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Minneapolis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Minneapolis 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
$350 to $890
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$750 to $1,300
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,700
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $290 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $960 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $350 – $890 | $750 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,700 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $580 – $1,500 | $1,250 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,850 |
Why two Minneapolis 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.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Minneapolis is 1.28 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $34.50 an hour, which is 29% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $30.22 and $34.50 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 2.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.61 an hour, which is 22% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.12 and $44.60 an hour. BLS counts 10,200 of them working in the area, 52.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.50 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $0. At the 25th percentile ($30.22) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 0.0% or 5.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,951,650 jobs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington area. That makes it the 14th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $30.22 | $34.50 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.29 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $29.12 | $35.61 | $44.60 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Minneapolis, MN, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Minneapolis, MN 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 Minneapolis: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Minneapolis?
For 30 sq ft, expect $350 to $1,700 in the Minneapolis area. A standard-spec job lands at $750 to $1,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Minneapolis?
About $11.50 to $56.50 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 Minneapolis or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 5% less than Minneapolis ($1,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Minneapolis?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $480 out of $1,000. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Minneapolis?
$350 to $1,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Minneapolis?
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 Minneapolis area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Minneapolis expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Minneapolis is 3% above 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 Minneapolis?
The BLS median is $34.50 an hour in the Minneapolis area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.22 to $34.50.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Minneapolis?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $350 to $890 and premium work $1,150 to $1,700. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Minneapolis
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.