Kitchen backsplash cost in St. Cloud, 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
- #35
- 1 = most expensive
St. Cloud homeowners pay roughly $330 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11 to $53.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, St. Cloud is 7% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $33.92 an hour in the St. Cloud area, 27% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in St. Cloud, 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 St. Cloud, 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% |
What is behind the St. Cloud number
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 St. Cloud 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.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the St. Cloud metro is 95.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.6) and land at $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 St. Cloud. The wage table below marks each row.
St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud, MNthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | |
| Minneapolis, MN70 miles | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Fargo, ND150 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −11% |
| Rochester, MN155 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| Duluth, MN155 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI160 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, St. Cloud comes in at #35 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, St. Cloud is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
Cities with a workforce like St. Cloud's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. Cloud against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −3% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −15% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −15% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −13% |
Specs and site conditions that change a St. Cloud bid
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 St. Cloud is 1.24 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the St. Cloud 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.14 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.37 and $36.78 an hour. BLS counts 570 of them working in the area, 54.8 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 $5. At the 25th percentile ($29.69) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 0.8% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 103,920 jobs in the St. Cloud area. That makes it the 197th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% 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% | $23.37 | $29.14 | $36.78 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in St. Cloud
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for St. Cloud 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
$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 |
Related projects, priced for St. Cloud
Because every project leans on different trades, St. Cloud's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +16% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,100 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,200 | +8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,150 | +16% |
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 $710 to $1,200 for St. Cloud, MN is attached.
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Multi-page report for St. Cloud, MN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 St. Cloud: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in St. Cloud?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud or Minneapolis?
Minneapolis is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,000, which is 6% more than St. Cloud ($970). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. Cloud expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Minnesota?
St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud?
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 St. Cloud
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.