Kitchen backsplash cost in Kansas City, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,450
- Per sq ft
- $9.85 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #119
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Kansas City area: $290 to $1,450 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 lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.1).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Kansas City, MO, standard level
$650 to $1,100
About $21.50 to $37 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $640 |
| Labor | $290 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $650 | $1,100 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Kansas City, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $850 | 56% |
| Labor | $150 | $380 | $610 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $880 | $1,450 | 100% |
Why Kansas City prices look the way they do
Labor is 44% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Kansas City the blended ratio comes out at 1.02.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Kansas City is at 94.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.5: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Kansas City 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 Kansas City the blend is 1.02.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $27.45 an hour, in line with the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.21 and $30.31 an hour. About 290 work in the metro. That is 2.6 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 $29.72 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.13 and $39.30 an hour. About 4,540 work in the metro. That is 41.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $40. That is a swing of roughly 4.6% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Kansas City has 1,096,110 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 34th 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% | $24.21 | $27.45 | $30.31 | $26.77 | 1.03 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.13 | $29.72 | $39.30 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Why two Kansas City quotes can differ
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Cost by quality level and size in Kansas City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Kansas City. 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
$290 to $760
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$650 to $1,100
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,450
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $630 | $540 – $930 | $830 – $1,200 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $760 | $650 – $1,100 | $1,000 – $1,450 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $490 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,450 |
How Kansas City compares
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Jefferson City is the priciest of the group at $900. Springfield is the cheapest at $780.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MOthis page | $290 – $1,450 | $880 | |
| Topeka, KS75 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −2% |
| Columbia, MO100 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO125 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +2% |
| Springfield, MO130 miles | $260 – $1,300 | $780 | −11% |
| Jefferson City, MO130 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +4% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Kansas City ranks #119 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Kansas City is 4% below the Missouri figure.
Elsewhere in Missouri
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +9% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $780 | −11% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +2% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kansas City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +7% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −8% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | −5% |
Planning more than one job in Kansas City?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Kansas City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+3%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,800 – $30,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,000 | level |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,700 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,700 – $23,400 | level |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,850 | +3% |
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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 $650 to $1,100 for Kansas City, MO is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Kansas City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Kansas City?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,450 in the Kansas City area. A standard-spec job lands at $650 to $1,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Kansas City?
About $9.85 to $48.50 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 Kansas City or Topeka?
Topeka is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $860, which is 2% less than Kansas City ($880). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kansas City?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $380 out of $880. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Kansas City?
$290 to $1,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Kansas City?
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 Kansas City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kansas City expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Missouri?
Kansas City is 4% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($910 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Kansas City?
The BLS median is $27.45 an hour in the Kansas City area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.21 to $30.31.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Kansas City?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $760 and premium work $1,000 to $1,450. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Kansas City
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.